In Bangladesh, children face immense challenges from poverty, child marriage and climate change. But hope is transforming lives through education, protection and opportunity.
Almost three in 10 children in Bangladesh (28.9%) live in multidimensional poverty.. That's significantly higher than the rate for adults.
For too many families, making ends meet means difficult choices: whether to send a child to school or work, whether to marry off a daughter early to ease financial burdens. Child marriage affects 51% of girls in Bangladesh, robbing them of their childhoods and threatening their futures.
Yet change is happening. Girls like Amina*, who resisted pressure to marry at 14, are rewriting their stories with support and determination. Communities are coming together to challenge harmful practices. And children are gaining the skills and confidence to protect themselves and others.
What We're Doing
Through our partner Breaking the Silence, we're supporting children and families across Bangladesh to build safer, healthier futures.
Stopping Child Marriage
In Barishal, our Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health programme reaches thousands of young people with vital information about their rights and the dangers of early marriage.
We run awareness sessions in 209 secondary schools and community-based sessions for out-of-school adolescents, who are often most vulnerable to child marriage. Through parents' meetings, video screenings and live theatre, we're raising awareness about the harm child marriage causes.
In 2024 alone, we helped prevent 86 cases of child marriage through community support.
At our Childspaces in Dhaka, brave young leaders like 16-year-old Mim* are taking action. After learning about child protection and rights, she stopped the marriage of her 14-year-old friend Jannat*, who had been planning to marry a 17-year-old boy. "I advised them not to marry early, because it's harmful and both will suffer," Mim explains. "Stopping child marriage is my biggest achievement."
Learn more about our work around child marriage.
Mim* stands with girls from the Save the Children's Childspace in Dhaka, Bangladesh captured by Shefali Rafiq
Amina* 18 and friends enjoy some time hanging out in the local cafe drinking chai after college as captured by Shefali Rafiq
Creating Opportunities Through Education
We support girls and families with income-generating activities to help them avoid child marriage and stay in school.
When 18-year-old Amina's* father died, she had to drop out of school. Pressure mounted for her to marry young, like her two older sisters. But through our programme, Amina received a goat to rear, giving her family an income. She sold one goat to pay for her school entrance exam, passed it, and restarted her education.
"It feels great to stand on my own feet and go to school," she says. "If I had been married early, I'd be raising kids now. I wouldn't go to college or hang out with friends. My life would be totally different."
We've also set up Catch-Up Clubs in 161 government schools, providing literacy and numeracy support to 4,800 children alongside child protection messages.
Safe Spaces for Children of Garment Workers
For garment workers like Shanaz*, Ruma* and Aalpin*, leaving young children alone while working long factory shifts isn't an option. Our daycare centres in Dhaka provide safe, educational environments for children aged 2-5.
"Before he joined the daycare centre, he hardly interacted with anyone," says Shanaz about her three-year-old son Shihab*. "But since he started going, he has become more active and has learned how to get along with everyone."
The centres do more than keep children safe. Trained teachers nurture mental and physical development through learning, play and socialising. And monthly parents' sessions teach families about nutrition, hygiene and child development.
"They tell us about child safety, cleanliness, security, health, everything we should do if the child is unwell," explains Aalpin. "They advise us to give healthy food to our kids, like vegetables, eggs, fruit. Now I give her all types of food."
For children aged 6-18, our Childspaces provide a place to learn life skills, understand their rights, and become aware of issues like gender equality and child marriage.
Lear more about our safe spaces for children.
Garment worker Shanaz walking her son Shihab*, 3, to local Save the Children Daycare Centre in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Empowering Children to Protect Each Other
Through our child protection programme, young people are becoming powerful advocates for change in their communities.
Children learn to recognise and report abuse, challenge harmful practices like child labour, and support friends facing difficult situations. They're taught about good and bad touch, how to stay safe in public spaces, and how to speak up when something isn't right.
The impact ripples outward. "I tell my friends about how to protect themselves," says Mim. "I share what I learn here and how to stay safe, how to be aware and cautious on the streets."
Supporting Rohingya Refugees
In early 2022, fires have torn through Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, leaving over 700 children without a home.
Many children are at risk of trafficking, exploitation, abuse and early marriage. Others are forced by family circumstances into dangerous jobs. And, in a country heavily impacted by climate change, natural disasters such as floods, cyclones and rising sea levels pose an increasingly grave threat.
For the 1 million Rohingya refugees living in Cox's Bazar, we continue to provide essential health services, education and protection.
We're helping children access learning opportunities, supporting families with health care, and working to keep children safe from trafficking, abuse and early marriage.
Read our blog on how Rohingya refugees and health workers have been impacted by Coronavirus: 'COVID-19: Fighting An Invisible Enemy in the World's Largest Refugee camp'
Change is possible
Our programmes prove that when communities come together, transformation happens.
Girls are staying in school instead of marrying young. Children are learning to protect themselves and others. Parents are discovering how to give their children the nutrition and care they need to thrive.
"People in our area now see that girls can do something," says Amina. "They see that girls can achieve things beyond child marriage."
Through education, protection and opportunity, we're helping children in Bangladesh build the futures they deserve.
*Names changed to protect identities
Page updated February 2026
