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 help girls complete secondary school. According to a 2025 national survey, 47.2% of women aged 20 to 24 married before turning 18. Child marriage pushes girls out of education, contributes to early pregnancy, and limits their future opportunities.
In Korail, an informal settlement in Dhaka, Russell heard how poverty and interrupted schooling affect families. UNICEF wants gaps in national law that allow child marriage to be closed. Russell also welcomed the government's commitment to raise education and health spending to 5% of gross domestic product, a measure of the country's economic output, but stressed that promises must become action.
In Cox's Bazar, she met Rohingya refugee families and visited a UNICEF-supported learning center. She called for continued international support for refugees and the communities hosting them. As humanitarian funding falls, this support remains essential to maintain basic services and protect children's education.
