A 20-year-old man in Narayanganj was allegedly raped after being lured by a neighbor. His mother filed a case on 11 March under Section 377 of the Penal Code, which classifies the crime as sodomy rather than rape, as Bangladesh's laws only recognize rape when the victim is a woman. Supreme Court lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua noted that sodomy carries lighter penalties than rape, affecting case proceedings.
Male rape remains underreported due to social stigma, with limited data available. A 2013 UN survey found 3.7% of rural Bangladeshi men admitted to raping another man. Globally, the UN and ICC recognize rape as gender-neutral, while countries like the US, Canada, and most of Europe criminalize male rape. However, Bangladesh and India rely on laws against "unnatural offenses," leaving male victims with limited legal protection.
