At least 390 girls were raped, 54 others were sexually harassed or abused, and 104 children died by suicide in the first eight months of this year, according to a new report by the National Girl Child Advocacy Forum (NGCAF).
The report, prepared with assistance from Eduko Bangladesh, highlights a grim and persistent pattern of gender-based violence and child abuse, raising concerns about systemic failures in ensuring the safety and dignity of women and children.
The findings were presented at a press conference held at the Jahirul Hossain Chowdhury Auditorium of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Saturday. The report further revealed that 34 children were abducted or trafficked during the same period, of whom 18 were later rescued. It also documented 83 murders of girls and 50 unexplained deaths, the causes of which remain undetermined.
Presenting the report, NGCAF National Coordinator Syeda Ahsana Zaman Annie stressed the urgent need for institutional and legal reforms to create a safe environment for women and girls. "A women-friendly environment must be created through state reforms so that a woman or girl can leave her home at any time without fear of violence and can walk freely," she said.
