Incidents of violence against women and children, mob violence, political clashes, attacks on journalists, and deaths in jail custody increased in Bangladesh during the first six months of 2026, according to a human rights monitoring report by the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS).
The rights organisation released its half-yearly human rights report yesterday, covering incidents from January to June 2026. The report was prepared using reports published in 16 national newspapers, HRSS’s own data collection, field observations, and documented cases.
According to the report, 1,621 women and girls were victims of violence during the period, a 56 percent increase from 1,042 cases recorded during the same period last year.
Among them, 404 were rape victims, including 238 children and adolescent girls. The report said 88 women and girls were gang-raped, 17 were killed after being raped, and one died by suicide.
Additionally, 473 women and girls faced sexual harassment, including 173 children. Domestic violence claimed the lives of 320 women, while 211 were injured and 147 died by suicide. During the same period last year, the figures were 166 deaths, 27 injuries, and 72 deaths by suicide.
Meanwhile, dowry-related violence left 19 women dead, 18 injured, and three dead by suicide, compared to 14 injuries during the first six months of 2025.
Child abuse also increased sharply, with 1,077 children becoming victims during the first half of this year. Of them, 305 were killed and 772 were subjected to physical or mental torture. During the same period in 2025, 673 children were abused, including 132 deaths and 541 cases of physical or mental torture.
Mob violence incidents nearly doubled during the period. HRSS recorded 261 incidents, leaving 133 people dead and 256 injured. In comparison, 141 incidents were reported during the first six months of 2025, leaving 67 dead and 119 injured.
Political violence also increased significantly, with 830 incidents leaving 56 people dead and 5,246 injured. During the same period last year, 529 incidents were recorded, with 79 deaths and 4,124 injuries. While the number of incidents rose by around 57 percent and injuries by 27 percent, deaths declined by about 29 percent.
The report documented 273 clashes linked to internal BNP conflicts, 290 between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, 77 between BNP and the Awami League, 33 between BNP and the National Citizen Party, three between the Awami League and the NCP, 97 between BNP and other political groups, and 57 involving other parties.
Ahead of and after the 13th national election in February, HRSS recorded 396 incidents of electoral violence that left 13 people dead and 2,578 injured. More than 600 businesses, houses, and election offices were attacked, vandalised, looted, or set on fire during the period, the report said.
HRSS also recorded 200 incidents of harassment and attacks involving 383 journalists, marking a 32 percent increase in incidents and a 49 percent rise in the number of journalists affected compared to the same period last year, when 152 incidents involving 257 journalists were reported.
Among the affected journalists, 234 were injured, 60 assaulted, 49 threatened, and 11 detained. The rights body also expressed concern over 15 cases filed against 33 journalists under the Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025.
The report said 58 prisoners died in jails across the country, a 45 percent increase from 40 deaths during the same period last year. Among them were 26 convicted prisoners and 32 detainees. The deceased included 15 people affiliated with the Awami League and its associated organisations, one BNP activist, and 42 general prisoners.
Eleven people died in law enforcement custody, during torture, in firing incidents, or in alleged gunfights, compared to 14 during the same period last year. Five others died while allegedly attempting to flee arrest, compared to three in 2025.
Violence against minority communities also increased, with 50 incidents leaving 56 people injured, compared to 10 attacks and four injuries during the same period last year. HRSS reported attacks on and vandalism of 19 temples, 15 idols, and 43 houses, along with four land-grabbing incidents. One indigenous woman was also gang-raped.
At the India-Bangladesh border, nine people were killed, 35 injured, and 38 detained by India’s Border Security Force in 32 incidents. During the same period last year, 14 people were killed, 20 injured, and 27 detained in 40 incidents.
HRSS also reported that 173 people were allegedly pushed into Bangladesh from India, while attempts to push in 416 others were resisted. Along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, 20 incidents left one person dead, five injured, and 80 detained. Landmines planted by the Arakan Army killed six people and injured three others.
To improve the human rights situation, HRSS recommended enforcing a code of conduct for political parties, ensuring internal democracy, and conducting impartial investigations into political violence. It also called for zero tolerance against mob violence, speedy trials in cases of violence against women and children, protection for victims, safeguards for press freedom, and reforms to cyber laws in line with human rights principles.
The organisation further urged the authorities to ensure proper medical treatment, humane conditions, and independent inspections in prisons, as well as judicial inquiries into custodial deaths.
