Conviction rate in violence against women and children cases only 3%: study

The conviction rate in cases of violence against women and children in Bangladesh stands at only 3%, while 70% of cases end in acquittal, according to a new study jointly conducted by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and BRAC.

The findings were presented at a consultation meeting held on Saturday at BRAC Centre in the capital’s Mohakhali, organised by BRAC’s Social Empowerment and Legal Protection (SELP) programme.

The study, which analysed 4,040 disposed cases across 32 districts between January and June 2025, also found that 13% of cases were settled.

Although the law requires such cases to be disposed of within 180 working days, the average duration was found to be 1,370 days, or around 3.7 years. On average, each case was scheduled for hearing 22 times.

The report identified key procedural barriers, including the absence of complainants and witnesses, frequent adjournments, delays in investigation, weak evidence systems, and lack of witness protection. It also noted that despite legal provisions, systemic challenges continue to slow down the justice process.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman, speaking as chief guest, said the judiciary remains the most neglected pillar of the state, citing budget constraints.

He also highlighted that case backlogs remain high, with pending cases often multiplying into sub-cases, and stressed the need for reforms in mindset, structure and capacity to improve efficiency.

BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh said public trust in the state weakens when key services such as justice, education and healthcare fail to function effectively.

He emphasised that budget increases alone are not sufficient without accountability and institutional responsibility.

He also called for a coordinated “whole-of-government” approach involving law enforcement, healthcare and legal authorities to ensure a victim-centred justice system.

Director General of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust Md Monjurul Hossain said many victims do not pursue legal action due to social stigma and pressure, while prolonged trials and procedural complexities further weaken cases.

BRAC officials noted that although the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000 was designed for swift justice, implementation challenges persist. A recent amendment reducing the disposal timeframe to 90 days was also highlighted, though stakeholders said procedural bottlenecks remain unaddressed.

The study recommended strict enforcement of case timelines, limiting adjournments, ensuring timely forensic and medical reports, strengthening investigators and prosecutors, improving witness protection, expanding legal aid and counselling services, and increasing the number of tribunals in high caseload areas.

According to BRAC’s SELP programme, more than 25,000 people received legal aid support in 2025, around 90% of them women, while nearly 1.1 million people were reached through legal awareness initiatives.