President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for strict implementation of a zero-tolerance policy to prevent violence and sexual harassment against women and girl children.

Safety of girl children must be ensured everywhere, from their journeys to school and the school environment to the online world and social media, he said.

“There is no alternative to strict implementation of the zero tolerance policy to ensure prompt investigations, effective trials and strict enforcement of the law in cases of violence, rape and sexual harassment against women and children,” the President said.

He made the remarks while addressing a discussion as chief guest at Bangladesh Shishu Academy on Monday, marking International Day of the Girl Child 2026.

The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the National Girl Child Advocacy Forum (NGCAF) jointly organized the discussion and cultural programme, with Women and Children Affairs Minister AZM Zahid Hossain in the chair.