BSAF: 41 children raped in first week of July

A total of 41 children have become victims of rape across the country, in the first week of July, said a study of Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF).

Among them, six were gang-raped, five were mentally-challenged, and three were killed after being raped. Moreover, 10 children have fallen victim to attempted rape.

BSAF disclosed the information in a press release on Monday.

The organization collected data from reviewing reports, from 15 national daily newspapers, on child rights violation, rape, sexual assault, and harassment.

According to the study, a total of 496 children have fallen victim to rape from January to June this year, where as the number was 571 in the entire year of 2018.

On the other hand, a total of 351 children fell victim of rape in the first half of 2018. Compared to last year, the rate of child rape has increased by 41% in the first six months of this year, which is very alarming.

Of the total 496 victims of this year, 27 were mentally-challenged. Additionally, 53 children were gang-raped, 23 were killed after being raped, and 74 fell victim to attempted rape.

This year's total number of victims suggest that, on average 80 children per month have been raped, which is higher than any time in the past.

According to the BSAF report, children aged around two and half years were also among the rape victims.

Expressing grave concern, the organization said, the gradual increase of child rape depicts the overall degradation of social values, and failure of the law and order situation in the country.

BSAF also pointed out a couple of reasons behind the deterioration of the situation including lengthy trial process, and lack of exemplary punishment to the guilty.

The child rights forum urged the government to amend the existing law with provision of death sentence for rapists.