Two-thirds of women garment workers married before 18, says icddr,b study | Others

DHAKA, Sept 29, 2025 (BSS) – A study conducted by icddr,b has revealed that two-thirds of Bangladesh’s women garment workers were married off before turning 18, with nearly 65 percent experiencing their first pregnancy during adolescence. The research, released today by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), also found that one in three had faced at least one unintended pregnancy, while one in four reported undergoing an abortion or menstrual regulation. Spanning 24 months from August 2022 to December 2024, the cohort research is the first of its kind in Bangladesh focusing specifically on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of female garment workers. The study, conducted under icddr,b’s AdSEARCH initiative with support from Global Affairs...