During a three-day visit to Bangladesh, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell issued a comprehensive call for urgent, sustained investment in the nation's children. Highlighting the critical intersection of education, health, and child protection, Russell emphasized that safeguarding the rights of young people is fundamental to securing a prosperous future for the country. The advocacy effort outlines a clear path forward, urging immediate action on three fronts to address systemic vulnerabilities and protect the most marginalized populations.

The Three Fronts of Urgent Intervention

The strategic framework presented by UNICEF focuses on three fronts designed to address immediate humanitarian needs while building long-term societal resilience:

  • Ending child marriage and keeping girls in school to ensure they can achieve their full potential.
  • Delivering on the Government's commitment to invest five per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in both education and health.
  • Protecting quality learning for Rohingya refugee and host-community children who face severe educational disruptions.

According to Russell, keeping girls in school and providing them with the health, education and protection services they need will deliver a brighter future for them, for their communities, and for Bangladesh.

Addressing the Crisis of Child Marriage

A primary focus of the UNICEF chief's visit was the persistent challenge of child marriage in Bangladesh. During her time in Korail, Dhaka's largest informal settlement, Russell met with children and parents to hear firsthand accounts of how poverty, disrupted education, and limited basic services impact daily lives. Adolescent girls shared their personal ambitions alongside the intense societal and economic pressures that frequently force them out of school and into early marriages.

The scale of this challenge is reflected in national data. According to the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2025, nearly half—specifically 47.2 per cent—of women in Bangladesh aged 20 to 24 were married before reaching the age of 18. This high rate of early marriage has severe consequences, driving girls out of the education system, fueling early pregnancy, and severely narrowing their lifelong economic and personal opportunities.

To combat this, UNICEF is calling for comprehensive measures to ensure girls can complete their secondary education. Furthermore, the agency is urging the government to close existing loopholes in national law that permit child marriage, establishing a stronger legal framework to protect adolescent girls from premature marital unions.

Translating Budgetary Commitments into Action

In discussions with senior government officials, including State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Russell addressed the economic underpinnings of child welfare. While welcoming the Government's commitment to increase public spending on education and health, she stressed the critical importance of turning these policy promises into concrete actions.

The benchmark for this investment is the government's commitment to allocate five per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) to the education and health sectors. Russell noted that budgets are a direct reflection of a nation's priorities, stating that “Investing in children’s quality education, health, nutrition and protection is investing in Bangladesh’s future.”

Safeguarding Education in Cox's Bazar

The final leg of the visit focused on the humanitarian crisis in Cox's Bazar, home to one of the largest refugee camps in the world. Here, Russell met with Rohingya children and families, visiting a UNICEF-supported learning centre where students and teachers discussed the vital role of education and vocational skills.

UNICEF emphasizes that education in emergency settings serves as a critical protective shield. Beyond academic instruction, structured learning environments protect vulnerable children from exploitation, human trafficking, child marriage, and recruitment by armed groups.

Reflecting on the plight of displaced families, Russell pointed out that Rohingya children have already lost so much to violence, displacement, and uncertainty, and they cannot afford to lose their education as well. “Rohingya children have lost so much to violence, displacement and uncertainty. They cannot lose their education too,” Russell said. “The world must invest in them, and in the communities that welcomed them.”

As international humanitarian funding declines, sustained support remains critical to protect essential services and ensure that refugee and host-community children are not left behind. UNICEF and its partners continue to deliver life-saving and essential services in Cox's Bazar, but the sustainability of these programs depends heavily on continued global solidarity.