27 million adolescents aged 10-19 years in Bangladesh

There are 27.7 million adolescents aged 10-19 years in Bangladesh – 13.7 million girls and 14 million boys – making up about one fifth of the total population. Most adolescents have limited scope for acquiring knowledge and skills for their self-development and protection.
Secondary level school enrolment is very low at only seven million (38 per cent). The dropout rate in secondary schools is much higher than in primary schools: about 48 per cent among girls and 38 per cent among boys.
Abuse and exploitation
An estimated 6.9 million children aged 5-14 years (12.9 per cent of the total labour force) are working and are exposed to hazardous and risky conditions, especially in metropolitan cities. Young girls are always in danger of abuse and exploitation. Inter- and intra-border trafficking of children and women constitutes a serious problem.
Gender discrimination and related violence, including abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and acid-throwing, create a socio-economic context that is challenging the promotion and the protection of the rights of the child. Many adolescents migrate from rural to urban areas, work in precarious situations as day labourers, rickshaw-pullers, domestic servants, hotel boys and garment factory workers. Many are compelled to accept high risk and hazardous jobs.
Crime and violence
Peer pressure leads adolescent boys into organised crime and violence, and dangerous habits such as smoking, drinking and narcotic substance abuse, are particularly rampant in adolescent boys.
In a baseline study conducted by Population Council/BIDS (Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies) in 2002, 72 per cent of girls and 51 per cent of boys aged 13-15 years reported having been beaten by an older member of the family.
Sex and marriage
Over 67 per cent of adolescent girls are married. This includes 5 per cent of girls aged 10-14 years and 48 per cent of girls aged 15-19 years of age. About 50 per cent of pregnancies occur by the age of 18 years. Early marriage is a critical issue for adolescent girls.
Only 57.2 per cent of adolescents aged 10-19 years have heard of HIV/AIDS and 30.7 per cent are aware of preventive measures. Data gathered in 2002 indicates that 18.2 per cent of male college/university students visited female sex workers and that 64.7 per cent of them never used condoms.
Domestic violence
Domestic violence remains the biggest threat to the security of adolescent girls. Extreme physical abuse at home leading to death accounts for over 70 per cent of reported domestic violence cases involving young housewives and girls aged 13-18 years (1998). Acid-throwing, kidnapping, sexual coercion, induced suicide and rape are also grave concerns that must be addressed.
A major achievement has been the preparation and approval of the National Plan of Action (NPA) against Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children including Trafficking in 2001.
Until recently, the rights and needs of adolescents were largely ignored in Bangladesh. This was especially true in relation to girls, most of whom move straight from childhood to marriage around the time of puberty. They are not informed about their rights, health and gender equality, and they have limited mobility and opportunities to meet and exchange ideas and knowledge among their friends.
Source: UNICEF