Every year, International Women's Day is celebrated with colourful banners, social media campaigns, and promises of change. Yet, for many women in Bangladesh, safety remains a daily struggle. While progress has been made in education and employment, violence against women continues at alarming rates.

Bangladesh has strong laws to protect women, including the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act (2000) and the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act (2010). But what good are laws if they are not enforced?

Women who report rape, harassment, or domestic abuse often find that police do not take them seriously. Court cases drag on for years and many criminals walk free. Survivors who seek justice are often shamed, threatened, or pressured into staying silent. Justice delayed is justice denied — but in Bangladesh, justice is often never served at all.

Nothing explains the problem better than what happened at Dhaka University (DU) recently. A female student was harassed just because her scarf was not in the "right place." The man, Arnob Sardar, felt it was his right to police what she wore.

But instead of staying silent, the student stood up for herself and filed a police complaint. He was arrested — which should have been a step toward justice.

Yet, within 24 hours, he was granted bail.

And this is exactly why women in Bangladesh do not feel safe. Even when they report harassment and follow the law, the system tends to protect the harasser instead of the harassed.

Women experience harassment everywhere — from the streets to buses to workplaces. Public transport, in particular, is a nightmare for many women, with constant unwanted touching, staring, and verbal abuse. It's clear that there are not enough security measures, female-only spaces, or strict punishments for those who harass women.

The rise of digital platforms has also created new dangers. Women now face cyber harassment, online threats, and blackmail. Instead of taking action, authorities often advise victims to "just ignore it."

Why should women have to ignore abuse while the abusers walk free?

Just a few days before the DU incident, two women were attacked in Lalmatia, Dhaka because they were smoking in public. A mob surrounded them, harassed them, and even physically assaulted them.

Instead of punishing the attackers, some officials tried to justify the attack, saying smoking in public is "wrong" for both men and women. But does that give anyone the right to attack women in the streets?

The public responded with protests in Asad Gate, Dhaka, demanding justice. Women's rights activists say this attack proves that certain groups now feel powerful enough to police women's actions in public.

The government says it does not support mob attacks or harassment. Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan stated that the government is against "moral policing" and that people need to be more aware.

But is awareness enough? If women are being attacked in broad daylight and their harassers are getting bail, the problem is not awareness — it's a lack of consequences.

One of the biggest problems is victim-blaming. When a woman is harassed or attacked, people often question her clothes, behaviour, or why she was outside at night. Instead of holding the criminals accountable, society makes excuses for them. This attitude makes it difficult for survivors to speak out and seek justice.

To truly align with the 2025 theme of "Accelerate Action," Bangladesh must take bold, immediate steps to make women's safety a priority and address the ongoing issue of gender-based violence. It's time to stop waiting for change and start creating it.

Law enforcement needs to be stronger and faster. Investigations should be swift, trials should be completed quickly, and offenders should face real punishment. The police also need better training to handle cases with more care, ensuring that women feel supported and heard throughout the entire process.

Victim blaming needs to end. Too often, when women are harassed or attacked, society shifts the blame onto them. Instead of shaming survivors, we must teach respect and gender equality through education campaigns that ensure women are supported, not blamed.

We need to make public spaces safer for women. More streetlights, better surveillance, and emergency helplines will help women feel secure when they are out and about.

In schools and workplaces, strong anti-harassment policies should be in place and strictly enforced, so women can feel safe in these spaces too.

Women who have experienced violence must have access to support services like counselling, legal aid, and safe places to report incidents. They should not have to fear retaliation or being ignored when they come forward.

Women's safety cannot be ensured by celebrating one day a year. Real change requires action every day — from the government, law enforcement, communities, and individuals. If Bangladesh truly wants to empower women, it must ensure their right to live without fear.