Violence against women, girls, and minorities in Bangladesh has increased ahead of the 13th national parliamentary elections, highlighting failures to protect fundamental human rights, according to a report published by Human Rights Watch (HRW). The report notes that women remain largely excluded from political participation, with 30 of the 51 political parties contesting the election fielding no female candidates.
The report, published on January 16, 2026, was written by Shubhajit Saha, Senior Coordinator of HRW’s Women’s Rights Division. It states that incidents of gender-based violence rose between January and June 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, pointing to a deteriorating human rights environment for women and marginalized communities.
According to the report, religious extremist groups have played a significant role in restricting women’s freedom of movement and participation in public life. Protests in May 2025 opposing government initiatives on gender equality and women’s rights labeled such efforts as anti-Islamic, after which women and girls increasingly faced verbal, physical, and digital harassment, contributing to a climate of fear.
The report also references incidents of mob violence, including the killing of a garment worker in December on allegations of blasphemy. Despite women’s visible participation in the July–August 2024 mass movement, their political representation has remained limited. Among major political parties, Jamaat-e-Islami did not nominate any women candidates among its 276 nominees.
Human Rights Watch urged the government to seriously consider the recommendations of the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission, particularly those related to increasing women’s representation in parliament. The report also emphasized the state’s responsibility to implement the UN Security Council’s Women, Peace and Security agenda and to ensure constitutional protections for religious and ethnic minorities.
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