Dhaka, March 10 -- Bangladesh continues to face significant challenges related to high rates of child marriage, gender inequality, violence, and limited opportunities for girls, as highlighted by a recent global report.

The country has the highest child marriage rate in Asia, with 51 percent of women aged 20-24 having married before the age of 18. The report, titled "Girl Goals: What Has Changed for Girls? Adolescent Girls' Rights Over 30 Years," was released by UNICEF, UN Women, and Plan International to mark International Women's Day.

The report underscores that Bangladesh's alarming statistic places it among the top nations globally struggling with this harmful practice.

It emphasises the importance of investing in adolescent girls,...