Culture of impunity and erosion in social values are the main causes behind the rising violence against children, including rape and murder, according to rights activists.

Expressing concern about safety and security of children, rights activist and Nijera Kori coordinator Khushi Kabir has told New Age that surge in crimes against children and its pattern indicate they are living in an unprotected and unsafe environment across the country.

‘The prevailing culture of impunity, lengthy judicial  process, and weak probe are major causes behind increasing incidents of such crimes against children,’ she says.

Recommending a separate section at police stations and dedicated trial courts to address child-related cases, she says every incident of child abuse and murder must be given the highest priority to ensure swift resolution in order to prevent such crimes.

Khushi Kabir also urges the government to adopt zero-tolerance policy against violence against children and take strict measures to eliminate such crimes against them.

In 20 days of this month, 24 children were raped and five were murdered after being raped while 12 were subjected to attempted rape, according to ASK data.

Recently, public outrage spread across the country over the rape and murder of an eight-year-old child in Dhaka’s Pallabi area, where the victim’s dismembered body was recovered from a neighbour’s home on May 19.

The police recovered the girl’s body parts in prime accused Md Sohel Rana’s house at Pallabi and her head was later found in a bucket in the house.

A Dhaka court on May 20 sent Sohel to jail after recording his confessional statement.

On May 21, protests held in Chattogram city’s Bakalia area after a four-year-old child was raped. The child is currently undergoing treatment at Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

On May 12, a 20-year-old madrassah student was placed on a five-day remand in a case filed over the alleged rape and provocation to the suicide of a 10-year-old boy in the capital’s Banasree area.

Initial inquiry has found that the accused allegedly sexually abused four other students at the institution in the past, according to the police.

On May 6, a four-year-old child was killed after rape attempt by a neighbour in Sylhet. The accused was later arrested on May 12.

Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University’s criminology and police science department professor Md Omar Faruk says child rapes and murders are increasing due to the degradation of society.

He called out the government’s failure to ensure safety, security and equal rights for all children across the country and said that an effective system for controlling crime has not been developed which is why children- both boys and girls, are being victims of this.

‘Recent rape-murder incidents are not limited to sexual violence alone. There are multifaceted social, psychological and structural factors behind this. Criminals kill as they believe that killing the victim will compromise evidence and confessions.

Omar Faruk states that coordinated efforts by the state and society are needed to curb such crimes.

‘Moral education, increasing social awareness and building strong social resistance are essential. The lengthy judicial process and the lack of certainty of punishment embolden criminals. Therefore, it will be difficult to completely control such crimes unless a speedy and effective justice system is ensured,’ he added.

Among the 115 children killed between January and April, 34 children were killed after physical torture, 25 were killed after torture in domestic sphere and two committed suicide after being raped.

At least 410 children were killed in different violence in 2025, 19 of them were murdered after being raped and four were murdered after attempted rape.

The number of children killed in 2024 was 574. Of them, 19 were murdered being raped. At least 485 children were killed in 2023 where 18 were murdered after being raped and one was murdered after attempted rape.

According to rights activists and experts, the real number of such incidents is much higher than the published statistics as many cases go unreported due to various social pressures.

Rights activist Abu Ahmed Faijul Karim said that the rise in violence against children is due to the decline in family and social values, weak law enforcement, a culture of impunity for criminals, the influence of drugs and negative online content.

The fact that many incidents go unreported due to fear, social stigma, and fear of impunity is also complicating the situation, according to Faijul Karim.

‘The government needs to ensure speedy justice, effective implementation of child protection laws, and strengthen security in educational institutions. Raising awareness, family-based safety education, and building social resistance are also needed to eliminate such crimes,’ he added.

Earlier, women and children affairs ministry secretary Yasmeen Parveen has told New Age that the ministry is actively planning to establish a dedicated children affairs department to more effectively address child-related issues and intensify the fight against violence.

Reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance regarding violence against women and children, she said that a specialised department for children is now a primary focus.

A total 199 incidents of violence against children occurred between January and April this year with rape incidents of 94 girls and 15 boys being reported during the period, according to rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra data.

At least 115 children were killed in different incidents of violence between January and April, ASK data show. Of them, 11 children were murdered after being raped and one was murdered after failed rape attempt.