Eight reasons to be hopeful in 2026

2025 was a year of global upheaval for humanitarian and development sectors. The challenges faced by children were and continue to be enormous -- brutal conflicts, challenges to the world’s fundamental commitment to multilateralism, growing uncertainties, and shocking, demoralizing budget cuts. Yet through it all we have remained constant to our guiding principle that each child deserves a chance at a decent life. These challenges have also nurtured courage, compassion, and resilience in each one of us.

Bangladesh was not immune to these global challenges. But despite the difficult times, there were also moments of progress and positive change for the children and families across the country – a reminder of why we remain committed to this work and to the people we serve.

Here are eight reasons why we are hopeful about the year ahead.

Twelve political parties signed the Child Rights Manifesto

In an era of pushback on child rights globally, UNICEF is reinvigorating advocacy around child rights. Last December, UNICEF successfully brought together 12 political parties to endorse a Child Rights Manifesto - a document of clear commitments shaped by the vibrant voices of children and young people in Bangladesh, advocating for a future that respects and protects their rights.

Children represent over 38 per cent of the population in the country, and yet, their rights and voices often receive limited attention in national policy debates. Identifying this disparity presented a critical opportunity for UNICEF to advocate for the mainstreaming of child rights as one of the political agendas.

This initiative ultimately led to the creation of the Child Rights Manifesto, a list of 10 commitments shaped by consultations with children and young people, intended to secure formal pledges from political parties and candidates to prioritize investments in children. This stands as a shining example of political advocacy fueled by genuine and impactful youth engagement.

“We are hopeful that the commitments made today will be reflected in future policies, budgets, and action plans. We expect to see stronger child-sensitive budgeting, enhanced social protection systems, climate adaptation measures that prioritize children, and equitable access to education and health services for all," says 15-year-old child journalist Iftesham.”

Today, as Bangladesh stands at an important crossroads preparing to welcome a newly elected Government following the national elections, there is an opportunity to reaffirm commitments to children’s rights and well-being. It presents a critical window to address persistent gaps and accelerate progress while placing children and young people at the centre of national development priorities. UNICEF stands ready to strengthen our partnership with the Government in this new chapter.

Children and young people were embedded at the heart of Bangladesh’s third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0)

In the last few years, children in Bangladesh have faced devastating effects of extreme weather events and climate hazards.

They have woken up in evacuation shelters. Drank unsafe water. Watched their parents struggle to rebuild homes and livelihoods that have been destroyed not once, but repeatedly. And they're missing school not for days, but for weeks.

Last year, the Interim Government of Bangladesh set a global precedent with a powerful child and youth-sensitive NDC 3.0. To integrate youth perspectives and embed children and young people at the heart of NDC 3.0, UNICEF supported the Government in conducting seven youth consultations across the country in climate-vulnerable areas. It strategically places children and young people, women, and the most vulnerable at the core of climate action. This is a huge win for child rights.

The NDC recognizes the disproportionate and devastating impacts of climate change which disrupt the essential services children and young people rely on. It focuses on key areas including health, food security and nutrition, water and sanitation, education, child protection, disaster risk reduction, and loss and damage.

But to effectively execute NDC 3.0 and realize its ambitious 2035 targets, Bangladesh will need strong national leadership and sustained international support. UNICEF stands ready to collaborate closely with the Government, MoEFCC, and partners to mobilize climate finance, scale up child-sensitive and resilience building solutions, and ensure children and young people are engaged in both implementation and monitoring.

NDC 3.0 sets a new benchmark: a transformative blueprint to protect children and young people today, to secure a safer, more resilient future for all.

Bangladesh achieved over 97% coverage in the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) campaign

Despite being preventable, typhoid fever still claims 6000 lives each year in Bangladesh. The disease spreads easily through contaminated food and water, and children are especially vulnerable.

To address this, the Government of Bangladesh launched a nationwide, month-long Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) campaign last October, targeting nearly 50 million children.

Health workers went an extra mile – crossing rivers and climbing hills – to make sure life-saving vaccines reached children in every corner of the country. Children in marshy lands, coastal belts, and remote hilltops; children with disabilities; children from underprivileged families; children in nomadic, ethnic, and tea-garden communities; students in Kawmi Madrasas; and children of sex workers, all were included. In the Rohingya camps, over 424,000 children were protected.

Bangladesh achieved over 97% coverage, protecting more than 42.5 million children. UNICEF supported the Interim Government of Bangladesh in this vaccination drive, by supplying 50.4 million TCV doses and strengthening every stage of delivery – from planning to communication.

This remarkable success reflects the strong commitment of the Government, with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, and partners. Bangladesh is now among the global leaders in typhoid prevention – the eighth country in the world to roll out this life-saving campaign nationwide.

HPV vaccine is integrated into the routine immunization programme for girls

Cervical cancer is caused by a common Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and is one of the leading causes of death among women globally, and in Bangladesh. Every year, more than five thousand women lose their lives to cervical cancer in the country.

In December 2024, the interim Government of Bangladesh reached a significant milestone in protecting this generation of girls from cervical cancer. The nationwide HPV vaccination campaign reached 5.6 million adolescent girls (93 per cent of those aged 10-14) – including those from the most marginalized communities.

UNICEF delivered the vaccines and worked together with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), WHO, the Interim Government of Bangladesh and partners at the national and local levels to ensure wide coverage, supporting the overall planning, monitoring and execution of the vaccination campaign.

Following the success, the HPV vaccine was integrated into the routine immunization programme starting in 2025. This marks a significant step toward eliminating preventable cervical cancer, with even more girls expected to be vaccinated in 2026 and beyond.

73% of the population in Bangladesh now uses basic sanitation services

The preliminary findings of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2025 (MICS 2025), conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics in partnership with UNICEF, show encouraging progress for children and families in Bangladesh.

73% of the population now uses basic sanitation services – including improved toilets, septic tanks, and latrines – up from 64.4 per cent in 2019. This improvement means fewer children falling sick, fewer children missing schools, and a healthier future for children.

However, much needs to be done. The finding also reveals that only 39.3 per cent of the population has access to safely managed drinking water that is free from E. coli and low in arsenic. This shows that the quality of water remains a serious concern, with direct consequences on children’s health and overall well-being.

Building on these findings, UNICEF will collaborate with the Government to turn this evidence into policies that promote investments and decisions supporting every child's survival and development.

Bangladesh won the SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship

Bangladesh’s under 20 women’s football team won the sixth edition of the SAFF U-20 Women's Championship in 2025. This is a big win in a country where sports like football remain a male-dominated sport.

Wins like this are especially inspiring for girls like Shymuli and Rani, because it encourages them to take up sports, dream bigger and believe in their potential. They grow up having more female role models to look up to. In Bangladesh, the Sports for Development programme (S4D) is helping girls like them gain the confidence and support they need to break barriers and challenge harmful social norms that hold them back.

The initiative was launched by UNICEF with the Ministry of Youth and Sports in 2022. Girls can choose to receive training in some of these categories: football, volleyball, kabaddi, SwimSafe, badminton, self-defense, cricket, skateboarding, surfing, and local games. As part of the initiative, they also attend sessions where they learn about the harms of child marriage and abuse, importance of education, positive parenting, and so much more.

The Government approved two landmark laws to protect children and women

This January, Bangladesh took a decisive step forward for the safety and dignity of women and children. The Interim Government approved two landmark ordinances – the enactment of the Sexual Harassment Prevention and Protection Ordinance 2026 and the amendment of the Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Ordinance 2026. 

The ordinance on sexual harassment seeks to ensure a safe, dignified, and discrimination-free environment in workplaces and educational institutions. It expands the definition of sexual harassment to include physical, verbal, non-verbal, online abuse and mandates institutions to create Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) to address cases. It is expected that a special fund will be created to assist survivors with financial aid, rehabilitation, counseling, and legal assistance.

The updated Prevention of Domestic Violence Ordinance, 2026 broadens the definition of domestic violence to include physical, psychological, sexual, financial, and digital violence. The law aims to provide prompt protection, shelter, medical care, legal aid, and rehabilitation for survivors. Violations are punishable by imprisonment or fines, and officials can be held accountable for negligence.

These ordinances mark a significant step towards ensuring safety, dignity and justice for women and children in homes, schools, and workplaces. UNICEF welcomes this important move and acknowledges the leadership of the Interim Government, alongside UN agencies, partners, civil society actors, and women’s rights networks, whose relentless advocacy efforts made this possible.

As Bangladesh looks ahead to a new chapter under a government that has secured a two-thirds majority, there is a timely opportunity to translate these legal commitments into action and ensure that women and children can safely access services that protect them, without fear or stigma.

The resilience of children and families in the country

Finally, the children and families we work for in Bangladesh give us tremendous hope.

2025 was a year marked by disasters and upheaval. Floods in southeastern Bangladesh. Fire in the Rohingya refugee camps, the Korail slum, and factories. Civil unrest.

Through it all, the resilience and determination of children and families have inspired us to keep going. Their hopes and dreams for a better tomorrow remind us that we must never give up.

In the wake of the July Revolution – led by the courage and determination of young people demanding for accountability and a better future – the people of Bangladesh have successfully held its national elections. The country now stands at a pivotal moment of hope, change, and transformation, with a historic opportunity to build a safer, more just, and more inclusive environment for the younger generation.

No matter what 2026 brings, we remain committed to striving every day for a brighter and hopeful future for every child.