Introduction
Human beings are made in a way that they need a partner for survival, but what if this survival costs continuous suffering? In Bangladesh, 51% of young women get married before turning 18% and 28% of them think wife beating is justified. Almost 640 million women have faced some form of domestic violence by their husbands or former partners. In 2024, around 50,000 women were killed through domestic abuse by their husbands or family members. It is alarming that 140 women are killed by their family members or spouses each day, which means every 10 minutes, a woman is being killed by domestic abuse. In Bangladesh, the statistics are even more disturbing, where 70% of married women have faced domestic violence, and 64% of them never took any steps for this violence. In 2025 alone, the victim percentage is 49, which is very concerning, as it is half of the female population who are married.
The Roots of Violence: Socio-Cultural and Economic Factors in Bangladesh
In a UNFPA report, it was found that almost 62% of rural and 60% of urban men believe that women deserve to be beaten, and 50% of urban men and more than 65% of rural men believe that their wives should tolerate this violence as they must keep their family together. In this regard, the question arises what makes men believe that domestic violence is their right. In a patriarchal society, dominating women is a common phenomenon that has been happening historically. Deprivation of education, early marriage, financial dependency, male aggression, dowry along with cultural and societal pressures are prime reasons for domestic violence. In a recent report, it was addressed that even financially strong women with a PhD find it hard to raise their voice against domestic violence and choose to stay rather than quitting the abusive relationship. In another report, it was highlighted that when women start earning, the tendency to report domestic violence increased 69%, whereas the financially dependent women’s complaints regarding domestic violence were way less than those of economically stable women. In a similar report, it was illustrated that domestic violence increased against wives, as 93% of families expressed a son preference and 96% among them found girls a source of difficulties. Furthermore, 53% marriages in rural and 14% marriages in urban areas of Bangladesh considers dowry as a requirement, and such demand of dowry is a significant contributor to domestic violence against women.
The Legal Arsenal: Existing Laws and Policies in Bangladesh
Domestic violence is a violation of human rights. Several International and regional conventions and treaties like UDHR, CEDAW, ICESCR, ICCPR, the Convention of Belém do Pará 1994, Maputo Protocol 2003, Istanbul Convention 2011 and many more, were initiated to ensure women’s rights. In Bangladesh, violations like domestic abuse are addressed by the Penal Code 1860, the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000, the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2010 and Dowry Prohibition Act, 2018. Bangladesh has designed the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2010, in a way that it is the first act to address domestic violence, not only as physical or sexual violence, but also as psychological and economic violence.
Verbal abuse is a form of abuse that is often neglected and not taken seriously. However, it is recognized as a form of psychological abuse under Section 3 of the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2010. This act also gives the victim the right to take police protection, free of cost legal services, assistance from enforcement officers, protection order, access to medical facilities, shelter home services, counselling services, and compensation order.
Empowering the Disempowered: The Role of Legal Literacy
More than 1 billion women lack legal protection from domestic violence, as they do not know their legal rights. Even though the literacy rate is slowly increasing in Bangladesh, seeking legal help, especially for women in rural and urban areas, is still not considered good according to society. On top of that, a considerable percentage of women do not even know what they should do after they suffer any form of domestic violence, and that is why they often choose families to handle the matter or the adjudicatory panel of village courts, where they never get justice, as these panel members are always biased against them. This is displayed in the statistics, where it says that almost 64% of women never speak up about their abuse, and only 7% of them take any legal assistance. Women have taken these crucial steps by getting legal knowledge and help from several international organisations, NGOs, and the government.
Through BRAC’s human rights and legal aid services programme, more than 5000 women have been trained and have gained legal knowledge on different issues related to violence against women. They are sharing their knowledge with other women to empower them and to know about their rights. In the last few years, BLAST has reached 2138 women directly and helped them seek legal help and learn about their rights. Last year, BNWLA, BLAST and ASK filed 380 cases for women. As most of the courts are situated in urban areas, these NGOs help the rural women to ensure their justice as well. Because of this, when one victim gets the desired result, other women get empowered.
Bridging the Gap: Challenges in Legal Implementation
Societies in this sub-region are built in a way where any activities which challenge the patriarchal norms will be considered disgraceful or a rebellious act. In our country, the biggest obstacle to implementing the law is the fear of women. Taking legal steps or gaining legal knowledge is not easy for a woman, as speaking about abusive relationships is considered disgraceful to society. The word “adjustment” is constantly thrown towards women and naturally expected of them to think about family. Society always perceives that if a woman goes to court and gets a divorce, it is considered humiliating to the family, and a divorced woman will never get honour in society. Also, the children will suffer because of the divorce.
Almost 36% of female students after the higher secondary do not get access to university, and a lack of financial stability makes women stay in abusive relationships. Our educational books in primary and secondary schools, where the female percentage is significant, do not contain any legal knowledge which will help the students later. Societal norms, male domination, politics, people’s mindset, economic instability, education and many more are the primary reasons for obstacles to implementing laws.
A Culture of Change: Legal Knowledge and Societal Transformation
In this century, we still need to fight to change the society itself, which is disturbing, since domestic violence is still an alarming issue. Society will never change if the institutions of society do not reform. Not only sharing or promoting legal knowledge, but also other sectors need to change. Women’s education shall be ensured and the number of early marriages in the name of religion shall be reduced. Educational institutions should be vocal and the study materials should include this alarming issue along with stating the importance of having legal knowledge to tackle this issue. Moreover, an increased number of shelter homes for women along with efficient work of enforcement officers, adequate government donations, arrangements of counselling and financial protection to women is significantly required. Fastening the justice system by providing free legal aid to unprivileged women, promoting legal aid in rural areas where women are deprived of knowledge, and creating micro business options for women is vital. Nonprofit organisations should work with the government to ensure that as many women as possible get the basic idea. Only strict laws, policies, and implementation can reduce domestic violence.
Conclusion
Domestic violence can happen to anyone, male or female, but the numbers for women being abused by men are rising every day since historically. The reason why this happens is that men do not even consider their behaviour abusive, whereas women know it is abusive but do not know where or whom to tell, or where it will end. Society has made the legal system look very hard and impossible, and that is why women are getting oppressed day after day. Legal knowledge is essential, and every human has the right to implement it. Altogether, raising awareness and changing mindsets can be achieved, and justice can be given to the suffering women and set them free from their cages.
Author:
Jerin Saida Islam
LL.B. Candidate, School of Law
BRAC University
