Bangladesh tops Asia in child marriage rate: UNICEF

Bangladesh has the highest child marriage rate in Asia, with 51 percent of women, now aged 20-24, got married before 18.

A new report 'Girl Goals: What Has Changed for Girls? Adolescent Girls' Rights Over 30 Years,' conducted by UNICEF, UN Women, and Plan International revealed this information on International Women's Day celebrated yesterday.

Adolescent girls in Bangladesh continue to face challenges, particularly in child marriage and gender disparities, according to the report.

Despite global progress in investing in girls, Bangladesh continues to struggle with deeply rooted gender inequalities, limiting opportunities for adolescent girls in education, employment, and safety, it said.

While life expectancy, healthcare, and education have improved in some areas, adolescent girls in Bangladesh remain significantly disadvantaged.

Girls and young women aged 15–24 are twice as likely as boys to be out of education, employment, or training. Alarmingly, 28 percent of adolescent girls aged 15-19 have experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner in the past year.

"The barriers that adolescent girls face in Bangladesh continue to hold them back from realising their potential," said Rana Flowers, UNICEF representative in Bangladesh.

"This International Women's Day, we must break these barriers and create equal opportunities for all girls, empowering them to contribute to Bangladesh's development and prosperity."

The report highlighted the country's struggles in education and digital literacy. The secondary school completion rate for adolescent girls stands at just 59.22 percent, and fewer than 2 percent of young women have access to digital training.

Gitanjali Singh, UN women representative in Bangladesh, stressed the need for urgent intervention.

"Many young girls remain out of school and vulnerable to violence and harmful practices. We need an all-hands-on-deck approach to ensure their rights are protected," she said.

Despite these challenges, Bangladesh has made progress in health, including a successful HPV vaccination campaign that covered 93 percent of eligible girls, protecting them from cervical cancer.

Bangladesh has also made notable strides in health, with the life expectancy of adolescent girls globally rising to 79.1 years, an increase of 4.5 years over the past three decades.

The report called for immediate policy changes to close gaps in education, skills development, and digital literacy. It urged greater investment in adolescent girls and data-driven interventions that empower them economically and socially, ensuring they can contribute meaningfully to their communities and the country's future.