Introduction
Domestic violence is one of the most pervasive violations of human rights in Bangladesh. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) & UNFPA, almost 76% of women have experienced some form of Intimate partner violence in their lifetime; still, a lot of people never look for formal remedies. This silence became an unhealthy culture, which stems from fear of economic dependency, retaliation, and mistrust in law enforcement. However, legal literacy, when effectively implemented, has the ability to transform silence into strength. Awareness of rights shifts victims into survivors, empowers the community, and changes the system in a positive way. This essay defines the power of legal awareness that empowers victims, focusing on Bangladesh’s legal framework, implementation of challenges, and way forward.
The Backbone of Protection
Bangladesh has already enacted several key statutes, particularly addressing domestic violence. The landmark law Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act (DVPPA), 2010 identifies psychological, physical, sexual and financial abuse as forms of domestic violence. This Act introduces provisions to ensure protection and residence orders, monetary compensation, and restraining directives. Also, the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act (WCRPA), 2000 identifies dowry-related violence, acid attacks, and sexual harassment as crimes with stringent penalties. Additionally, for assault, criminal force, humiliation and wrongful confinement, general criminal sanctions are provided by the Penal Code, 1860, sections 349–358. National Women Development Policies, 2011 was enacted to publish a policy framework for promoting gender equality and fighting violence. Most importantly, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 defines mechanisms for filing FIR, which means first information reports and criminal proceedings to pursue.
Evidence and Statistics
Despite such laws’ presence, implementation still remains weak. Police frequently dismiss complaints as private matters of family, courts face case backlogs and victims are sometimes threatened to reconcile rather than seek justice. This huge gap shows why awareness of rights is not enough; victims also need social support and institutional backing. The gravity of the issue is reflected in multiple surveys and reports. To begin with, the Violence Against Women Survey, 2024, reported that 62% of women failed to disclose abuse, and only 3.8% approached the police department. Furthermore, 3.1% of domestic abuse cases result in rulings in favour of the victim, while approximately 32% are dismissed without proper justice.
According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) of 2019, over 49,000 women revealed that 2,374 were physically assaulted, and nearly half met the threshold for legally defined domestic violence. While microcredit membership sometimes increases risk by provoking male backlash, longitudinal studies in rural Matlab suggest that education, wealth, and decision-making power reduce domestic violence risk. These statistics highlight the mixed implications of empowerment; while awareness and resources strengthen victims, they can also trigger resistance in patriarchal households unless coupled with protective systems.
Case Studies
A striking case was Professor Rumana Manzoor of Dhaka University, who was brutally attacked by her husband in 2011, leaving her blind in one eye. This case forced the nation to confront how even educated and urban women are vulnerable. The case shows how legal frameworks lag in prevention, though her husband was arrested and charged under criminal law. Conversely, anonymous grassroots cases show how the DVPP Act encourages women to secure protection orders, reclaim money which was taken as dowry, and ensure custody of children. These successes are examples of the law’s potential when victims are aware of their rights and supported in exercising them.
Empowerment Through Awareness
Legal knowledge empowers victims in multiple ways and it contributes to reducing domestic violence. There are multiple awareness campaigns by NGOs such as Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) and BLAST to inspire women to speak out against violence, disrupting cycles of silence. Also, victims should be aware that under the DVPP Act, they can petition courts for protection orders directly, even without police involvement. Moreover, the WCRP Act, 2000 discourages others from committing similar offences by creating fear of legal consequences. Organising programs of legal education is linked to vocational training, which helps survivors in claiming maintenance or earning independently. Specifically, awareness workshops with men and youth benefit more as they stand against the normalisation of violence, thereby reducing social acceptance of abuse.
Backlash and Barriers
While empowering, legal awareness sometimes produces unintended consequences. A Study was conducted in Bangladesh using data from the MINIMat trial, where it was shown that women involved in microcredit or NGO programs frequently face domestic violence, as husbands see empowerment as a threat to male authority. Victims who look for police or administrative help may face escalated violence at home without protective shelter facilities. Filing legal cases may lead to victim-blaming, gossip, or pressure to withdraw complaints. Thus, pairing legal literacy with effective police training, shelter services, and economic support empowerment must be holistic.
Positive Outcomes of Action
Minu Begum, a domestic worker in Dhaka, endured years of physical and psychological abuse by her husband, who beat her, and deprived her of basic financial support. This economic dependence and ignorance about her rights made her feel trapped for a long time. Minu only approached assistance after being informed by other women about the legal solution she could get under the DVPP Act, 2010. She made an application in the court based on the advice provided by a local women’s rights organisation that she needed a protection order since she had the right to live without being subjected to violence and intimidation. Therefore, she was given a protection order by the court, which legally restrained her husband from engaging in acts of violence or coming closer to her home. After this ruling, Minu obtained counselling services and skills training with the help of an NGO, thus being able to find regular employment and gradually become financially independent. The community awareness programs could not transform the attitude of all relatives, as some of them discouraged her at first from pursuing legal action. However, the community awareness programs influenced the change in local attitudes towards the rights of women. The experience of Minu demonstrates how the knowledge of legal protection and the right to justice can help a victim to change her life and motivate others to change the world around.
Roles of Civil Society
Several organisations bridge the gap between law and awareness, ensuring that legal literacy is not just theoretical but actionable. Citizens’ Initiative against Domestic Violence (CIDV) advocates for the passage of the DVPP Act, 2010 and monitors its implementation. Also, the National Legal Aid Services Organisation (NLASO) provides free legal services to disadvantaged victims. Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT) offers legal aid, psychological counselling, and rehabilitation services. Furthermore, the Female Empowerment Movement (FEM) provides training for women in self-defence, cybersecurity, and leadership. Such training programs play a vital role in ensuring that legal literacy is not just merely theoretical but actionable.
Policy Recommendation
To increase the effectiveness of legal awareness and reduce risk, Bangladesh must initiate a multifaceted strategy. Firstly, establishing monitoring bodies to look into the enforcement of the DVPP Act is urgent. Secondly, police training plays a vital role in sensitising law enforcement to introduce domestic violence as a public matter rather than a personal one. Additionally, in increasing awareness, campaigns through schools, religious institutions, and the media are important to spread knowledge of laws in society. Lastly, judicial efficiency is essential, and the judiciary, especially the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals and family courts, is responsible for fast-tracking domestic violence cases by implementing special procedures and strict timelines to ensure timely relief.
Conclusion
Bangladesh should adopt a multifaceted system to increase the effectiveness of legal awareness and mitigate potential risks. By strong implementation, providing pool training, increasing awareness, providing shelter, engaging the community and judicial efficiency, Bangladesh can ensure that legal literacy is not theoretical, but actionable, which leads to a safer and more just society for each individual. Legal remedies to survivors are provided through the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2010, yet without awareness, these promises are not fulfilled. Empowering people with legal knowledge changes silence into strength, enabling survivors to seek justice and reclaim their dignity.
However, empowerment also carries risks of retaliation and backlash, necessitating awareness to be accompanied by educational safe courses and cultural changes. From the fictional resilience of Minu to Rumana Manor’s tragic cases, it is proven that if victims are aware of their rights and society provides support, the fight against domestic violence becomes more formidable. The ongoing struggle in Bangladesh underscores the significance of legal knowledge as a potent instrument in combating domestic violence.
Author:
Tashdia Tarafdar Ridisha
LLB Candidate, School of Law
BRAC University
