Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday said the government is committed to ensuring that no girl’s dreams are cut short by child marriage, discrimination or insecurity.
“We want no girl’s dreams to be halted by financial constraints, insecurity or discrimination. It is the commitment of the present government to ensure that every girl child gets equal opportunities to develop her potential through education, skills and confidence,” he said.
The prime minister made the remarks in a message issued on the occasion of National Girl Child Day 2026.
This year the day is being observed under the theme “No More Child Marriage, Girls Will Conquer the World”.
Tarique Rahman called for a renewed commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of every girl child and building social resistance against child marriage and all forms of discrimination.
He said the present government is working with clear policies and action plans to ensure the education, safety, dignity and future of girl children.
Tarique said it was the responsibility of the state to ensure that every girl grows up safely and gets the opportunity to realise her dreams and potential freely. “The current government is committed to fulfilling that responsibility,” he said.
He stressed the need for everyone to act responsibly towards protecting the rights and dignity of girl children, expressing his belief that today’s girls would shape the Bangladesh of tomorrow.
He said girls, if given opportunities to develop their talents, creativity and dreams, would build a more knowledge-based, humane and prosperous Bangladesh.
Expanding educational opportunities and equipping girls with knowledge, skills and self-confidence are essential to ensuring their safe and independent growth, he went on.
Tarique Rahman recalled that former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia had introduced free education for girls up to Class XII.
Continuing that initiative, the present government has opened up opportunities for women to pursue education free of tuition fees up to the postgraduate level, he said.
“We want the birth of a girl to become a blessing for every family,” he said, adding that the government is working relentlessly to build a state and society where no girl would be deprived of education for any reason and every girl could progress according to her choices and abilities.
He said providing girl children with proper education, affection, rights and opportunities is essential to building a healthy, educated and developed society in the future.
Highlighting the close relationship between women’s political and economic empowerment and the safe upbringing of girl children, the prime minister said ensuring women’s economic empowerment is one of the important steps towards achieving that goal.
As part of this approach, Family Cards were being issued in the names of female heads of households, he said.
Various initiatives to ensure access to education, healthcare, nutrition and social protection for girls and women had also begun to be implemented, he added.
He said the government wanted to ensure a safe environment where every girl could move around, learn, speak and express her opinions without fear.
He stressed that families, society and the state must work together to protect girls’ safety, dignity and rights in both physical and digital spaces.
“By turning girls’ dreams into strength, education into capability and potential into success, we will build the Bangladesh of tomorrow,” he said.
The prime minister extended his warm greetings and congratulations to all girl children in Bangladesh, their guardians and the people of the country on the occasion of National Girl Child Day.
