Bangladesh is ranked eighth globally for having the highest number of child marriages, and it holds the top position in Asia for this issue.
This information was highlighted in the report titled "Girls' Goals: What Has Changed for Girls? Adolescent Girls' Rights Over 30 Years," published by UNICEF, Plan International, and UN Women on the occasion of International Women's Day.
According to the report, 51.4% of women aged 20-24 in Bangladesh were married before the age of 18.
As a result, young girls get trapped in the cycle of permanent poverty, face health risks, experience hindrances in their potential development, and the economic growth of the population is negatively impacted due to half of the population being at risk.
The report also mentions that Bangladesh is one of the seven countries where the digital skills rate among adolescent girls and young women is 2% or less.
Rana Flowers, UNICEF's representative in Bangladesh, stated that young girls in Bangladesh aspire to contribute to building a nation full of opportunities, where they can access diverse resources and actively participate in progress. However, various obstacles and discrimination are holding them back.
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
