Amid mounting public outrage over the brutal "rape and murder" of 7-year-old Ramisa Akter in the capital's Pallabi, rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) has released a grim account of violence against children.
It documented over a hundred rapes in the first five months of this year alone.
According to data compiled by the ASK between Jan 1 and May 20, 2026, at least 118 children fell victim to "rape", while another 46 survived "rape" attempts.
Shockingly, at least 17 children were "murdered" either after "rape" or "attempted rape" during this brief period.
In a media statement issued on Thursday, ASK voiced deep concern over the statistics, underscoring that the latest horrific incident in Pallabi once again exposes severe vulnerabilities in the country's child protection framework.
"These incidents are not merely isolated crimes," the rights body said.
"Rather, they reflect a systemic failure of the state's protective mechanisms and a deepening crisis of social accountability."
ASK pointed out that while the Constitution and the child protection law explicitly guarantee children's rights to life, security, and dignity, the reality on the ground remains starkly different.
Furthermore, as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Bangladesh is under international obligation to prevent all forms of violence, sexual abuse, and exploitation against minors.
"Despite the existence of strict laws and policies, prolonged legal proceedings and flawed police investigations remain major obstacles for children seeking justice," ASK said.
"As a result, grieving families are left trapped in a state of profound insecurity, and public trust in the justice system is continuously eroded."
The rights organisation called on the authorities to prioritise cases related to child abuse and murder, ensuring swift legal resolutions through swift trials.
"A failure to protect our children does not just represent a legal breakdown-it calls into question the very moral and humanitarian standing of the state," the ASK statement said.
