Child marriage affects nearly half of young women in Bangladesh, UNICEF warns

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell is urging the Bangladesh government to close legal loopholes that allow child marriage and to invest more in education, health, and protection for children. During a three-day visit to the country, Russell highlighted findings from the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2025, which shows that 47.2 percent of women aged 20 to 24 were married before they turned 18.

The agency stated that child marriage causes girls to leave school, leads to early pregnancy, and restricts their future opportunities. To address this, UNICEF is calling for girls to complete secondary school and for the removal of legal exceptions that permit marriage for minors.

While visiting Korail, the largest informal settlement in Dhaka, Russell met with parents and children to discuss poverty and limited access to basic services. During the visit, Russell also met with senior government officials, including State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam.