Staff Reporter :
According to a recent report by the Bangladesh Men’s Rights Foundation (BMRF), nearly 80% of married men in the country are victims of various forms of abuse.
The organization’s data reveals that in the past nine years, a total of 4,268 men across the country and 2,328 men in Narayanganj district have suffered from some form of abuse. However, the foundation claims that the actual number of men experiencing abuse is significantly higher.
Sheikh Khairul Alam Sohel, Chairman of BMRF, on Tuesday disclosed these findings during an event held on the occasion of International Men’s Day. According to BMRF’s statistics, as of October 2024, 1,067 men nationwide have reported incidents of abuse.
In comparison, previous years showed the following numbers: 1,049 men in 2023, 792 in 2022, 450 in 2021, 330 in 2020, 240 in 2019, 170 in 2018, 120 in 2017, and 50 in 2016. Over the last nine years, 4,268 men have been victims of abuse, but the true figure is believed to be much higher, as many victims remain silent due to shame and social stigma.
In Narayanganj, a district particularly highlighted in the report, 647 men were reported to be victims of abuse by October 2024. In 2023, the number was 632, and in 2022, it was 397. The numbers continued to rise from 2016 through 2021, with the total reaching 2,328 cases over the last nine years.
Sheikh Khairul Alam Sohel stated, “Our research shows that over the past few years, more than a thousand men on average across the country, and between 600-700 men in Narayanganj, fall victim to abuse annually. Married men are the most vulnerable, with around 80% of them suffering from mental abuse.” He added that the actual number of abused men could be much higher, as many victims are too embarrassed to report the abuse due to societal expectations.
He pointed out that the lack of a specific law addressing male abuse is contributing to the issue. “While there are laws protecting women from abuse, there is no law specifically to protect men. The misuse of laws meant for women’s protection often leads to the harassment of men, including false cases. Many men are pushed to extreme measures like suicide due to the emotional and legal pressures they face,” said Sohel.
Sheikh Sohel also criticized laws that he believes disproportionately favor women. For example, Section 497 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes adultery, holds the male partner in an extramarital affair accountable, while the woman involved in the affair is exempt from punishment. He called for greater equality in the legal system, saying, “Both parties in such cases should be equally held accountable.”
