Bangladesh Mahila Parishad has recorded a sharp rise in sexual violence against women and girls, reporting 786 cases of rape and gang rape in the past year, a 52.3% increase from 516 cases in 2024. Of the total, 543 victims were girls, according to data cited by Dhaka Tribune. The figures come as a fresh case has emerged from Comilla, where a Class 10 student, aged 15-16, was allegedly gang raped in the Lalmai Hills on the night of August 29. Local reports say the girl was lured to the secluded spot by her boyfriend, where three of his friends were waiting while a fifth man stood guard; she was allegedly assaulted throughout the night. Villagers grew suspicious the next morning when they spotted the group, and while four of the accused fled, a 20-year-old man was caught by locals. Police, led by Superintendent Mohammad Anisuzzaman, have arrested one suspect, taken the victim to hospital, and are investigating further, with more details expected after her medical examination. A separate report by Human Rights Watch also found that gender-based violence in Bangladesh increased last year. Rights groups have warned that without institutional reforms, stronger accountability measures, and broader social change, the rising scale of violence documented in 2025 risks becoming a permanent and entrenched problem in Bangladeshi society.