Indigenous teenager with disabilities raped in Bandarban amid growing sexual violence crisis in Bangladesh

Our Correspondent, Bandarban

In a horrifying case of sexual violence, a 16-year-old indigenous girl with mental disabilities was brutally raped in Rowangchhari, Bandarban.

The accused, Md. Jamal Hossain (32), a construction worker employed on the Rowangchhari-Ruma road project, said police.

According to local sources, the victim, who is known to frequently wander near her village, was alone when Jamal reportedly lured her into a secluded area near a graveyard and assaulted her.

Her agonizing screams alerted nearby villagers, who quickly intervened and rescued her.

The perpetrator fled the scene under the cover of darkness, but by the following morning, he was apprehended by his colleagues working on the road project, ensuring his swift detention.

After being handed over to enraged locals, he was confined in a nearby school and later surrendered to the Rowangchhari police.

This tragic incident adds to the growing list of sexual violence cases plaguing Bangladesh, particularly against indigenous and marginalized communities.

Widespread impunity, and weak enforcement of laws, have enabled such atrocities to persist unchecked.

Recent reports from February 2025 indicate a disturbing escalation in sexual violence cases across Bangladesh.

The Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF) documented 295 incidents of violence against women and children, marking a 24% increase from January’s 239 cases.

Notably, 46 women were victims of rape in February, with 22 of them under the age of 18, compared to 39 cases in January, including 15 minors.

The country is currently governed under a regime that has faced substantial criticism for its handling of human rights issues, including the protection of women and children.

The increasing number of reported rape cases and the subsequent public outcry present a stark challenge to the current leadership’s ability to address this issue effectively.