At least 113 women were killed by their husbands in Bangladesh from January through July, according to a new report from a local rights group, highlighting the country’s ongoing struggle with domestic violence.
The Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), an independent legal aid and human rights organization, said Tuesday that 322 women were victims of 363 reported incidents of domestic violence in the first seven months of 2025. Among the victims, 208 were women and children, and 114 individuals died by suicide, the group said.
Of the reported killings, 42 women were killed by in-laws and 33 by other family members, ASK said.
Calls for help continue to climb. The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs’ national helpline, ‘109’, received 48,745 calls between January and July, mostly related to physical and mental abuse. Separately, the National Emergency Service ‘999’ received 17,341 calls related to violence against women from January to mid-August. Among them, 9,746 were linked to domestic violence, with 9,394 specifically involving complaints against husbands, according to a report by The Daily Prothom Alo.
Rights advocates say the data reflects a worsening crisis in homes across the country and are calling for urgent government action that includes both stronger legal enforcement and widespread public education.
While existing laws prohibit domestic abuse, rights groups say they are often poorly enforced. Victims who report violence may face pressure from family or law enforcement to settle matters privately, and in some cases, protection mechanisms are not activated in time.
Experts say long-term solutions must involve reshaping societal attitudes toward gender roles, expanding legal support for survivors, and holding abusers accountable through fast-tracked prosecution. Many advocates also stress the need to offer meaningful alternatives for women, such as emergency shelters, job training, and mental health services.
Without access to these resources, some victims resort to suicide. ASK recorded 114 such deaths in just seven months.
Rights groups say Bangladesh must strengthen both legal enforcement and social support systems to reduce the number of domestic violence deaths and ensure that women are never left to feel that suicide is their only option.