# 20 year old man raped in N’ganj by neighbour: Sodomy case filed as raape of male not recognized in Bangladesh

> A 20-year-old man in Narayanganj was allegedly raped by a neighbor, but the case was filed under Section 377 as sodomy, not rape, due to Bangladesh's laws, which only recognize female rape. Male rape is underreported du…

Published: 2026-09-16 · Desk: Latest · Source: The Business Standard

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.

Original reporting: https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/crime/20-year-old-man-raped-nganj-sodomy-case-filed-bangladesh-yet-recognise-male-rape
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