Bangladesh has made notable social, political, and economic progress over the past decades, and it has met the criteria for graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category. However, these gains are overshadowed by persistently high levels of gender-based violence (GBV). According to the national Violence Against Women Survey (2024), 70% of women experience intimate partner violence, and 2.2% experience non-partner sexual violence during their lifetime. Women and girls face significant sexual harassment in public spaces, including transport, educational institutions, and workplaces, with high rates reported in universities and through online platforms.
Despite widespread prevalence, reporting of sexual harassment remains extremely low. Between 2022 and 2023, only 27 incidents were officially reported across the top five universities, reflecting severe underreporting. Studies highlight that fear of stigma, lack of effective redressal mechanisms, and political influence hinder reporting. The absence of accessible GBV referral services and rising online harassment further exacerbate the problem for students and staff across campuses.
The Bangladesh High Court issued a directive in 2009 emphasizing protection from sexual harassment as a fundamental right and mandating educational institutions to maintain effective prevention and prosecution mechanisms. In line with this, the interim government approved the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplaces and Educational Institutions Ordinance 2026 to strengthen legal frameworks. UN Women, in collaboration with the University Grants Commission (UGC), has supported the operationalization of these directives through monitoring tools, training, and capacity-building programs, fostering safer and more inclusive university environments.
Universities face challenges in addressing sexual harassment, including the lack of comprehensive legislation, unclear complaint pathways, ineffective Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs), limited resources, bureaucratic delays, political interference, and the absence of secure reporting spaces. Many incidents occur outside university jurisdictions, making coordination and accountability difficult. These gaps undermine prevention, reporting, and response efforts, leaving survivors at risk and reducing confidence in institutional mechanisms.
Recommendations to improve campus safety emphasize strengthening legal and policy implementation, operationalizing zero-tolerance policies, integrating ICCs into formal governance structures, and allocating dedicated human and financial resources. Prevention strategies include scenario-based training, engagement of male students and staff, peer support through student platforms, and consistent disciplinary enforcement. Response strategies focus on standardized reporting and follow-up procedures, enhanced digital reporting systems, inclusion of legal expertise, confidentiality protocols, and psychosocial support for survivors. Together, these measures aim to create safer, more inclusive universities and ensure survivor-centred approaches in preventing and responding to sexual harassment and GBV.
