Child sexual abuse
How can we protect our children from being preyed on?
On June 7, a special court sentenced Sohel Rana, the prime accused, and his wife Swapna Khatun (who helped him escape) to death for the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter.
23 July 2026
To protect our children from sexual abuse, we must first know its true scale
A country cannot end a harm it does not measure.
21 July 2026
Amid a dangerous rise in child rape, we must confront our failures
Children are no longer safe in their homes.
26 May 2026
Girls must grow up in a safe environment to lead our future
Why is violence against children, especially girls, increasing, and what can be done to stop it?
11 October 2025
22% of sex trade victims minors in Bangladesh
At least 22 percent of victims of commercial sexual exploitation (abuse of a person, or a minor, through sexual activities in exchange for money, goods, or other benefits) in Bangladesh are children, said speakers at an event yesterday.
17 September 2025
Rising child sexual abuse: What are we missing?
The bigger question is, why is this happening? What is turning men and boys to commit such acts of depravity?
28 August 2025
Confronting the overlooked facets of child abuse
Child-on-child sexual abuse is a subset of the broader child sexual abuse epidemic that plagues Bangladesh.
17 October 2024
Bangladesh’s persistent child abuse woes
Why have we done so little to ensure safety and dignity of our future generations?
27 April 2023
Bollywood, sex education, and teaching consent
I found out last Sunday that Ajay Devgn taught my husband about consent.
22 September 2022
The devastating shades of intimacy after assault
On my worst days, any type of physical intimacy ends in hellish claustrophobia; I’m buried under layers of shame, wrapped in an endless cycle of revulsion at my body, and I can’t escape.
1 September 2022
If kids aren’t safe at home, where will they be?
Study reveals a disturbing picture of child abuse in Bangladeshi households
10 June 2022
'We failed them'
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison issued a national apology to thousands of victims of institutional sex abuse yesterday,
22 October 2018
Abused children carry the trauma in their cells: Study
Children subjected to abuse may carry the physical hallmark of that trauma in their cells, scientists say, in research that could help criminal investigations probing historic mistreatment.
2 October 2018
Shame the child abusers not the abused
An in depth story in this Friday's Star Weekend magazine gives a chilling picture of child sexual abuse in our society and how the system works against the survivors.
8 December 2017
Not seen, not heard, not believed
Hearing stories that are not heard otherwise
7 December 2017
Downplaying child sexual abuse
According to Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum, a total of 494 children were raped in the eight months from January till August this year—among them 58 were gang-raped. According to their statistics, 37 disabled children were raped during this time, while 46 were victims of attempted rape.
24 October 2017
80% of 18-yr-olds see risk of online sexual abuse
Eight out of ten 18-year-olds believe that young people are in danger of being sexually abused or taken advantage of online, and more than five out of 10 think friends participate in risky behaviours while using the internet, a new UNICEF study shows.
7 June 2016
Bishops to face sack for mishandling abuse
Pope Francis approves measures to sack bishops who mishandle child sexual abuse cases, a papal decree says.
4 June 2016
13yr Mumbai schoolgirl's letter to teacher exposes rapist dad
In a discreet letter slipped to a teacher last week, a young schoolgirl in Mumbai writes that her father has been raping her and her mother, who was witness to these sexual assaults, did nothing to help, reports NDTV.
23 July 2015