IN THE eighties, the general literacy rate was not very high; especially the literacy rate for women was quite negligible. During that time, for the common people, ‘gender’ often meant a form of ‘violence’ occurred by a patriarchal society against women. Although this perception has changed significantly over time, that incorrect notion is deeply deep-rooted in the public mind. In the development sector, ‘gender’ refers to necessary or special initiatives aimed at achieving equality between men and women. When men and women in our society work equally towards national development, and above all, distribute responsibilities through mutual respect and cooperation, the objective of gender equality is simultaneously achieved. ‘Gender’, in the context of development work, essentially refers to initiatives required for strategic reasons and overall progress: creating a conducive environment for cooperation and support from men toward women, and equally, from women toward men.
Bangladesh has completed fifty-five years of independence today. As a result of various government and private initiatives, women are advancing in almost every sector. Even with women making exemplary contributions in education, health, economy, rights, freedom of expression and self-reliance, violence against women still occurs frequently. Global campaigns, protests, rallies, roundtable meetings and human chain programs are common efforts to prevent such violence. Year after year passes, and these programs continue as scheduled. Yet, a specific and powerful group continues to establish its masculine dominance in a sophisticated way, even within this digital civilisation.
Not just in the black & white but also deeply embedded in people’s minds worldwide is a negative belief: ‘Women are neglected, oppressed, and deprived.’ Regardless of the reality, this image persists simply because women are not fully respected as human beings. As a result, this attitude not only hinders the momentum of women’s development but also holds the entire nation back.
In a patriarchal society like Bangladesh, guidelines are set for a girl’s movements, opinions and even all her wishes and desires until she becomes a ‘woman’. Statistics from various UN organisations show that at least one-third of women in almost every country in the world are victims of violence. These women often dedicate themselves to solving complex problems, but they are still not recognized, not at all! When a development negotiator becomes a perpetrator of physical and domestic violence against his wife, the situation becomes incredibly contradictory.
Like the rest of the world, Bangladesh organises various programs from November 25 to December 10 to prevent violence against women and establish human rights.
These 16 days of special internationally recognised programs are dedicated to establishing the dignity, rights, and welfare of women and girls. This year’s theme is:Ìý‘Unite to End Digital Violence against all Women and Girls.’
This theme clearly highlights how vulnerable and oppressed women are, and the sheer number of types of violence they face. In this context, the UN Secretary-General has stated, ‘As long as women cannot move freely and fearlessly, as long as women have to live in fear for their safety and due to violence, the world will not be able to boast about women’s equal rights.’ It is worth noting that 76 per cent of women in Bangladesh have been victims of violence by their spouses at least once in their lives. In 2025 alone, 8.3 per cent of women were subjected to violence through technology in various ways. Many educated and respectable girls, as victims of cyber-bullying, are being forced to pay huge amounts of money to protect their dignity. This information from various newspapers and social media makes us restless and depressed. At the same time, this is the best time to raise awareness. It is also the right moment to identify those who are committing such heinous digital crimes and quickly bring them under the law. Failure to do so will only increase the number of girls and women who choose suicide as a result of digital violence.
Combating violence against women is not an easy task. Since men hold almost all the power in a patriarchal society, it is crucial to first change the attitudes of men. Men must step forward to establish women’s rights. They must create a favourable environment for women in the family, school, workplace, cities, transport and various service institutions. The proper implementation and enforcement of laws are also vital. If society fails to deeply understand the fair rights and importance of men and women in society, recognising the common humanity they both share, discrimination against women will continue. These efforts must begin from the very start, within the family. Therefore, everyone should stand against violence. The actions mentioned above are fundamentally human responsibilities. It is the duty of all of us, especially the male gender, to give women the respect they deserve as ‘human beings’.
There has been extensive discussion about gender violence, and public awareness has increased. Recently, however, one issue has provided new food for thought: the rape of women and children. According to the Bangladesh Women and Children Violence Survey 2025, 364 women across the country were raped in various scenarios in 2024. Shockingly, exactly the same number, 364 women, were raped from January to June 2025 alone.
According to theÌýViolence Against Women Survey 2024Ìýand preliminary data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 3 out of every 4 women in Bangladesh have been victims of some form of violence, including domestic abuse. The number of unreported incidents can only be estimated. Surprisingly, most rapes and other cases of violence against women are committed by close relatives. In other words, women are not safe anywhere. Women are being crushed every moment under the evil influence of this strict patriarchy and the grinding mill of rigid social (or perhaps religious) discipline, even though every religion clearly calls for showing respect to women.
Although many people have candidly shared their stories of being raped on condition of anonymity, most incidents are often dismissed. In various discussions, many are heard whispering, ‘It›s time to shed light on the issue of anti-rape discussions.’ When most cases of violence against women in court are covered up as false, fabricated, or purposefully motivated, it forces us to rethink the issue. In such instances, women remain incredibly helpless, spending their days wrapped in a blanket of shame. Even as victims of inhuman violence, women remain silent in this patriarchal society because there is no safe environment to speak out.
There is a valid reason why women feel very isolated today due to fear of public shame, shame they are uncomfortable even telling close friends. There are various women’s alliances to prevent violence against women, and there is a storm of discussion on talk shows, but at that very moment, the abused women are crying in secret, weeping in the background. The consensus and cooperation of all are essential to eliminate such irregularities, injustice, and discrimination. Therefore, our urge to everyone’s attention to this call:Ìý‘Let’s all be gender-sensitive in our respective positions to eliminate gender violence regardless of race, religion, gender, or colour. At the same time, let’s stand against digital violence against everyone, including women & children.’ Otherwise, the subconscious mind will ask ourselves, if digital violence against women continues, what kind of civilisation is this?’
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Md Tanjimul Islam is a coordinator of advocacy and child protection at World Vision Bangladesh.
