Women safety forum condemns rising violence against women, children including Pallabi child murder

According to reports published on 20 May 2026 in various newspapers, online news portals, and social media platforms, the body of an 8-year-old child was recovered from an apartment in Block-B, Section-11 of Mirpur, Pallabi, in the capital city. Sources state that the victim was a second-grade student at a local school. On Tuesday, 19 May, the child was supposed to attend school but suddenly went missing. Later, the victim’s mother noticed one of her daughter’s shoes lying outside the apartment door. When she knocked on the neighboring apartment’s door, she found it locked from inside. Despite repeated attempts, no one responded. The matter was then reported to the police.
The brutal murder of an 8-year-old child in Pallabi is extremely alarming and constitutes a gross violation of human rights. Such violence demonstrates that our children are no longer safe either inside or outside their homes.
Only a few days prior to this incident, an 11-year-old madrasa student in Madan Upazila of Netrokona became pregnant after allegedly being raped by a teacher. According to doctors, the child’s physical condition is critical, and there are concerns regarding her survival. Prior to these incidents, the country has also witnessed repeated cases of child rape and attempts at brutal murder.
These recurring incidents reflect serious deficiencies in ensuring the healthy development and protection of children within our social structure. The erosion of moral and humanitarian values at both family and societal levels, delays in the proper enforcement of laws, and the overall lack of accountability have pushed children into a state of extreme insecurity.
According to data from the National Forum for Preventing Violence Against Women (JNNPF), over the past four months, 67 individuals have been victims of rape, while 31 have been subjected to gang rape. The majority of the victims are children.
The National Forum for Preventing Violence Against Women (JNNPF) strongly demands that all such sensitive cases be brought immediately under the jurisdiction of the Speedy Trial Tribunal to ensure exemplary and maximum punishment for the perpetrators, so that no one dares to commit such heinous crimes in the future.
At the same time, the state prosecution and law enforcement agencies must play a visible and proactive role in ensuring impartial, accountable, and effective investigations. Beyond punishment, the state must also take responsibility for providing long-term psychological support and social rehabilitation for the affected families.
The Forum will continue its protest, monitoring, and advocacy efforts until justice is fully ensured.
Signed by:Mamtaz Ara BegumPresidentNational Forum for Preventing Violence Against Women (JNNPF)