Gender-Based Violence in Chattogram – January to July 2025

UTSA, in collaboration with Dataful, Daily Sangbad, and Surprobhat Bangladesh, regularly tracks and records data on gender-based violence (GBV) incidents across Bangladesh. This effort is part of the Connecting Dots project, supported by Free Press Unlimited.

This section highlights the GBV incidents in Chattogram, as reported in daily newspapers. The data reflects the situation over the last six months, from January to July 2025.

During this period, Chattogram recorded a total of 66 incidents of GBV. The data presents a deeply concerning picture of violence that disproportionately affects women and children.

Types of Violence | Based on Local News Papers | Period: January to June 2025

Key Types of Incidents Reported (January–June 2025)

  • Rape: 11 cases
    A significant number of women and girls were subjected to sexual violence, showing the persistent threat to their safety.

  • Attempt to Rape: 9 cases
    Several survivors narrowly escaped attempts of sexual violence, highlighting the need for stronger preventive measures.

  • Gang Rape: 1 case
    Though fewer in number, gang rape remains one of the most brutal forms of violence.

  • Killed: 35 cases
    Homicide is the most prevalent form of GBV during this period, reflecting the severity of violence women face in both domestic and social contexts.

  • Attempt to Kill: 1 case
    An additional case involved a failed attempt to murder, indicating escalating threats against victims.

  • Suicide: 15 cases
    Many women and girls resorted to suicide, which may be linked to domestic abuse, forced marriages, or social stigma.

  • Physical Violence: 6 cases
    Direct physical assaults continue to harm women, often within the household or by known perpetrators.

  • Kidnapping: 4 cases
    These cases underline the vulnerability of women and children to abduction, often linked to forced marriage or trafficking.

  • Sexual Harassment: 3 cases
    Street harassment and workplace harassment continue to affect women’s mobility and sense of security.

Age Group Analysis of Gender-Based Violence in Chattogram – January to June 2025

Among the 66 reported cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in Chattogram from January to June 2025, victims came from a wide range of age groups. The distribution reveals that both children and young adults remain the most vulnerable.

Key Observations

  1. Children under 12 years (18.18%)

    • The highest recorded group of identified victims were children below 12 years, many of whom were subjected to rape, sexual harassment, or kidnapping.

    • This indicates a severe risk for very young girls and highlights the urgency of child protection measures.

  2. Adolescents (12–18 years, combined 12.12%)

    • Teenagers are vulnerable to rape, attempted rape, and suicide, often stemming from social and domestic pressures.

  3. Young adults (19–35 years, combined 27.27%)

    • Women in this age range face murder, domestic violence, physical assault, and suicide due to family conflicts, marital issues, and economic stress.

  4. Older women (36+ years, 10.61%)

    • GBV against older women often relates to domestic disputes, property-related conflicts, or community-based violence.

  5. Unknown/Unreported ages (31.82%)

    • A significant portion of newspaper reports did not disclose the victim’s age, which reflects data gaps and the need for better reporting standards.

Conclusion

The age analysis reveals a dual vulnerability:

  • Children under 12 are highly exposed to sexual and physical violence.

  • Women in the 19–35 age group face more severe forms of GBV such as murder, domestic violence, and suicide.

This indicates an urgent need for age-specific interventions, including child protection programs, adolescent awareness campaigns, and support systems for adult women facing domestic and social violence.

Gender-Based Violence Incident-2024 | Chattogram

UTSA, in collaboration with the Women Network (Nari Jogajoge Kendra, Chattogram), regularly tracks and records data on gender-based violence (GBV) incidents in Chattogram, based on reports from local newspapers. This effort is part of the HEART project, which Diakonia supports. The following data reflects the situation over the last six months, from January to December 2024:

In 2024, Chattogram recorded a total of 257 incidents of gender-based violence (GBV), as reported in local newspapers. The data presents an alarming picture of violence affecting women and children, with Suicide (95 cases) and Murder (52 cases) being the most prevalent types of incidents.

Types of Violence | Based on Local News Papers | Period: January to December 2024

No Data Found

Types of Incidents and Their Impact

  • Suicide (95 cases, 36.96%)
    Suicide accounts for the highest percentage of incidents, reflecting severe mental health struggles, social pressure, and possibly domestic violence. Many of these cases involve young women and teenagers, highlighting the need for better psychological and social support systems.

  • Murder (52 cases, 20.23%)
    The high number of murder cases underscores the extreme level of violence against women. Many of these cases may be linked to domestic disputes, honor-related killings, or personal enmities.

  • Rape & Sexual Violence

    • Rape (23 cases, 8.95%)
    • Gang Rape (15 cases, 5.84%)
    • Sexual Harassment (12 cases, 4.67%)
    • Attempt to Rape (6 cases, 2.33%)
      A significant portion of gender-based violence involves sexual crimes, with 23 reported cases of rape and 15 cases of gang rape. Sexual harassment cases (12) also emphasize the ongoing safety concerns for women in public and private spaces.

  • Other Forms of Violence

    • Attempt to Murder (14 cases, 5.45%)
    • Mysterious Death (11 cases, 4.28%)
    • Kidnapping (9 cases, 3.50%)
    • Physical Torture (3 cases, 1.17%)
    • Domestic Violence (13 cases, 5.06%)
      These incidents reveal various forms of abuse, ranging from physical assaults to psychological torture and forced disappearances.

Key Takeaways

  • Suicide and Murder together make up 57.19% of all reported cases, highlighting severe underlying social issues.
  • Sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, and harassment, accounts for nearly 22% of incidents, showing the vulnerability of women and children.
  • Domestic violence, kidnapping, and mysterious deaths indicate a broader spectrum of GBV that needs deeper investigation and policy intervention.

Call to Action

The high number of GBV cases in Chattogram points to an urgent need for stronger legal frameworks, better enforcement of laws, mental health support, and public awareness campaigns. Addressing the root causes—such as societal norms, lack of education, and inadequate law enforcement—can help reduce these crimes.

Age Group Analysis of Gender-Based Violence in Chattogram – 2024

The 257 reported incidents of gender-based violence (GBV) in Chattogram affected individuals across different age groups. The analysis reveals that young adults (19-30 years) were the most affected, followed by teenagers and children.

Age-Wise Breakdown of Victims

No Data Found

Observations and Insights

  1. Young Adults (19-30 years) – 52.53%

    • This age group is the most vulnerable, accounting for more than half of all GBV cases.
    • They are disproportionately affected by rape, gang rape, suicide, and murder.
    • Many women in this category face domestic violence, sexual harassment, and honor-based crimes.

  2. Teenagers (10-18 years) – 29.18%

    • This group is highly affected by sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, and harassment.
    • Many cases involve kidnapping, suicide, and domestic abuse, reflecting a lack of safety for adolescent girls.
    • A significant number of school and college-aged victims suffer from mental health issues leading to suicide.

  3. Adults (31-45 years) – 10.51%

    • This group experiences murder, domestic violence, and suicide.
    • Many victims in this age category are married women facing domestic abuse.

  4. Children (1-9 years) – 4.67%

    • Even young children are victims, mainly of rape, kidnapping, and physical torture.
    • Cases of infanticide and abuse have been reported, pointing to deep-rooted societal problems.

  5. Elderly Victims (45 years and above) – 3.11%

    • This group faces murder, domestic violence, and mysterious deaths.
    • Many elderly women fall victim to family disputes and property-related violence.
Conclusion and Call to Action
  • The highest risk group is 19-30 years, highlighting the need for better social protection, mental health support, and strict legal action against perpetrators.
  • Teenagers and children face alarming levels of sexual violence, showing an urgent need for awareness campaigns and child protection policies.
  • Domestic violence, honor crimes, and suicide prevention programs should be prioritized to support women across all age groups.

Source: Daily Azadi, Daily Purbokone, Supobhat Bangladesh, Prothom Alo, Online News Portals, Program Report.