A total of 818 children were raped across the country, with 94 more rape attempts made last year, according to a study by Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF).
The rape incidents caused the deaths of fourteen teenage girls, while 110 children were sexually molested. In 2020, as many as 626 children were raped nationwide.
MJF came up with the data in its annual report, "Bangladesh Child Situation Report 2021", released at a virtual press conference on Tuesday.
The report was based on data collected from 87 reports in eight national dailies– Prothom Alo, Jugantor, Daily Samakal, Daily Ittefaq, Kaler Kantho, The Daily Star, New Age and Dhaka Tribune.
The report said that a large number of children were raped by their neighbours and relatives. In several cases, the children were under the age of two.
Besides, elders raped children by manipulating them with various forms of temptation. When it came to teenagers, it was mainly their partners who raped them.
In schools and madrasas, mostly teachers and imams raped their students.
In 2021, 183 children were killed as a result of torture, rape, attempted rape and murder. The figure was 145 in the preceding year, according to the report.
In 2021, 78 children committed suicide. Of them 57 were boys, whereas in 2020, only 34 children committed suicide.
The reasons behind the suicides include failure in examinations, love relationships, harassment, rape or attempted rape, failure to get trials for rape or aggravated sexual assault, cyberbullying or blackmail, the report added.
Shaheen Anam, executive director of MJF, said: “Parents should be especially aware of child protection. We have to teach them about the means of staying safe at home.”
“We need to provide them with knowledge about ‘good touch’ and ‘bad touch’. Lastly, the law's implementation is important to prevent child rape,” she added.
This report also stated that Dhaka is the worst affected area for child labor. In the year 2021, 44 domestic workers were tortured in various ways, including rape, and 12 were killed among them.
Mahbuba Bilkis, joint secretary of the Labour Ministry, said: “Domestic violence is a serious crime that we are trying to overcome. As a result, in 2021, our government declared six sectors free of child labor. In 2015, a policy for domestic worker protection was also formulated.”
Md Muhibuzzaman, joint secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, said: “The child safety crisis is alarming. We don't want any rape incidents in our country. But, with the exception of the heavens, crime occurs in every society. As a result, it is more important whether or not law enforcement is responding to crime.”
“There are hundreds of examples to show that the police responded quickly. Those reports, however, do not make headlines. When it comes to crime, we give so much coverage to it that it leaves a bad impact on society,” he continued.
