Kamrun Nesa, 28, works at a garment factory in Dhaka’s Tejgaon Industrial Area. Married for nearly seven years, she is the mother of two children. She works at the factory to support her family and fund her children’s education.
Her workday often stretches beyond 10 hours, beginning early in the morning and ending late at night. On some days, she returns home completely exhausted after working beyond her scheduled shift.
Kamrun recalled that the early years of her marriage were relatively stable. However, as her husband’s limited income became insufficient to meet household expenses, she decided to take up factory work. Initially, her husband opposed the idea of her working outside the home, but later agreed. After the birth of their first child, expenses increased further, and two years later, she gave birth to their second child.
Soon after she began working at the garment factory, Kamrun said her husband’s behaviour started to change. Verbal arguments gradually escalated into mental abuse and later physical violence. She also alleged that her husband sometimes returns home intoxicated and takes money from her.
When asked about legal action, Kamrun said she has never approached the police or the courts, nor has she fully disclosed her situation to her family. Her fear stems from uncertainty over what would happen to her children if the marriage broke down, and where she would go if she lost her job.
She said: “Almost every day, he beats me. My children see it and cry. But where would I go? If I divorce him, what will happen to my children?”
Even after informing her family, she was advised to tolerate the situation. According to them, “Every woman has to face hardships, and things will improve with patience.”
She added: “Without my job, I might not even be able to stay with my husband. But even with a job, I am not free.”
At times, she considered running away, but fear of social stigma, concern for her children, and worries about “what people will say” stopped her. Ultimately, she remains in the same household and under the same conditions.
Kamrun’s story reflects a broader reality in Bangladesh, where domestic violence is not only a private matter but also a structural issue deeply linked to economic dependence, social norms, and institutional limitations.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Bangladesh is among the countries with the highest prevalence of intimate partner violence globally. In South Asia, it ranks second only to Afghanistan. WHO estimates suggest that nearly one in every two women in Bangladesh experiences physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner at some point in her life.
The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) 2024 “Violence Against Women Survey” paints a similarly alarming picture. It reports that nearly 70% of women aged 15 and above have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime. Among them, 46.7% faced physical violence, 28.5% sexual violence, 32.7% psychological abuse, and 50.1% controlling behaviour.
Despite these figures, most cases remain unreported. The survey found that 64% of survivors never disclose their experiences to anyone, while only 7.4% pursue legal action.
Experts attribute this silence primarily to economic dependence, social stigma, and fear of family breakdown. When women lack financial independence and social security, leaving abusive relationships becomes extremely difficult.
Professor Mahamuda Khatun from the Department of Sociology at the University of Dhaka said: “When inequality becomes normalized within the family structure, violence is no longer seen as an exception. It becomes part of everyday life.”
In Bangladesh, marriage, divorce, maintenance, and inheritance are not governed by a single civil code. Instead, they are regulated through religious personal laws, which often shape women’s rights in practice.
Under Muslim family law, marriage registration is mandatory and dower (mehr) is a legal right of the wife. However, in reality, many women are unable to fully claim or receive it.
In cases of separation, Muslim women may seek khula or file for divorce through the courts. However, the process is often lengthy, complex, and socially discouraging.
The Muslim Family Laws Ordinance of 1961 requires formal notice, arbitration procedures, and waiting periods, which in practice can create additional pressure on women seeking separation.
Under the Family Courts Ordinance of 1985, women can seek maintenance, child custody, and resolution of family disputes. However, relatively few women access these courts due to financial, social, and procedural barriers.
Inheritance laws also reflect inequality. While Muslim women are legally entitled to a share of inheritance, it is often smaller than that of men. In practice, social pressure frequently prevents women from exercising even this limited right. In some communities, daughters still struggle to claim property rights despite legal recognition.
Although Article 27 of the Constitution guarantees equality before the law, personal laws often create a parallel system that limits that equality in practice.
According to the OECD Development Centre’s Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI), Bangladesh scores 81.9 on “family discrimination.” While the index does not directly measure violence, it captures structural inequalities within family systems, including unequal inheritance rights, restrictions on divorce, limited decision-making power, and economic dependence.
Experts argue that such structural inequalities form the foundation on which violence persists.
Despite the existence of laws such as the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010, the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000, and the Family Courts Ordinance 1985, implementation remains limited.
Human Rights Watch has noted that discriminatory personal and property laws often trap women in abusive relationships, as leaving them may lead to severe economic insecurity.
Senior lawyer Farida Yasmin said: “Domestic violence is still widely treated as a private matter rather than a legal issue. As a result, many cases never reach formal courts. Police-mediated ‘settlements’ often return women to the same violent environment.”
She added that many survivors never approach the courts at all, not because laws are absent, but because social pressure and economic dependence prevent them from doing so.
Professor Mohammad Khurshid Alam from the Faculty of Law at the University of Dhaka explained: “Even though legal protections exist, most domestic violence cases never reach the courts because women are discouraged by social pressure and financial insecurity.”
He added that divorce is often viewed not only as a legal process but also as a social stigma, discouraging women from seeking separation even in severe cases of abuse.
Islamic law itself recognizes women’s rights to inheritance, maintenance, and dignity, and explicitly condemns domestic violence. However, there remains a significant gap between religious principles and social practice.
Professor Khatun explained: “The issue is not religion itself, but how it is interpreted and practiced in society. Cultural norms often override religious principles, weakening women’s rights in areas such as property, maintenance, and family decision-making.”
In another case from Dhaka’s Malibagh area, Salma Akter has endured domestic violence for nearly 12 years. After marriage, she left her studies and devoted herself to her family. She now has a daughter.
Following financial losses in her husband’s business, tensions within the household increased.
“At first, it was verbal abuse. Then came restrictions on going out, checking my phone, preventing me from visiting my parental home, and later physical violence,” she said.
Even after suffering serious injuries, she did not file a police complaint.
She said: “I stayed silent for my daughter. I thought divorce would ruin her future. Now I realize she is suffering more in this environment.”
Experts emphasize that children are among the most deeply affected victims of domestic violence.
Anika Chowdhury, a clinical psychologist at the University of Dhaka, said children exposed to violence at home often develop long-term psychological effects such as fear, anxiety, aggressive behaviour, and emotional detachment.
She said: “Many children normalize violence as part of intimate relationships, which allows the cycle of abuse to continue across generations.”
The persistence of domestic violence in Bangladesh is driven by three interconnected factors: economic dependency, social stigma, and weak institutional enforcement.
Economic dependence limits women’s ability to leave abusive relationships. Social norms frame divorce or filing complaints as personal failure. Meanwhile, legal systems, though in place, often remain slow, complex, and difficult to access.
Professor Khatun summarized the issue, saying: “The power structure within families remains largely male-dominated. Women’s roles in decision-making, property control, and social recognition remain limited.”
She added that women are often expected to preserve the family at any cost, even if it means enduring violence.
