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Press Release
19 December 2025
Bangladesh: Türk urges calm after killing of 2024 protest leader
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Speech
18 December 2025
Let us stand together for the rights of every migrant, and make migration dignified and safe for all. Message for International Migrants Day 2025
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Story
12 December 2025
The balance that shapes our health
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Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Bangladesh
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Bangladesh:
Speech
03 November 2024
"The efforts over the past 50 years have helped to build Bangladesh, to place it firmly on the multilateral stage, and to move ahead" - Ms. Gwyn Lewis
Thank you for joining us for the launch of the exhibition “A Promise for Future Generations: 50 years of Bangladesh in the United Nations”, held on the occasion of UN Day 2024. It is a great pleasure to welcome you all this evening to the new UN House, which will become Dhaka HQ for 12 UN entities starting this December. The images in this exhibition date back to the early 1970s when the UN first came to the assistance of refugees fleeing the former East Pakistan, all the way through to the momentous events of 2024. With photo contributions from the official UN archive, from UN entities working in Bangladesh, and from the image library of Drik Gallery, we have sought to tell two intertwined stories: the growth of Bangladesh as a UN member state across five decades; and the role that the UN has played to support the people of Bangladesh over the same period. The exhibition includes images of Bangladeshi peacekeepers deployed to UN missions overseas, and a series of moving photos depicting the generosity that Bangladesh has shown to the Rohingya people. You will note that the title of the exhibition is forward looking.More than anything, the partnership between the UN and Bangladesh is an investment for future generations. The official anniversary of Bangladesh joining the UN as a member state fell on 17 September this year, just a few days before the Summit of the Future took place in New York. The outcome documents of the Summit, including the Pact for the Future and the annex “Declaration for Future Generations”, chart a revived multilateral course. In looking towards our next decade of partnership, the UN and Bangladesh together have a duty to today’s young people and children to continue to work towards achieving the vision of the Summit. We just farewelled the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, who visited Bangladesh this week. In his remarks to students at Dhaka University on Tuesday, he said it is young people who have led the way to the “historic opportunity” that Bangladesh now has before it. The High Commissioner said that it is young people who give him hope for the future. In preparing these remarks tonight, I wanted to share some thoughts from the young UN staff in my own office. When asked to reflect on their experiences working for the UN in Bangladesh, they speak of pride in being part of an organization dedicated to the progress and empowerment of the Bangladeshi people, particularly women and children. They describe the UN-Bangladesh partnership as a source of hope and energy, driving progress towards a prosperous and equitable Bangladesh. They speak of the privilege of engaging deeply with this country's development coordination landscape. We are proud to mark this UN Day in solidarity with the men and women, young people, girls and boys of Bangladesh. The efforts over the past 50 years have helped to build this country, to place it firmly on the multilateral stage, and to move ahead in leaps and bounds towards the Sustainable Development Goals. And it is to the youth of Bangladesh that we would like to dedicate this exhibition because it is their vision that we are duty bound to take forward. I would like to thank the colleagues from across the UN agencies who have worked to pull together this wonderful display under the stewardship of Dr. Shahidul Alam and the dedicated team at Drik Gallery. Thank you to the Additional Secretary for being here as our Chief Guest and to all of you for joining us. Congratulations to the Interim Government on the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh in the United Nations, and happy UN Day to all!
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Press Release
05 November 2024
Establishing a quality care system in Bangladesh is a cornerstone for gender equality and social justice
Salma*, a young garment worker moved to Dhaka from Comilla along with her partner four years ago and they have an eight-month-old son now. They both found work in the same factory. The factory provided maternity leave and benefits during the birth of their child, and Salma returned to work after two months leave. She initially put her son in the daycare facility in the factory. With two breastfeeding breaks during work, Salma was able to ensure her child was exclusively breastfed for six months. While the daycare facility was free of charge, commuting with a young child was challenging. She recently opted for home-based childcare in her neighbourhood, leaving her son in the care of a woman until they return home from work. This service alone costs them BDT 4,000 per month, a significant portion of the family’s expenses given their combined monthly household income is BDT 35,000.Shafiq* is a sales manager in a pharmaceutical company, and lives in Dhaka with his family, including his aged mother who needs support with her daily activities. Although his wife, Shefa*, is an accounting graduate from the University of Dhaka, both Shafiq and Shefa decided that Shefa would leave her bank job to take care of Shafiq’s mother. Shefa hopes to return to her job someday. However, taking care of Shafiq’s mother remains a priority for the family at present.Rahmat* and Rehana* migrated from Mymensingh in search of work, and now live in Dhaka with their three daughters aged eight, six and two years. Rehana is a domestic worker, while Rahmat is a rickshaw puller. Rehana’s eldest daughter is yet to start school, as she must look after her two younger siblings, while her parents work. While Rahmat and Rehana would like to send their daughters to school someday soon, they are currently unable to find an arrangement to look after the youngest, so all three girls stay home. These are some stories of working Bangladeshi families highlighting challenges related to the absence of a comprehensive care system. With the changes in the nature of work, migration, inflation and climate change, the care arrangements of the past that heavily rely on families are no longer appropriate for today’s world of work. While Bangladesh continues to promote women’s economic participation, traditional approaches to care hinging on women as the primary caregivers in families remain prevalent. This limits women’s opportunities to get an education and skills required to establish their own businesses or enter and remain in workforce and contribute to the national economy. The country’s women’s participation rate in the labour force is low at 21.25 per cent.While new care solutions are being introduced by communities and entrepreneurs, their cost render them inaccessible to most families. The current care system needs to be reformed to ensure better supply, assured quality, accessibility and affordability for all. The government provides some child, elderly and disability care services but their reach is limited . For example, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs is currently running some 63 public funded childcare centres across the country. Further, the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 makes legal provisions for employers to ensure workplaces have childcare facilities, either on-site or off-site. A comprehensive care system would bring together people, institutions, and resources, both public and private, to deliver childcare, elderly care, healthcare, employment injury and rehabilitation support, and assistance for persons with disabilities and special needs. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 (No 156) recognises the role of state, employers and workers organisations in providing care services to improve the quality of life of the workers, including their choice of productive work and employment. It highlights the importance of meaningful engagement of workers and their communities when planning and creating care-related solutions to ensure that they are efficient, accessible and truly cater to users’ needs. Professionalization of care work is essential for providing quality services. Currently, most care occupations and workers are not recognised in law as workers. This maintains informality, produces poor working conditions and provides limited opportunities for skills development and career advancement. Standardisation of care work and organising the care workforce to ensure that their voices are heard and incorporated when designing decent and dignified working conditions in care occupations is needed. Going forwards, the government, the private sector and workers need to establish together a roadmap for change so that the current care burden on women can be reduced through development of a care system that can serve the needs for a growing economy and social protection for all in Bangladesh. * Not their real namesThis Op-Ed was first published in The Daily Star on the International Day of Care and Support.
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Press Release
30 August 2024
Seven years since the Rohingya refugee influx in Bangladesh, UNHCR reminds need for international solidarity
As we mark seven years since the large-scale Rohingya refugee arrival, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, once again calls for sustained commitment from international partners to support the protection of nearly one million Rohingya hosted by Bangladesh, and to help secure solutions for a lasting end to their plight. On 25 August 2017, some 700,000 Rohingya men, women and children were forced to flee Myanmar and seek protection in Bangladesh, joining those who had fled in previous years. The generosity by the Government and the people of Bangladesh in providing the Rohingya temporary refuge was supported by the international community and has been critical in meeting the refugees’ protection and basic needs, alongside assistance provided to local hosting communities. But in recent months security issues and funding uncertainties undermine all but the most critical and lifesaving assistance. In Myanmar’s Rakhine state, the escalated conflict has only worsened conditions for the Rohingya. Many remain stateless with limited access to higher education and jobs, and vulnerable to violence. Yet refugees in Bangladesh continue to say that they long to return to their homes and villages when it is safe to do so. A dignified and sustainable return to Myanmar remains the primary solution to this crisis. We call on the international community to demonstrate the political will to make this possible.We also call on the Bangladesh authorities to ensure that civilians fleeing the violence in Myanmar be allowed access to protection in Bangladesh.Like all of us, the Rohingya aspire for better futures, not determined by religion, race, or the socio-economic conditions of their birth. In Cox’s Bazar and on Bhasan Char, 52 per cent of the refugee population are under 18 years old, many of them born in asylum or having spent their first years in refugee camps. With meaningful support and opportunities, they are capable of immense achievement. We must invest in Rohingya children, youth, women and girls, empowering them to lift their own communities. Through partnership and collective action, we can counter the harmful impacts of generations of violence and deprivation, including the harm caused by exploitative organized groups who prey on vulnerable youth in the camps.Already, thousands of Rohingya have taken positively to trainings and responsibilities to support critical services in the camps, including legal counseling, mental health, community health work, operation and maintenance of water and sanitation infrastructure, shelter repair, as well as serving as first responders to weather and fire incidents. Enhancing resilience through skills, education and livelihoods programmes is critical to helping the refugees to stand on their own feet and move beyond aid dependency. UNHCR calls on stakeholders to continue their support for refugees’ self-reliance.In 2024, humanitarian agencies have appealed for $852 million to assist 1.35 million people, including Rohingya refugees and hosting Bangladeshi communities. We urge donors and private actors to step up their funding to the Rohingya response. The Rohingya people deserve our best, as do the generous people of Bangladesh who cannot be left to shoulder this crisis alone.FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Shari Yasmin Nijman; nijman@unhcr.org
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Press Release
13 September 2024
IFAD’s new Country Director for Bangladesh reassures continuous support in transforming rural economy
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) remains deeply committed to improving the lives and livelihoods of rural communities by boosting agricultural productivity, increasing rural incomes, and empowering smallholders and farmers, women, and youth, said Dr Valantine Achancho, IFAD's newly appointed Country Director for Bangladesh.“Bangladesh has incredible potential for agriculture and transforming rural communities. I am excited to collaborate with the government, our partners, and local communities to strengthen agricultural systems and improve lives nationwide. By working together, we can create sustainable growth and give smallholder farmers the support they need to overcome challenges and thrive,” said Achancho while presenting his credentials to Md Touhid Hossain, Adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Bangladesh on Wednesday.Before coming to Bangladesh, Achancho served as IFAD Country Director and Representative for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo from 2020 to 2024 and has previously held the same position for Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad. He also served as IFAD Country Programme Officer for Cameroon and Gabon, and Programme Officer for the Indian Ocean region, contributing to rural development projects in the Sahel and Congo basin, mobilising co-financing, and strengthening partnerships with governments, donors, and civil society to improve rural livelihoods.In his new role as Country Director for Bangladesh, Achancho will be advocating for and enhancing national government programmes that strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable rural communities through infrastructure and climate-smart agriculture, while enhancing access to finance, technology, and markets for smallholders and marginalized groups to diversify the economy and create rural jobs.“I am dedicated to collaborating with our partners to empower rural communities, enabling them to adapt to climate change, tackle economic challenges, and build sustainable livelihoods for long-term resilience,” says Achancho.Before joining IFAD in 2011, Achancho was deputy director of farmers’ professional organizations and cooperative movement, and senior engineer in charge of prospective analysis and agricultural policies in the Ministry of Agriculture in Cameroon. His earlier positions include national coordinator for Agence Française de Développement (AFD) funded project, visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Agronomy of the University of Dschang in Cameroon, and consultant for IFAD, the Word Bank and European Union operations. He holds a PhD in Sociology for Development from the Paris Institute of Technology for Life, Food and Environmental Sciences.Since 1978, IFAD has supported the Government of Bangladesh in its ambitious rural development goals. Over the past 45 years, IFAD has supported 37 projects, mobilizing USD 3.9 billion in financing, to improve the lives and livelihoods of more than 11 million families.Today, IFAD’s programme in Bangladesh is one of its largest. Currently, IFAD has an investment of USD 519 million in Bangladesh, distributed across six ongoing projects implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Local Government Engineering Department, the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, and the Bangladesh Water Development Board. Media Contact: Farhana Urmee, f.urmee@IFAD.org
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Press Release
30 August 2024
Two million children at risk as worst floods in three decades lash through eastern Bangladesh
DHAKA, 30 August 2024 – Over two million children in eastern Bangladesh are at risk as floods sweep through homes, schools and villages, UNICEF has warned. In all, these floods, the worst in eastern Bangladesh in 34 years, have affected 5.6 million people.Major rivers in the southeast are overflowing due to unprecedented monsoon rains. As a result, more than 52 people have been reported dead. Over 500,000 people are seeking shelter, after rising waters from swollen rivers submerged homes, streets and fields in Chattogram and Sylhet Divisions. Millions of children and families are stranded without food and emergency relief supplies. Government personnel and volunteers are conducting rescue operations, though access remains difficult in some areas. In the coming days, more people will be affected as the monsoon season continues.“The devastating floods in the eastern parts of Bangladesh are a tragic reminder of the relentless impact of extreme weather events and the climate crisis on children. Far too many children have lost loved ones, their homes, schools, and now are completely destitute,” said Emma Brigham, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Bangladesh. “UNICEF is on the frontlines providing water purification tablets, oral rehydration salts and other essential supplies, but more funds are needed to reach these children and prevent an even more devastating impact on their futures.”UNICEF has been on the ground since the onset of the disaster. Having joined an initial assessment mission with the Advisor to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Hasan Arif, UNICEF with its partners has reached over 338,000 people, including 130,000 children, with life-saving supplies such as 3.6 million water purification tablets, 25,000 jerry-cans to store water and over 250,000 oral rehydration salt sachets.But much more is needed. People and children urgently require cash assistance, safe drinking water, hygiene kits, emergency latrines, sanitary pads, oral rehydration salts and emergency life-saving medicines. Primary healthcare services to treat sick newborns and children and help pregnant women to give birth must be restored immediately.The recent floods come close on the heels of the floods in north Bangladesh and Cyclone Remal in May. Jointly, the three emergencies have impacted over 13 million people across Bangladesh, including 5 million children.In response to these three emergencies, UNICEF urgently requires up to US$35.3 million for critical, life-saving, and multi-sectoral interventions for children, as well as pregnant and lactating women.Climate change increases the frequency, severity and unpredictability of cyclones, floods and other extreme weather events affecting Bangladesh, underscoring that the climate crisis is fundamentally a child rights crisis. According to the UNICEF Children’s Climate Risk Index, children in Bangladesh are the most exposed in the world to climate and environmental hazards.Globally, UNICEF addresses the climate crisis to:a) protect the lives, health and well-being of children;b) empower every child to become a champion for the environment; andc) reduce the emissions and environmental footprint.“Year on year, the lives of millions of children in Bangladesh are being ravaged by floods, heatwaves and cyclones. Climate change is clearly changing children’s lives,” adds Brigham. “We call on global leaders to act urgently, and take strong measures to mitigate the effects of climate change, before it is too late for children.” For more information, please contact: Faria Selim; Communication Specialist, UNICEF Bangladesh; fselim@unicef.org
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Story
12 December 2025
The balance that shapes our health
A cat walks slowly through the alley beside a house. It’s a sunny afternoon in Dhaka, and 14-year-old Montaha is walking home from school, a book in her hand and a shy smile on her face. She stops to sit and cuddle the little kitty, the day slowly going toward sunset.For Montaha, it’s a typical day: an early wake-up, school routines, and swapping chats with friends. But today’s homework is special. She’s working on a physics assignment, and for a girl who dreams of becoming a doctor, writing about the laws of the universe feels perfectly fitting.Her textbook lies open to a chapter titled ‘Quantum Mechanics,’ with a photo of German physicist Max Planck. In her notebook, Montaha carefully copies sentences about thermodynamics, learning how particles behave, how energy moves, and how balance gives shape to the universe. In a way, it’s the same invisible science, just in a different field, that powers vaccines: systems finding balance and bodies learning to protect themselves before illness ever arrives. For Montaha, these concepts learned through science have become deeply personal.UNICEF/Bangladesh/2025/Sketchboard Last year, she received the vaccine against HPV, a cornerstone in the life of a young woman, as it is the best protection against cervical cancer. In Bangladesh, cervical cancer is the second common cancer of females that claims the lives of an estimated 5,000 women every year, while 11 women per 100,000 are infected with cervical cancer per year, yet the HPV vaccine still faces persistent misconceptions.“I was a bit perplexed about this vaccine. I thought I had completed all the necessary vaccines, and that no more would be required for the rest of my life. But later, I learned that there are different vaccines for different diseases and age groups. I had a little fear and confusion about the health impact, but our teacher told us that this vaccine is very similar to others we had received earlier,” recalls Montaha.Misinformation about the HPV vaccine remains a concern for health authorities. The most recent campaign, conducted in late 2024, included girls from a wide range of educational institutions, including public schools and madrasas. Others were reached through routine immunization fixed sites and outreach centres. In addition to false beliefs linking HPV vaccination to fertility issues, some religious schools initially raised concerns based on socio-cultural and religious grounds, particularly questioning whether the vaccine was halal. Amid the challenges, 5.7 million girls (93 %) were vaccinated during the campaign. The campaign also witnessed innovations like self-registration through the VaxEPI app (5.3 million registered), online micro planning, and Real-time reporting and monitoring.To help overcome hesitation and misinformation, UNICEF worked closely with the government and religious leaders. Through the Islamic Foundation, awareness sessions were held with respected Islamic scholars, many of whom had initial doubts about the vaccine. Their involvement helped shift perceptions in madrasas like Montaha’s. A Halal certification was also issued and widely shared. At the same time, a national awareness campaign took shape, spreading through social media, local influencers, gynecologists, youth groups, and even scouts and guides. UNICEF also successfully engaged the press at national and local levels to reinforce positive messages and dispel myths. The goal was simple: make sure girls and families heard the facts from voices they trust.UNICEF/Bangladesh/2025/Sketchboard In Montaha’s case, that awareness work made all the difference. Her teacher and her father, a madrasa teacher himself, were both instrumental in encouraging the girls to learn about the vaccine and its benefits:
“I did not know much about HPV before, but I knew a bit about cervical cancer from my friends in the madrasa and neighbors. I was getting information on HPV vaccination through different channels like Facebook and friends,” Montaha explains. “I finally became motivated when our teacher explained in the classroom that HPV can lead to Cervical Cancer. My father also encouraged me to take the vaccine. After that, I shared everything I learned with my extended family members and neighbors.” Montaha was one of 350 students in her Madrasa who were immunized.
The day of the vaccine passed, but the questions it raised didn’t. What else should girls know? Where could they ask? In physics, energy moves through systems, but in Montaha’s world, the flow of information is far less certain.“Sometimes I face difficulties when it comes to sharing menstrual-related problems. I usually ask my father to buy medicine for me from the local pharmacy, but it can be hard to talk to him about these things,” says Montaha. “For issues like this, I used to talk to my mother, or sometimes with my two best friends at the madrasa for suggestions. Overall, I don’t really know where I can get health-related information in our area,” she adds. “I think it would be good to include health-related topics in the madrasa education curriculum, with special focus on vaccination, menstrual hygiene, and other adolescent health issues.”The HPV Plus initiative was created for exactly that reason. Launched by UNICEF, with support from the Government of Canada, it uses the HPV vaccine as an entry point to offer a wider circle of support, connecting adolescent girls to essential health services like menstrual hygiene, nutrition, reproductive health, HIV care, and mental health. By linking these elements, HPV Plus helps girls not only protect themselves but also begin to take charge of their own development and well-being. The campaign has been made possible through the support of key partners: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which supported the overall rollout of the HPV vaccination programme; and the Gates Foundation, whose support has been instrumental in reaching the most marginalized and out-of-school girls.The knowledge Montaha gained is now inspiring other girls. In her words: “I have shared my experience with other girls in my community. Some of my elder friends have shown interest in taking the vaccine. I like to show myself and my friends as examples; we took the HPV vaccine last year and didn’t face any health problems. The message I like most is ‘vaccine saves lives.’ Now, I personally believe that vaccination coverage has contributed a lot to our well-being.”Montaha is not a poster child; she doesn’t need to be. She is a young woman growing into her aspirations through knowledge, awareness, and a quiet but relentless community spirit. Montaha is learning that particles alone do little, but together, they shape the universe. It’s the same with people and health: when knowledge is shared and decisions are collective, they create the balance that keeps everyone safe.Montaha UNICEF Facebook post link https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19M6Y6fBLU/?mibextid=oFDknk
“I did not know much about HPV before, but I knew a bit about cervical cancer from my friends in the madrasa and neighbors. I was getting information on HPV vaccination through different channels like Facebook and friends,” Montaha explains. “I finally became motivated when our teacher explained in the classroom that HPV can lead to Cervical Cancer. My father also encouraged me to take the vaccine. After that, I shared everything I learned with my extended family members and neighbors.” Montaha was one of 350 students in her Madrasa who were immunized.
The day of the vaccine passed, but the questions it raised didn’t. What else should girls know? Where could they ask? In physics, energy moves through systems, but in Montaha’s world, the flow of information is far less certain.“Sometimes I face difficulties when it comes to sharing menstrual-related problems. I usually ask my father to buy medicine for me from the local pharmacy, but it can be hard to talk to him about these things,” says Montaha. “For issues like this, I used to talk to my mother, or sometimes with my two best friends at the madrasa for suggestions. Overall, I don’t really know where I can get health-related information in our area,” she adds. “I think it would be good to include health-related topics in the madrasa education curriculum, with special focus on vaccination, menstrual hygiene, and other adolescent health issues.”The HPV Plus initiative was created for exactly that reason. Launched by UNICEF, with support from the Government of Canada, it uses the HPV vaccine as an entry point to offer a wider circle of support, connecting adolescent girls to essential health services like menstrual hygiene, nutrition, reproductive health, HIV care, and mental health. By linking these elements, HPV Plus helps girls not only protect themselves but also begin to take charge of their own development and well-being. The campaign has been made possible through the support of key partners: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which supported the overall rollout of the HPV vaccination programme; and the Gates Foundation, whose support has been instrumental in reaching the most marginalized and out-of-school girls.The knowledge Montaha gained is now inspiring other girls. In her words: “I have shared my experience with other girls in my community. Some of my elder friends have shown interest in taking the vaccine. I like to show myself and my friends as examples; we took the HPV vaccine last year and didn’t face any health problems. The message I like most is ‘vaccine saves lives.’ Now, I personally believe that vaccination coverage has contributed a lot to our well-being.”Montaha is not a poster child; she doesn’t need to be. She is a young woman growing into her aspirations through knowledge, awareness, and a quiet but relentless community spirit. Montaha is learning that particles alone do little, but together, they shape the universe. It’s the same with people and health: when knowledge is shared and decisions are collective, they create the balance that keeps everyone safe.Montaha UNICEF Facebook post link https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19M6Y6fBLU/?mibextid=oFDknk
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Story
11 December 2025
Domestic workers care for our children; who cares for theirs?
Mukta Akter is a domestic worker living in Azimpur, old Dhaka. She balances her work and motherhood responsibilities with the support of the Azimpur Government Daycare Centre, where she enrolled her children since they were toddlers. Her daughter, now six, progressed into formal schooling, while her five-year-old son continues to learn and grow at daycare freeing her to work.My name is Mukta Akter. I work as a domestic cook in Azimpur. I have a son and a daughter, but I don’t have anyone to help me at home. My husband works in the local market. We earn very little, but I dream of educating my children properly.Every morning at 8am, I drop my son off at Azimpur Government Daycare Centre before going to work. I pick him up again at 4pm. I first heard about this place from a neighbor, and since then, it has become a blessing in our lives. Here, my children are safe, they eat, they sleep, and they learn. The Centre feeds my children, helps them nap, and teaches them so many things. That means everything to me.My son has been coming here since he was two, and my daughter started even earlier, at just one year. Now my daughter is six years and goes to primary school. This Centre helped shape her future. I wouldn’t be able to work if this daycare didn’t exist. It’s a second home for my children. Many women like me need to go to work - especially when the household income is so low. Without a safe place for our children, it’s impossible to continue to work. This place gives me peace of mind and the freedom to earn. It’s hard work, but I want my children to grow up to be educated and build better lives for themselves.Subsidized government daycare centres to the rescueThe Azimpur Government Daycare Centre caters for children from low-income families, such as domestic workers, day labourers, or garment workers. Many of them cannot take their children to their workplaces. The services are subsidized by the government, parents paying 100 Taka (US$0.82) for admission, and 100 Taka as monthly fees. The Centre, staffed with trained caregivers, cares for children aged from six months to six years. Those between two to six years are taught basic literacy including reading, writing in Bangla and English alphabets, as well as rhymes, and drawing. These early lessons prepare them for primary school. It also provides the children with nutritious, balanced well planned meals free of charge for their nutrition and proper growth. Domestic workers contribute significantly to childcare in Bangladesh. But they are parents too with care needs for their children. Domestic workers also have great aspirations to see their children go to school and lead better lives.However, domestic workers in Bangladesh continue to work in the informal economy – characterized by low income and lack of labour rights. Domestic workers are one of the most marginalized groups due to a historical lack of recognition as workers and therefore a lack of legal protection and social protection benefits.The ILO in Bangladesh is providing technical support to the Government of Bangladesh to develop a childcare system that is equitable and ensures quality, affordability and accessibility to childcare services for all working parents.
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Story
11 December 2025
From poly bags to progress: redefining waste in Bangladesh
In Barisal, Bangladesh, plastic used to clog canals; it would gather on roadsides and drift into the river. This was before Nazmun Naher Rina, a housewife, decide to turn this unwelcomed tide into a business opportunity: with support from UNIDO’s “Integrated Approach Towards Sustainable Plastics Use and Marine Litter Prevention in Bangladesh” project, which was funded by the Government of Norway and implemented with the Department of Environment (DoE), Rina received technical assistance, business mentoring, and machinery upgrades to safely recycle the lowest-grade plastics such as poly bags, wrappers, and snack packets.“People used to laugh,” she remembers. “They said, ‘You want to recycle poly bags? That’s garbage work. You’re a woman. You’ll never manage a factory.’”Now, her factory transforms up to 1.2 tons of plastic waste per day into thick, durable sheets used for waterproofing, low-cost roofing, and construction barriers. However, the heartbeat of Rina’s factory is not its machines, but the people behind them, including many women who once worked in the shadows of the informal waste economy — unprotected, unrecognized, and underpaid. Shirin, one of the women now supplying plastic to Rina’s facility, remembers what it was like before. “We used to go door to door, digging through trash with our bare hands. Nobody looked at us. We were just part of the garbage,” she says. “Now, I sell sorted plastics directly to Apa [Rina]. She treats us with respect. She asks how our kids are doing.”With UNIDO’s support, over 150 informal waste workers, half of them women, have been trained in safe sorting, protective handling, and business skills. Many are now part of organized networks or cooperatives, negotiating fairer prices and building steady livelihoods. The factory is just one part of a larger circular ecosystem being piloted in Barisal: UNIDO’s project connected businesses with the city’s plastic waste flows to create a more structured and inclusive value chain. It is designed not only to reduce marine litter and landfill pressure but to build local green enterprises led by women. For more information, please contact: Office of Communications, Conferences and Media Relations
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Story
11 December 2025
Every Second Counts: Midwives on the Frontline of Safe Motherhood in Cox’s Bazar
When nineteen-year-old Fatema arrived at the Baharchora Union Health and Family Welfare Centre in Cox’s Bazar, she was suffering from repeated convulsions caused by severe pregnancy-related hypertension. Every second mattered. Her life and her baby’s depended on the swift action of skilled hands.Midwife Supervisor Porna Kisku, serving under the UNFPA project supported by the European Union, immediately recognized the signs of eclampsia, one of the leading causes of maternal death in Bangladesh. Acting quickly, she guided her team to assess Fatema’s condition and stabilize her breathing and circulation. Drawing on the emergency eclampsia box, stocked with life-saving medicines such as magnesium sulphate, labetalol, and hydralazine, Porna and her team managed to stop the convulsions and stabilize both mother and baby. This decisive use of magnesium sulphate, a medicine that prevents fatal seizures in eclampsia, illustrates how access to quality maternal health commodities can mean the difference between life and death. Other essential drugs, including oxytocin for managing postpartum haemorrhage and modern contraceptives, are also reaching frontline facilities through the same strengthened supply chain, ensuring that women receive both life-saving treatment and reproductive-health choices.Once Fatema’s condition was under control, Porna knew she needed to be referred to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for further management and possible surgery. Before the ambulance departed, she ensured that a Mama Kit, a clean-delivery set provided through the project, was included in case delivery occurred en route.Her foresight proved vital. While being transported to the hospital, Fatema went into active labour. The referral midwife, following Porna’s guidance and training, safely delivered a healthy baby girl in the ambulance using the Mama Kit, ensuring a clean and safe birth. By the time they reached the hospital, both mother and newborn were stable and in good health. Through support from the European Union, UNFPA and its implementing partner RTMI continue to strengthen emergency obstetric and newborn care in Cox’s Bazar. The project ensures that every facility is staffed with trained midwives, equipped with emergency supplies, and connected to a reliable referral system. The goal is clear: that every woman, regardless of where she lives, can access timely, skilled, and respectful care.This intervention is part of a larger twelve-month initiative valued at over €1.1 million, funded by the European Union with co-financing from other donors. The project strengthens the reproductive-health supply chain, ensuring uninterrupted access to essential commodities for nearly 180,000 people, including both Rohingya refugees and members of host communities.Porna’s experience is a reminder that preparation, teamwork, and access to the right medicines save lives. Every well-equipped midwife is not just a caregiver but a lifeline for mothers and babies across Cox’s Bazar.
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Story
11 December 2025
Education powered by solar energy, fuelled by curiosity
It took a long boat ride, then journey by a bamboo raft, and hours of walking on steep hill paths to bring a single tall and big box to a remote school in Rangamati hill district under the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Inside the box was something the children had only heard and whispered about. “A big TV!” larger than anything they had ever seen, solar-powered Multimedia Classroom (MMC) facility.When it finally reached the school and was set up, the wait proved worthwhile. As the first images flickered onto the screen, the classroom filled with gasps and laughter. Children leaned forward in wonder; their faces lit not just by the glow of the projector but by sheer excitement. For students in this remote corner of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), it was a moment that felt nothing short of magical. In Rangamati, Khagrachari, and Bandarban, 570 solar-powered classrooms have been installed under the Ecosystems Restoration and Resilient Development in the CHT (ERRD-CHT) Project, led by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, supported by the Embassy of Canda and implemented by Hill district Councils. By harnessing solar energy, the project ensures lessons can continue despite unreliable electricity and reduces dependence on the grid. Not only general schools, but also madrasas, orphanages, and schools for children with disabilities will benefit from this initiative.Powered entirely by solar energy, the system is both eco-friendly and sustainable. Education specialists believe the initiative will not only lower dropout rates and boost classroom attendance but also spark students’ enthusiasm for learning. Above all, it will help bridge the gap giving children from remote and underserved communities equal access to modern education.For twelve-year-old Moyna, a student of standard six, the experience is a revelation. “Before, I could only read the names of birds in books,” she says. “Now I can see them moving in the sky.”Teachers are noticing a profound difference. Geography lessons once confined to static maps now come alive on screens, with rivers, mountains, and borders unfolding in vivid detail. “Students remember more, ask more questions, and stay engaged longer,” one teacher explained. “It has completely changed the atmosphere of the classroom and now students hardly miss attending school.”Parents see the impact as well. For families in the hills, education is the single bridge to opportunity. “My daughter comes home telling me about planets and computers,” said Rokeya Begum, a mother in Bandarban. “It makes me believe her future will be brighter than mine.”In the first phase, 40 educational institutions across 10 upazilas of the district have received the equipment. Eventually, a total of 141 institutions will be covered.In classrooms once limited to chalk and paper, multimedia screens are opening new worlds for the children of the hills. Each lesson sparks questions, experiments, and conversations that never happened before. For Moyna and her classmates, learning has become an adventure. They are no longer passive recipients of knowledge but explorers, eager to see, touch, and understand the world around them. Across the CHT, Global Affairs Canada supported UNDP’s work in Women and Girls Empowerment through Inclusive Education in CHT is reducing inequalities by bringing quality learning to children in remote and hard-to-reach areas. By introducing technology in classrooms, training teachers in pedagogy and gender-responsive teaching techniques and ensuring schools in remote areas have sustainable energy, these efforts are giving students the tools to dream bigger and aim higher. They are not only expanding access but also sparking curiosity in young minds.Powered by the sun, these classrooms are lighting up young minds in the hills, one lesson at a time.
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Press Release
19 December 2025
Bangladesh: Türk urges calm after killing of 2024 protest leader
GENEVA (19 December 2025) - UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said today he was deeply troubled by the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, a prominent leader of last year’s protests in Bangladesh, who died of his injuries after being shot last week.Türk called for calm and for everyone to refrain from violence.“Retaliation and revenge will only deepen divisions and undermine the rights of all,” he said.“I urge the authorities to conduct a prompt, impartial, thorough, and transparent investigation into the attack that led to Hadi’s death, and to ensure due process and accountability for those responsible.”Several protests erupted at various locations around the country after Hadi’s death was announced on Thursday, six days after he was shot. Some buildings were torched and vandalised, and a number of journalists have reportedly been assaulted.With the parliamentary elections scheduled for February, Türk said it was vital to ensure an environment in which all individuals can participate safely and peacefully in public life, and freely express different views.“I urge the authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and security of journalists at this critical time, and prevent further escalation of unrest,” Türk said.The High Commissioner said his Office stands ready to work with the authorities and all stakeholders to support efforts that uphold human rights and prevent further violence. ENDSFor more information and media requests, please contact:In GenevaJeremy Laurence: +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.orgThameen Al-Kheetan: + 41 22 917 4232 / thameen.alkheetan@un.orgIn NairobiSeif Magango : +254 78834 3897 / seif.magango@un.org WhatsAppX @UNHumanRightsFacebook unitednationshumanrightsInstagram @unitednationshumanrights
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Press Release
11 December 2025
IOM Launches First Nationwide Estimate of Disaster-Induced Internal Displacement in Bangladesh
Dhaka, 10 December 2025 — The International Organization for Migration (IOM-UN Migration), together with the Government of Bangladesh and development partners today launched its first comprehensive nationwide estimate of internally displaced persons (IDPs) caused by natural hazards. The findings offer a clear picture of how floods, cyclones, river erosion and other hazards continue to disrupt lives across Bangladesh.Bangladesh faces repeated natural hazards each year, but until now, there has been no verified nationwide estimate of how many people have been forced to leave their homes due to disasters. To close this gap, IOM carried out a nationwide assessment across all eight divisions, 64 districts, 4,579 unions, 329 municipalities and 480 city corporation wards. The assessment estimates that 4,955,527 people are currently internally displaced due to natural disasters. Data was collected between September and October 2025. The assessment collectively interviewed more than 29,000 key informants through 5,388 field visits, making it the most extensive exercise of its kind in Bangladesh.Speaking at the event, Lance Bonneau, Chief of Mission of IOM Bangladesh, said: “Understanding the scale of displacement is essential for effective disaster management and long-term planning. These findings give national authorities, local leaders and development partners a shared foundation to respond to displacement with greater clarity and coordination.”Key assessment findings include: two out of three IDPs (63%) were displaced before April 2020, pointing to long-term, unresolved displacement across the country. One in four IDPs (25%) were displaced between April 2020 and April 2024.The assessment found that Chattogram Division hosts the largest share of IDPs (1.21 million), followed by Dhaka (0.79 million) and Rajshahi (0.66 million). Four districts — Chattogram, Sirajganj, Bhola and Noakhali — account for a quarter of all displaced persons. Most IDPs (85%) live in rural union areas.Representatives of the Government of Bangladesh welcomed the report as a major step toward strengthening implementation of the National Strategy on Internal Displacement Management, which calls for regular, systematic data collection on displaced populations.Aleya Akter, Secretary of Statistics and Informatics Division, addressing as the chief guest, paid the remarks virtually. K M Abdul Wadud, Additional Secretary, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR); Mohammad Navid Safiullah, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC); and Eva Atanassova from the European Union also paid their remarks among other speakers. The event included a presentation on the methodology, an official unveiling of the report and a panel discussion on how to incorporate IDP estimation into government data systems, featuring representatives from the Department of Disaster Management (DDM), Department of Environment (DoE), Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and development partners.This initiative was made possible with support from the European Union, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, the IOM Development Fund and the Platform on Disaster Displacement.Partners who supported this initiative reaffirmed their commitment to work with Bangladesh in building more resilient and inclusive systems for disaster response. Representatives from the Government of Bangladesh and other partners also attended the event. The new estimate marks an important milestone in Bangladesh’s effort to better understand and address internal displacement. It will help guide policies on disaster preparedness, relocation planning, social protection, climate adaptation and long-term development. For more information, please contact Tarek Mahmud, Senior Media and Communication Associate of IOM Bangladesh, at tmahmud@iom.int or +880 1752 380 240
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Press Release
11 December 2025
Political Parties Sign Child Rights Manifesto, Pledge Investments and Policy Reforms in Response to Children’s and Young people’s Call for Action
Dhaka, 01 December 2025 – In a historic moment for the nation’s children, political parties have united to sign a Child Rights Manifesto, responding to the powerful voices of children and young people who have demanded a future where their rights are better respected and protected. At the launch today, the Child Rights Manifesto was signed by 12 political parties for the upcoming 2026 national elections(Amar Bangladesh Party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Socialist Party of Bangladesh Communist Party of Bangladesh, Gano Forum, Ganosamhati Andolon, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiyo Party, Khelafat Majlis, Nagorik Oikya and National Citizen Party), pledging action to address ten priority commitments designed to put childhood back on track in Bangladesh.The Manifesto is the result of an inclusive, multi-phase process engaging children, adolescents, and young people - including marginalized groups, those with disabilities, and indigenous communities - through digital platforms like U-Report and in-person consultations. Findings were validated with academia, civil society, private sector, and development partners, before briefings on the data and evidence and the draft commitments were presented to political party leaders to secure public commitments ahead of the national elections.It outlines practical goals that when implemented, will address the country’s most urgent child rights priorities, addressing the challenge to ensure that every child in Bangladesh survives, learns, and is protected. The commitments include: strengthening quality education, skills, nutrition, and primary healthcare, creating safer communities free from violence, abusive practices, and hazardous child labour, tackling child poverty, ensuring coordinated leadership and monitoring on critical issues, and addressing climate challenges that threaten their future. By signing the Manifesto, political parties commit to embedding these priorities into their policies and election agendas, and to act decisively once elected. Underpinning each commitment is verified national data that highlights those areas where the rights and well-being of Bangladesh's nearly 35% child population are most at stake.“Children have spoken loudly and clearly: their future cannot wait. Today’s signing of the Child Rights Manifesto is a promise to turn words into action, and action into hope. The Manifesto outlines clear, achievable change for children today that drives human capital development and will result in a stronger Bangladesh tomorrow. The most recent data tells us with urgency and clarity where children are being left behind. With UNICEF support, the leadership of the political parties has studied the data and the evidence on critical challenges facing children in Bangladesh, they have debated the gaps, and where the investments are needed, and today they are not making a hollow commitment, they are signing publicly to express a new era; a revamped agenda for children. Unlike other manifestos, these promises are rooted in evidence and are based on a call from the most vulnerable and often least heard. Today’s signing represents a lifeline for millions of children whose futures depend on the right decisions and investments the political leaders will make,” said Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh.The 10 non-negotiable commitments are grounded in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and prioritize structural reforms across key sectors to transform the situation of children in Bangladesh:1. Closing the Gap in Child SurvivalStrengthen and reduce fragmentation of primary health care services in rural and urban areas, addressing child wasting, including by the provision of locally-produced specialized therapeutic food.The rise in wasting from 9.8% to 12.9% and the low rate of early antenatal care (46%) show critical gaps in primary health and nutrition services that directly threaten child survival. These findings reinforce the urgency of strengthening primary health care and expanding access to specialized therapeutic food to prevent malnutrition and save lives.2. A Safe Bangladesh for ChildrenMake communities safer, including by removing exceptions to child marriage law in line with the UNCRC, strengthening law enforcement and systems to end violence against women and children and acting immediately to eradicate hazardous child labour.The rise in child labour to 9.2%, the persistently high rate of child marriage (47.2%), and the alarming prevalence of violent discipline (86%) reveal how unsafe many environments are for children in Bangladesh. This data underscores the urgent need to protect the dignity of girls and boys, protecting them from the abuses that are evident in child marriage by removing legal loopholes the allow this cultural practice, strengthening law enforcement and protection systems, and taking immediate action to eliminate hazardous child labour.3. Quality and Inclusive Education for all childrenEnsure nine years of free, quality, compulsory education, along with one year of free and compulsory quality pre-primary education; to close learning gaps, bridging the digital divide, and strengthening transferable skills. Increase opportunities to acquire skills for employment.With only 28.6% of children in Grades 2–3 able to read and just 21.2% demonstrating basic numeracy, the learning crisis is deep and widespread. Sharp drops in attendance after primary school further highlight the need for nine years of free, compulsory, and quality education, supported by digital access and skills development, to ensure every child can learn, progress, and thrive. Efforts to end child labour are rooted in improved and compulsory education and strengthened skills for employment.4. Social Protection Coverage for every childAddress poverty by introducing a child grant for the most vulnerable children aged 0-6 years.It is critical to address fragmentation and improve the reach and targeting of social protection, including expanding the Mother and Child Benefit Programme to cover all adolescent mothers under 20 and increasing total beneficiaries by 50% by 2027. The commitment underscores the urgent need for a stronger, more inclusive social protection system. Introducing a child grant for vulnerable children aged 0–6 would complement this expansion, supporting parents to care and protect, ensuring that the youngest and most at-risk children are protected from poverty and have a fair start in life.5. A Climate-Resilient Bangladesh for ChildrenProtect children affected and displaced by climate hazards by ensuring access to safe, climate-resilient, and low-carbon schools, healthcare, water, and sanitation services & reducing pollution and heat exposure.With around 20 million children in Bangladesh exposed to climate shocks and hazards, and one in ten households experiencing disruptions to drinking water due to natural disasters in the past year, the climate crisis is also a child rights crisis. Ensuring access to safe, climate-resilient schools, healthcare, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services is critical to protect children and safeguard their well-being.6. Better Water and Sanitation ServicesUnify all water and sanitation functions under one accountable ministry, with responsibility for infrastructure upgrades, water recycling, and safe sanitation for every child, with special attention to health & education facilities.The high levels of contamination, over 80% of household samples testing positive for E. coli, highlight the urgent need for improved water safety. Limited access to safely managed drinking water (39.3%) and basic sanitation coverage (73%) underscores the importance of unifying water and sanitation functions under one accountable ministry to ensure safe WASH services for every child, especially in schools and health facilities.7. A future of opportunities for every child in BangladeshReview and address access to quality social services for vulnerable populations, including indigenous and minority groups. For Rohingya refugee children and young people, provide portable skills as they prepare for a safe, voluntary, and dignified return to their homeland.For Rohingya Refugee Children and Youth, it is key to protect education, ensuring accreditation and continuity of learning, while maintaining humanitarian support and protect child services, and investing in skills, livelihoods and community resilience, including vocational training for adolescents and youth, including young women, to enhance self-reliance and preparedness for return.For Children in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Other Minority Communities, it is key to promote equitable access to quality education and child-centered social services in Health, Nutrition, WASH and Protection.8. End Invisible Children in Bangladesh (Birth Registration)Improve the process to access birth registration for children in Bangladesh without charge to ensure every child has an identity and access to every service.With only 59% of children under five registered and just 47% having a birth certificate, millions of children in Bangladesh remain invisible. Ensuring free and accessible birth registration is essential for every child to claim their identity and access vital services.9. A budget that reflects children needsPrioritize social sector allocations, reaching overtime 5% of the GDP for each of the following sectors: education and primary healthcare.Current investment for children in Bangladesh’s social sectors falls short of global recommendations, with 4–6% of GDP suggested for education and at least 5% for health. Evidence also shows that investing in child protection yields significant returns—each dollar invested produces ninefold social and economic benefits, highlighting the critical need for a child-focused budget that reflects these priorities.10. Reporting on Children and Youth Commitments: Conduct a review of the Children´s Act, with a view to identifying contradictions, existing gaps in laws and implementation of policies affecting children to be conducted over the first year of the new Government to ensure they are in accordance with the UNCRC.An annual parliamentary reporting through a child rights scorecard will ensure transparent monitoring of progress, especially for the most vulnerable children.The Manifesto comes at a critical time, aligning the country's need for an essential focus on human capital development with the powerful call made by youth during the students’ movement in July 2024, for transparency, fairness, and accountability in national policies and governance mechanisms.UNICEF, along with its partners, thanks all political parties and key stakeholders for formally reflecting the commitments of the Child Rights Manifesto in their party policies and priorities, in their calls for action, and in standing accountable for driving children’s rights, creating a more equitable and fair Bangladesh, in the months and years after the dust of the upcoming election has settled.Notes to Editor:You can download photos from here.Media contactsMiguel Mateos MuñozUNICEF BangladeshTel: +8801713043478Email: mmateosmunoz@unicef.orgFaria SelimUNICEF BangladeshTel: +8801817586096Email: fselim@unicef.org
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Press Release
04 December 2025
United Nations holds briefing for political parties on support to Bangladesh for upcoming elections
The United Nations today opened its doors to all registered political parties for a briefing session at its office on its technical assistance to the Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC) for the upcoming national parliamentary election.
The UN team provided an overview to the representatives of political parties on the key elements of its electoral assistance, followed by a question-and-answer session. Through the BALLOT Project, the UN is supporting the Election Commission to strengthen its operational capacity and train BEC staff, support voter and civic education, supply critical materials, and promote greater inclusion in electoral processes and information integrity. This assistance is guided by United Nations principles, including respect for national sovereignty and ownership, the promotion of human rights, and a commitment to impartiality, neutrality, and independence. Launched in May 2025 at the Election Commission’s request, BALLOT has helped to add almost 8 million new voters to the 120 million already registered, including 3.8 million men and more than 4 million women. For further information on the UN’s technical support for elections: Joint Statement by UNDP, UN Women and UNESCO on ongoing UN electoral assistance to Bangladesh | United Nations in BangladeshThe BALLOT | United Nations Development Programme
Media Contact: Md Abdul Quayyum : md.quayyum@undp.org
The UN team provided an overview to the representatives of political parties on the key elements of its electoral assistance, followed by a question-and-answer session. Through the BALLOT Project, the UN is supporting the Election Commission to strengthen its operational capacity and train BEC staff, support voter and civic education, supply critical materials, and promote greater inclusion in electoral processes and information integrity. This assistance is guided by United Nations principles, including respect for national sovereignty and ownership, the promotion of human rights, and a commitment to impartiality, neutrality, and independence. Launched in May 2025 at the Election Commission’s request, BALLOT has helped to add almost 8 million new voters to the 120 million already registered, including 3.8 million men and more than 4 million women. For further information on the UN’s technical support for elections: Joint Statement by UNDP, UN Women and UNESCO on ongoing UN electoral assistance to Bangladesh | United Nations in BangladeshThe BALLOT | United Nations Development Programme
Media Contact: Md Abdul Quayyum : md.quayyum@undp.org
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Press Release
25 November 2025
BANGLADESH HOSTS NATIONAL DIALOGUE TO END DIGITAL VIOLENCE AS PART OF GLOBAL 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM
Dhaka, 25 November 2025 : The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, the Local Consultative Group on Women’s Advancement and Gender Equality, and the United Nations formally inaugurated the 2025 global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence with a strong national call to “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls” at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka.Building on UN Women’s global call to action launched on 18 November, the national dialogue convened senior government officials, UN agencies, diplomatic missions, civil society leaders, youth advocates, and technology stakeholders to address the urgent challenge of technology-facilitated violence.Chief Guest Ms Sharmeen S. Murshid, Adviser to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, underscored the gravity of the issue, “Before, a girl couldn’t go out on the street without thinking of eve teasing; now you cannot enter your cyber space without being stalked. And the stalking world has become huge. It’s not just a boy from a neighbourhood—it’s anybody anywhere in the world who can hunt your dignity. Technology has to move its way, but it’s our own attitude that will determine its course. So the 16 Days of Activism is just a reminder and perhaps a concerted effort that we need to make every single day of our lives.”Ms Mamtaz Ahmed, NDC, Senior Secretary of MoWCA, emphasized the need for stronger laws, coordinated institutional responses, and public awareness, while international partners reiterated that digital violence is a global reality requiring united action. According to World Bank data, fewer than 40 percent of countries have laws protecting women from cyber harassment or cyberstalking, leaving 44 percent of the world’s women and girls—1.8 billion—without legal protection. From online harassment and cyberstalking to deepfakes and gendered disinformation, digital abuse is silencing voices and undermining women’s rights across borders.H.E. Susan Ryle, High Commissioner of Australia, called for united action across sectors to ensure technology becomes a tool for empowerment rather than harm. “It’s not just a women’s issue, it’s an issue for all of us. So let us stand together—governments, organizations, champions and women—to build a world where technology inspires, sport inspires, and partnerships deliver safety and equality for every woman and girl.”H.E. Nicolas Weeks, Ambassador of Sweden, stressed the importance of enforcement, “Proper implementation of existing laws is needed to enable access to justice for victims of gender-based violence. It also signals to perpetrators that these crimes will not go unpunished. The enactment of a Sexual Harassment Prevention and Protection Ordinance is crucial for ensuring the rights and freedoms of women, girls and boys.”Ms Gitanjali Singh, UN Women Representative, highlighted the global scale of the problem, “Digital violence knows no borders. Worldwide, between 16 and 58 percent of women and girls face online violence or harassment. Online harassment and bullying frequently spill into offline spaces, silencing women’s voices and restricting their participation in public life. A different future is possible. If our ambition is for a peaceful, prosperous, and resilient Bangladesh, then there can be no higher priority for our support than women and girls. Together, we can create a future where women and girls are safe everywhere in Bangladesh. We owe it to women and girls.” A high-level panel discussion followed the inauguration, titled “Preventing Technology-Facilitated Violence in Bangladesh: Gaps, Challenges and Recommendations.” Moderated by Ms Dilara Begum, Joint Secretary, MoWCA, the discussion featured experts from regulatory bodies, academia, government, and youth-led platforms, including Mr Mahmud Hossain (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission), Ms Nasima Akhtar Khatun (University Grants Commission), Ms Ummey Sharaban Tahura (Law and Justice Division), and Ms Labonno Binte Hafiz (Youth Policy Forum). Panelists highlighted critical gaps such as insufficient evidence-based policymaking, weak enforcement mechanisms, limited digital literacy among women and girls, and the absence of a coordinated national framework for reporting and responding to online harms. They emphasized that digital violence is deeply intertwined with social norms and power structures and requires integrated approaches across prevention, protection, and accountability.In her closing remarks, UNFPA Representative Ms Catherine Breen Kamkong said, “Technology Facilitated GBV is real, and it deserves the same serious attention as any other form of GBV. Recognizing it clearly, as we have done here today, is a very small step forward. We need a legal framework and guidelines to improve the investigation. The prevention and response need to be survivor-centric.”Throughout the programme, speakers reiterated that digital violence is not merely a technological issue but a human rights and development challenge that restricts women’s freedom, safety, and participation. The event underscored the need for stronger laws, greater accountability from technology companies, survivor-centred support mechanisms, and expanded investment in digital literacy and norm change.As Bangladesh marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the 2025 campaign calls upon government institutions, the private sector, civil society, youth networks, and international partners to take concrete and coordinated measures to eliminate technology-facilitated violence. For media inquiries: Shararat Islam; Communication Analyst; shararat.islam@unwomen.org
Notes to Editor:About UN WomenUN Women exists to advance women’s rights, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. As the lead UN entity on gender equality, we shift laws, institutions, social behaviours and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world for all women and girls. We keep the rights of women and girls at the centre of global progress – always, everywhere. Because gender equality is not just what we do. It is who we are. Please visit: https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/countries/bangladeshAbout the campaignThe 16 Days of Activism is a global initiative led by UN Women under the UNiTE to End Violence against Women movement, running annually from 25 November to 10 December. Know more: https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/unite/theme
Notes to Editor:About UN WomenUN Women exists to advance women’s rights, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. As the lead UN entity on gender equality, we shift laws, institutions, social behaviours and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world for all women and girls. We keep the rights of women and girls at the centre of global progress – always, everywhere. Because gender equality is not just what we do. It is who we are. Please visit: https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/countries/bangladeshAbout the campaignThe 16 Days of Activism is a global initiative led by UN Women under the UNiTE to End Violence against Women movement, running annually from 25 November to 10 December. Know more: https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/unite/theme
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Latest Resources
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Resources
23 September 2025
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