The state minister said violence inside the home is not always physical, as words, humiliation and repeated verbal abuse can also leave lasting emotional scars.
TBS Report
14 October, 2026, 01:10 pm
Last modified: 14 October, 2026, 01:16 pm
A stronger family support system is needed to prevent domestic violence and the psychological trauma it leaves behind, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare M A Muhit said today (14 October).
Speaking at the 11th Bangladesh National Youth Conference on Health and Family Welfare 2026 in Dhaka, Muhit said violence inside the home is not always physical, as words, humiliation and repeated verbal abuse can also leave lasting emotional scars.
"Even a single word or remark can cause immense trauma. In our country, girls are exposed to such remarks inside their homes from childhood through adulthood," he said.
He said such experiences may become more frequent before and after marriage, while many victims choose not to speak about them because of social stigma.
As a result, domestic violence often remains hidden and the emotional impact grows over time, he added.
Muhit said interventions should therefore focus not only on individuals but also on the family environment in which the violence occurs.
"Our interventions have to be family-oriented and family-focused. Since domestic violence happens within the family, the suffering continues and grows when there is no family support system," he said.
He also stressed that the Health Ministry alone cannot address the wider health and protection challenges facing adolescents.
The ministries of women and children affairs, social welfare and law should also be involved in coordinated programmes, he said.
Muhit called for greater use of district- and upazila-level data to identify areas where problems such as child marriage, domestic violence and poor educational outcomes are more prevalent.
Regular analysis of local data, he said, would allow the government to design programmes for specific problem areas and assess whether those initiatives are producing results over time.
The state minister also highlighted the need to ensure that adolescents have access to reliable information on sexual and reproductive health.
Curiosity about reproductive health is natural at that age, he said, but social taboos often leave young people unsure about where to seek information or whom to approach for help.
Muhit said the government plans to step up awareness activities on reproductive health and family planning from 1 December.
He also urged policymakers to give greater weight to young people's own experiences and views when designing healthcare services for them.