“Raped”: Legal language evolved, media still lag behind

In multiple reports published in Bangladeshi media in 2025, those who were subjected to rape were introduced in the headlines as a “raped teenager” (Dhorshita Kishori) or “raped woman” (Dhorshita Nari). In one report, a mother was introduced as “mother of the raped” (Dhorshitar Ma). Victims are being identified only by the crimes committed against them.

The word “Dhorshita” (a stigmatizing term for a female rape victim) was replaced by “dhorshoner shikar” (subjected to rape) in the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act (Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain) by amending it five years ago. Despite the law change, the country’s top media outlets continue using this language.

Screenshot of the Bangladesh government law portal (bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd) showing the 2020 amendment to the Nāri O Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain, replacing the word ধর্ষিতা with ধর্ষণের শিকার (‘subjected to rape’). — **Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Daman (Amendment) Act, 2020** Section 9 replaces “ধর্ষিতা” (raped) with “ধর্ষণের শিকার” (subjected to rape) — the legal language survivors’ advocates had pushed for.

The law specifically refers to the Bangla term “dhorshita” and does not mention its English equivalent. The Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) has identified “raped” as the corresponding English term. Dismislab followed the same terminology for this report. However, to avoid ambiguity, the report focused only on Bangla-language reports.

Dismislab investigated why news outlets continue to use the term and examined how much editorial accountability exists.

140+Bangla reports used “raped” in 2025

29/30top outlets used the word

12reports used it in the headline itself

Dismislab’s analysis revealed that in 2025, the word “raped” was used in at least 140 Bangla reports across 29 of the 30 most-read online media outlets. In 12 of the reports, the word appeared in the headline itself. Only ATN Bangla avoided using the term raped.

Media outlets operate on their own policies, and institutional guidelines are the primary consideration for language use. There is no legal obligation to stop using this word. However, global journalism guidelines and international organizations have emphasized gender sensitivity.

Language prevalent in Bangladeshi media

Explore the outlets

Click or tap a box to see the outlet’s name, how many of its reports used the word in 2025, and examples. Up to three article screenshots are included for each outlet.

Top 5 media outlets that used the word most

Dhaka Mail 25

Jugantor 20

Kalbela 16

Channel 24 10

Dhaka Post 10

To observe the use of this word in the media, Dismislab chose the online platforms of 10 media outlets from each of three categories — TV, online, and daily newspapers — based on their readership numbers. Verifying reports published in 2025, Dismislab did not find the word “raped” in any report from only one media outlet. The word was used in all the remaining 29 media outlets.

Among the online portals, the word was found in 25 reports by Dhaka Mail and 10 reports by Dhaka Post. Among newspaper websites, raped was used in 20 reports by Jugantor and 16 reports by Kalbela. Among television websites, the highest instance (10) of using the word was by Channel 24.

Not only inside the reports, but the use of the word in the headlines is also noticeable. Individuals have been presented with identities like “Raped teenager”, “Raped woman”, “Stood beside the raped”…, and even “Mother of the raped”.

That is to say, not only the victim, but their family members are also being identified through the incident. The mother of the one who was the victim of the crime is now being introduced through that incident, not by her own name.

01The label enters the headline

02The person is defined by the incident

03The label extends to the family

04Even relatives are named through it

Examples of how that identity plays out in real headlines: the survivor named only by the crime.

Impact of language

According to experts, words like “raped” define a person through the crime committed against them. As a result, their identity as an individual is undermined; the incident of violence committed against them comes to the fore.

Manisha Biswas, legal specialist of the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), has said concepts of impurity and shame have been attached to the word “Dhorshita” for a long time. Such language has long-lasting harmful effects.

She said, “The use of these words brings the victim to the forefront of everything and conceals the fact that there is a perpetrator here.”

“Although it is said that what is actually in a word? But this play of words plays a major role in helping a woman carry her identity. These things actually compel a person to become silent,” she added.

According to Barrister Priya Ahsan Chowdhury, such a label can throw the relevant person into “the fear of falling victim to judgment in the family, workplace, or social sphere.”

She says these words also have social and psychological impacts: “When someone is repeatedly identified with labels linked to violence, society then begins to consider that specific incident as their core identity instead of seeing them as an independent human being with dignity. As a result, that person may suffer from mental agony and the fear of social isolation.”

Trishia Nashtaran, founder of Meye Network, says media language not only serves information, but also influences people’s thoughts and perceptions. “Media language establishes a kind of standard. It influences the perspective. Due to being used repeatedly, this language leaves a deep impression on the subconscious minds of readers, viewers, and listeners.”

She reminded that by using such words, on the one hand, the perpetrator’s culpability is evaded, and on the other hand, the victim has to fall prey to fresh injustice: “The social pressure of the entire injustice falls upon the wronged woman, the society’s victim-blaming attitude towards her is indulged, the possibility of the woman, who was subjected to rape, being socially ostracized increases, and the stigma imposed by society upon her solidifies. Whereas the abused woman has absolutely no fault here.”

Meanwhile, Nishat Sultana, director of Plan International Bangladesh, says, “The words that mentally traumatize a woman again and again, making her a victim; those words cannot be used.”

According to her, “For such a sensitive issue, we expect from the media that the first concern or the first sensitivity will come from them. The media is our voice. If there is a major flaw right there, then how will they stop society’s mistakes?”

What guidelines say

International journalism guidelines on reporting sexual violence emphasise that the language used should not subject survivors to further stigma or trauma in society.

The guideline titled “Reporting on Violence Against Women and Girls” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) mentions that word choices like “raped woman” should be avoided. This can create the perception that the victim had some role in the incident.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) states that in incidents of sexual and gender-based violence, such word choices or language must be used that clearly bring forth the perpetrator’s culpability.

In the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma’s “Reporting on Sexual Violence” guidelines, this responsibility has been placed directly on journalists. It states that it is the responsibility of journalists to exercise caution so that the victim does not face any further harassment or have their dignity undermined in society.

Also, the Dart Center Europe’s “Reporting on Sexual Violence in Conflict” guidelines state that sensational descriptions must not be used in the case of reporting on sexual violence; because how the media presents a subject can play an important role in how people will perceive that issue and in its impact on the individuals involved.

The importance of word selection in reporting on sexual violence has also been highlighted in the Canada-based study “Use the Right Words: Media Reporting on Sexual Violence in Canada”. The study stated that using the correct words is extremely important when publishing news about sexual violence. Incorrect word choices can unintentionally compound the victim’s suffering further. Due to this risk of unintentional harm, media outlets should be well informed about all such methodologies that do not shame or blame the victims.

In Bangladesh too, several policies have been formed at various times for maintaining gender sensitivity in the media. The guideline “Gender in the Horizon of Journalistic Ethics”, published by the Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI), states, “What word you will use in the case of a rape victim is a matter of much thought. The word ‘raped’ (dhorshita) has been changed to ‘subjected to rape’ (dhorshoner shikar) in the latest amendment (2020) of the Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain. Many media outlets have already been using this phrase for a long time. In this, the boundary of gender is broadening for victims of such incidents.”

At the same time, the guideline has raised another question. Even if “subjected to rape” is used, the person essentially remains confined within the identity of a victim. In many cases, the word “victim/sufferer” could be a comparatively neutral alternative.

In the study “Women and Hijras in Bangladeshi News Media” published by the same institution, the word “Dhorshita” is identified as a word used as a slur.

Editorial policies

Publicly visible policy

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Specific rape-reporting guidance was found only on Prothom Alo’s website.