Bangladesh is leading Asia in child marriage, with the highest rate in the region, and ranks eighth in the world. A staggering 51.4% of Bangladeshi women, aged between 20 to 24, were married before turning 18, according to a recent report.
The findings were published in a report titled "Girl Goals: What Has Changed for Girls? Adolescent Girls` Rights Over 30 Years," jointly released by UNICEF, UN Women, and Plan International on Saturday, marking International Women’s Day.
Despite notable progress in some areas like education and healthcare, the report emphasizes that Bangladesh is still grappling with deep-rooted issues such as child marriage. Girls in Bangladesh continue to face significant challenges like discrimination, violence, a lack of access to education, and limited opportunities.
UNICEF’s representative in Bangladesh, Rana Flowers, underscored the struggles of young girls in the country, saying, “Adolescent girls in Bangladesh want to play a key role in building a prosperous Bangladesh where they have access to various opportunities and can contribute to the country’s progress. However, barriers and discrimination continue to hold them back, and this also negatively impacts the country.”
Flowers added, “This International Women’s Day should focus on overcoming all barriers and ensuring equal opportunities and hope for everyone.”
One of the most concerning revelations from the report is the gap between adolescent girls and boys in accessing education and employment. Adolescent girls and young women, aged 15 to 24, are twice as likely to be excluded from education, jobs, and training compared to their male peers.
In low-income countries, 9 out of 10 adolescent girls still lack access to the internet, cutting them off from crucial digital opportunities.
Geetanjali Singh, the UN Women representative in Bangladesh, expressed concern over these challenges, stating, “Many girls in Bangladesh still don’t attend school and are at risk of harmful practices and violence. It is vital to adopt an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach from now on to help these girls reach their full potential. Investing in their empowerment and leadership skills is not just the right thing to do but also a smart strategy.”
The report also highlights that 28% of adolescent girls aged 15-19 in Bangladesh have experienced physical or sexual violence from their partners within the past year. Although there have been efforts to combat such issues, much work remains to be done.
In terms of education, Bangladesh has shown some improvement. About 59.22% of adolescent girls in Bangladesh complete their secondary education.
Yet, the country is still one of seven in the world where fewer than 2% of adolescent girls and young women possess digital skills.
This gap in digital literacy poses a significant challenge to the future of these girls in an increasingly digital world.
Bangladesh has also made strides in healthcare for girls.
UNICEF helped carry out a successful nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign in 2023-24, ensuring that 93% of eligible girls across the country received the life-saving vaccine.
The report closes with several urgent recommendations to address the ongoing challenges faced by girls in Bangladesh.
These include amplifying the voices of adolescent girls and supporting their advocacy efforts, bridging the gaps in education and digital literacy, and making evidence-based investments to focus on their most critical needs, with an emphasis on economic empowerment.
Ultimately, while progress has been made, the fight against child marriage, discrimination, and gender-based violence remains a pressing issue in Bangladesh, and comprehensive efforts are needed to ensure a brighter future for the country’s girls.
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