In Bangladesh, 47.2 per cent of women aged 20 to 24 were married before turning 18, while 13.4 per cent of women in the same age group were married before the age of 15.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) highlighted these figures based on findings from the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2025.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, Unicef warned that child marriage puts girls’ education, health and future prospects at risk.
Following a three-day visit to Bangladesh, Unicef Executive Director Catherine Russell called for urgent action to end child marriage, keep girls in school and increase investment in education and healthcare.
Russell identified three urgent priorities for children’s welfare: ending child marriage and ensuring girls remain in school and continue their education, fulfilling the government’s commitment to invest five per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in education and health, and ensuring quality education for Rohingya refugee children and those in host communities.
According to Unicef, child marriage increases the likelihood of girls dropping out of school, exposes them to the risks of early pregnancy and limits their opportunities later in life.
During her visit, Russell met families in Dhaka’s Korail slum and members of Rohingya refugee and host communities in Cox’s Bazar, listening to their experiences and the challenges they face.
She also met Bushra, a 14-year-old girl who had been protected from child marriage.
“I met a 14-year-old girl named Bushra. She told me that community leaders at a Unicef-supported child protection centre had worked with her father to protect her from child marriage,” Russell said.
She stressed that keeping girls in school and ensuring access to essential healthcare, education and protection would help build a brighter future not only for the girls themselves but also for their communities and Bangladesh.
During her visit to Dhaka, the Unicef executive director also met Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam.
Russell welcomed the government’s commitment to increase allocations for education and healthcare, while emphasising the importance of fulfilling that pledge.
“Budgets reflect priorities. Investing in quality education, health, nutrition and protection for children means investing in Bangladesh’s future,” she said.
Russell also praised Bangladesh for hosting Rohingya refugees.
“Rohingya children have already lost so much because of violence, displacement and uncertainty. We cannot allow them to lose their education too. The world must invest in them and the communities that have welcomed them,” she said.
Unicef emphasised that ensuring children’s access to education, healthcare, nutrition and protection, preventing child marriage and expanding educational opportunities for Rohingya refugee children and those in host communities were essential to Bangladesh’s future.
