UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell called for urgent investment in Bangladesh’s children after a three-day visit. She urged action to end child marriage and keep girls in school. A national survey in 2025 found that 47.2 per cent of women aged 20 to 24 had married before turning 18. Child marriage pushes girls out of education, increases early pregnancy and limits their future opportunities.
In Korail, a large informal settlement in Dhaka, Russell heard how poverty and interrupted schooling affected families. She also met senior officials and welcomed the government’s promise to increase spending on education and health to five per cent of gross domestic product, a measure of what the country produces. She stressed that this promise needed action.
In Cox’s Bazar, Russell met Rohingya refugee families and visited a learning centre supported by UNICEF. Education can protect children from exploitation and other dangers. As money for humanitarian help falls, she called for continued international support to protect learning and essential services for both refugees and the communities hosting them.
