'341 women, young girls killed in seven months'

A total of 258 women and 83 girls have been killed in Bangladesh in the first seven months of 2026, the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad has reported.

Of the 341 killings, 63 were linked to rape or killings following rape, the organisation said at a human chain demonstration held outside the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka on Sunday to protest violence against women, rape, murder and child killings.

Mahila Parishad President Fauzia Moslem said the figures were compiled from reports published in 14 newspapers.

“According to the information collected by our organisation from reports in 14 newspapers, 83 girls and 258 women were killed in the past seven months. Of these, 63 incidents were related to rape and killings following rape,” she said.

She said land disputes, legal cases and family conflicts, among other reasons, were behind the other killings.

“If information from all news media were available, the actual picture of violence against women would be even more alarming,” Fauzia said.

She called for effective measures to ensure the human rights of women and all members of society and to eliminate discrimination.

“Women cannot be forced back into the home through fear. They will remain organised to secure their rights,” she said, adding that the organisation would continue to speak out against violence and work towards a social and state environment free from killings, rape and the abuse of women.

Mahila Parishad General Secretary Maleka Banu said 1,667 women and children had faced different forms of violence between January and July 2026.

During the same period, 291 women and girls were raped, she said, adding that the figures showed women and children were not completely safe anywhere in the country.

“The most concerning issue is that we are failing to reduce this trend of violence,” Banu said.

She demanded fair and impartial investigations, speedy trials and punishment for those responsible in every case of violence against women and children.

Speakers said Mahila Parishad’s movement would continue until the safety and dignity of women and children were ensured.�"bdnews24