Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), one of Bangladesh’s leading human rights organizations, has expressed deep concern over a recent wave of child abuse, rape and murder cases, warning that the country’s child protection system is facing a severe crisis.
In a statement released on Thursday, the organization cited the killing of seven-year-old Ramisa Akter in Dhaka’s Pallabi area as part of a broader pattern of violence against children that has shocked the nation in recent months.
ASK said the incidents should not be viewed as isolated crimes but rather as evidence of systemic failures in state protection, law enforcement and social accountability.
According to data compiled by the organization, at least 118 children were raped in Bangladesh between January and May 20 this year, while another 46 children survived attempted rape. The group also documented at least 17 child killings linked to rape or attempted sexual assault during the same period.
The rights organization said that despite constitutional guarantees and existing child protection laws, victims and their families continue to face significant obstacles in obtaining justice due to delayed trials, weak investigations and institutional shortcomings.
“Children’s safety is not merely a policy commitment; it is a constitutional obligation and a fundamental human rights issue,” ASK said in the statement.
The organization urged authorities to prioritize investigations and prosecutions in all child abuse and murder cases, stressing the need for transparent, independent and politically uninfluenced legal proceedings.
ASK also called for stronger protective measures in schools, residential communities and online spaces, alongside stricter enforcement of child protection laws and regular institutional monitoring.
Bangladesh is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which obliges the state to protect children from all forms of violence, exploitation and abuse.
Human rights advocates have increasingly raised concerns over violence against women and children in Bangladesh, with campaigners demanding faster judicial processes, stronger preventive measures and greater accountability from state institutions.
