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two possible futures, contrasting what girls would have contributed to the economy had they stayed in school and entered better-paying work with what they contribute when early marriage cuts those opportunities short.

Economists calculate the gap between these two life paths in terms of earnings, health and long-term participation in the labour force.

The MICS-2025 also said that at the current rate of reduction, 4 percent per year, it would take over 64 years to eliminate child marriage in Bangladesh.

UNICEF officials yesterday said many existing child protection committees, including those on child marriage, child labour and anti-trafficking, function effectively only in areas where UNICEF and the government have jointly invested in social workers and community hubs.

“Bangladesh still has woeful levels of child marriage, with 49 percent of girls being pushed into early unions,” said UNICEF Representative Rana Flowers, warning that early marriage drives a cycle of early pregnancy, malnutrition, higher neonatal deaths and rising divorce rates.

She dismissed the justification often given by families that “marrying off girls preserves their dignity”.

“Are we honouring the dignity of girls when they face the highest levels of violence, early pregnancy, poor nutrition, higher neonatal mortality and rising divorce rates? The answer is no.”

Flowers stressed that a modest increase in investment could prevent further economic losses. Violence against women and children already costs Bangladesh 3–4 percent of GDP annually. “A small investment in child protection will offset massive economic losses.”

According to the MICS-2025, 86 percent of children aged 1–14 experienced violent discipline at home in the past month, showing that violence against children remains widespread and costs Bangladesh an estimated 2 percent of GDP every year.

She also highlighted the country’s chronically low investments in human capital: Bangladesh spends 1.7 percent of GDP on education, of which only 60 percent is utilised, and 0.7 percent on health, among the lowest globally.

UNICEF’s Chief of Child Protection Natalie McCauley said major ministries remain so under-resourced that they cannot activate statutory mechanisms at the local level.

The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, for instance, still lacks a Department of Children Affairs, leaving significant gaps in coordination and oversight, she added.

Despite strong laws, including the Children’s Act, implementation remains weak due to the absence of approved budgets and rules. “On paper, it looks strong, but in the field, it cannot be implemented without money.”

UNICEF called on the government and political leaders to prioritise children in upcoming national agendas, warning that continued underinvestment will deepen losses for families and the country’s economy.