Does a victim's clothing determine justice in cases of rape and harassment?

From a six-year-old child to elderly individuals over sixty, incidents of rape, sexual abuse, and harassment have become alarmingly frequent in Bangladesh.

In just the first two months of 2025, nearly 400 women and children have been subjected to rape, gang rape, and sexual harassment, with 157 of them being young girls. This data was revealed by the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad.

According to the Mahila Parishad, 34 women and children, including 17 girls, were victims of gang rape—11 cases in January and 20 in February. Additionally, three girls were murdered after being raped during this period.

Furthermore, 18 women and children suffered sexual harassment, with eight cases reported in January (including four girls) and 10 in February (including six girls).

On Thursday, a seven-year-old girl was raped while visiting her sister’s house in Nijnanduali, Magura.

On Wednesday, a harassment complaint was filed against Mostafa Asif, an assistant binder at Dhaka University Library, for an incident involving a female student’s scarf at Shahbagh. However, the student later withdrew the case due to concerns for her family's safety.

These incidents have once again raised concerns about the safety of women and children in Bangladesh and the effectiveness of the judicial system.

Whenever reports of rape or harassment emerge on social media, discussions often shift toward questioning the victim’s clothing. Even women and children subjected to inappropriate remarks are frequently blamed for their attire.

On Wednesday, following the “orna incident,” the group "Touhidi Janata" attributed rape and abuse to women's clothing. They also allegedly issued threats, including rape and murder, against the female student who withdrew her case.

Bangladesh’s senior journalist, Zayma Islam, also shared her personal experience of harassment linked to her clothing on Facebook.

She posted a screenshot with the caption: “These people are opportunists—they assess risks before attacking. Little girls, young nieces, and maids are seen as low-risk targets. If I could ask for one thing from the oppressive men of Bangladesh, it would be ownership over our own bodies.”

Dr. Fauzia Moslem, president of the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad's central committee, told Dhaka Tribune:

“A woman’s clothing can never be blamed for sexual harassment or rape. If that were the case, why would four- and six-year-old girls be victims of rape? Even girls wearing burqas face harassment on the streets.

"The real issue is not clothing—it is the lack of justice. The absence of strict legal action and accountability allows perpetrators to act without fear, leading to these crimes recurring repeatedly,” she added.