Dhaka, March 24
The United Nations Children's Agency has expressed grave concern about the alarming rise in incidents of sexual violence against children, especially girls, in Bangladesh over the last weeks under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Representative to Bangladesh Rana Flowers stated that she is "profoundly horrified" by the recent surge in horrific cases of child rape and sexual violence, including in places meant to protect and nurture children, like educational institutions.
In an official statement issued by (UNICEF) on Sunday, the agency stated that a distressing number of children have reportedly fallen victim to rape and murder in recent months.
The agency's monitoring revealed that from January 2025 to March 16, media and local human rights organisations recorded approximately 50 cases of child rape.
The trend seems to be getting even more worrisome -- only on March 10 there were seven children killed, and six confirmed cases of violence. These statistics are more than just numbers; they represent shattered lives, profound trauma for survivors, and unimaginable grief for families and communities.
"Our hearts are especially heavy with the tragic death of the eight-year-old child from Magura a few days ago. Her death serves as a devastating reminder of how children, especially girls, are being subjected to grave violations of their fundamental rights and safety. Sadly, this young girl's death is merely one of many horrifying acts against children," said UN representative Rana Flowers.