A rape case involving a nine-year-old girl filed in Dhaka’s Khilkhet area has remained unresolved after nine years and 96 hearings, highlighting the chronic delays in Bangladesh’s justice system under the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children Act. Although the law mandates that such cases be resolved within 180 days, delays caused by absent witnesses, unresponsive police stations, and systemic inefficiencies have made justice elusive.
This case is not isolated. As of March 31, 2025, over 1.48 lakh cases under the Act remain pending across Bangladesh, with more than 35,000 of them over five years old. Legal experts blame witness intimidation, lack of state commitment, delayed forensic reports, and overburdened tribunals. The conviction rate in some districts remains below 3%.
A Supreme Court monitoring cell meant to track such delays is reportedly no longer functional. Although new High Court-led committees were recently formed and the government plans to establish more tribunals, experts say deeper structural reforms are urgently needed, including better police resources, victim protection, faster forensic processes, and stronger implementation of laws.
The continued failure to deliver timely justice to victims, many of whom face social stigma, fear, and financial hardship, raises serious questions about the country’s commitment to ending violence against women and children.
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