Our society faces a growing crisis in ensuring the safety and well-being of women, particularly young and vulnerable girls. Every step outside is a calculated risk, every lingering glance a potential threat. Even their own homes offer no guaranteed safety.
Girls grow up second-guessing every interaction, scanning for danger in the eyes of every man they encounter. Sounds like an exaggeration? It isn’t. This is the grim reality -- the new normal -- where caution is their only armour, and survival depends on constant vigilance.
The recent tragic death of an 8-year-old girl, sexually assaulted by her own relatives, is not an isolated incident -- it is a glaring symptom of a national emergency. Bangladesh is failing its daughters in the most fundamental way: Ensuring their basic safety.
The statistics paint a horrifying picture. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) reported 84 cases of violence against children in just January and February 2025, yet only 50 cases were officially filed, exposing a staggering gap between incidents and legal action. In 2024 alone, ASK documented 670 cases of violence against children.
Meanwhile, Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF) recorded 295 cases of violence against women and children in February 2025, an alarming increase of 24 cases from the previous month. Experts warn that the real numbers are much higher due to underreporting.
Perhaps most disturbing is the fact that only 3.6% of gender-based violence cases result in convictions. This is more than just a failure of the justice system -- it is a societal abdication of responsibility. The crisis demands immediate action, not just from lawmakers but from every level of society.
A society that fails to protect its daughters is one that fails itself
Strengthening laws and expediting cases, as proposed by the interim government, are necessary but insufficient if societal attitudes remain unchanged. Prevention is more effective than response -- addressing the root causes of violence is essential.
Change must dismantle entrenched cultural norms that equate male aggression with strength and condition women to be passive and compliant.
The UN Women report Fostering Behaviour Change To Prevent Violence Against Women outlines a framework for transforming both societal structures and individual mindsets to ensure lasting safety for girls and women. This brief highlights three key actions needed to shift the discourse and reframe the fight against gender-based violence.
- Shifting deep-rooted gender norms in childhood
The way boys perceive and interact with girls is shaped early, making it critical to instill gender-equitable values from the start. The COM-B model identifies three key drivers of behaviour change: Capability (skills to act), motivation (internal drive), and opportunity (external enablers). To break the cycle of harmful norms, schools, families, and media must cultivate both the ability and willingness in boys to reject gender biases.
Change starts at home, where children mirror what they see. Fathers and male role models must lead by example, consistently demonstrating respect and equality. Schools and communities should champion positive masculinity, promoting non-aggressive, empathetic behaviours. Gender-sensitization programs must be embedded in education to instill respect and non-violence, laying the foundation for a cultural shift that lasts.
- Creating safe spaces for abuse survivors
Despite claims of progress, one of the most stubborn barriers to justice remains unchanged: The silence and stigma surrounding abuse. Too many cases go unreported, buried under fear, shame, and the weight of judgment. Instead of condemning perpetrators, society too often interrogates victims -- What was she wearing? Why was she alone? Why did she trust them?
These questions, whispered or shouted, reinforce a culture of blame. To dismantle this toxic narrative, we must create safe spaces where survivors are heard, justice is accessible, and action replaces silence.
Research underscores that change begins at home. Parents must be equipped to hold age-appropriate conversations about body safety, consent, and boundaries -- breaking the taboo around these topics. Schools and communities must foster open dialogue while ensuring caregivers and educators receive specialized training to identify and respond to signs of abuse. The only way forward is a collective commitment to believing survivors, supporting them without question, and making reporting the norm -- not the exception.
- Violence prevention as a collective responsibility
The safety of young girls depends on communities that refuse to look away. Effective change requires accountability mechanisms where neighbours, teachers, and local leaders actively intervene. Bystanders must be trained to recognize abuse and respond safely, while those in positions of influence must be equipped to address violence effectively.
Transforming attitudes and enforcing justice are non-negotiable. Yet, in Bangladesh, justice remains elusive and the vast majority are silenced, buried in a system that fails survivors. Promising legislative changes propose stricter timelines -- rape investigations completed in 15 days, trials within 90 days -- but will this lead to real justice? Or will rushed cases mean more dismissals, more impunity, and more lives shattered?
Laws alone cannot dismantle violence. True change requires unwavering commitment -- from society, law enforcement, and the justice system -- to ensure survivors are heard, cases are prosecuted, and perpetrators face real consequences. The time for passive concern is over. It’s time for collective action.
Bangladesh stands at a critical crossroads, where the future of its girls hangs in the balance. Will they continue to live in fear, or can we forge a path of cultural metamorphosis? The time for hand-wringing and hollow promises is over.
Bangladesh's girls deserve action now. Let's empower them to grow up without fear, to trust freely, and to navigate the world with the security they rightfully deserve.
Nusrat Hafiz is Director of Women Empowerment Cell and Assistant Professor at BRAC University. Anoosheh Abdullah is an undergraduate student at BRAC University.
