Photo : Norwegian embassy Facebook

DHAKA, Nov 27, 2025 (BSS) - Norway has reaffirmed that every child deserves 
the chance to dream, learn and grow in safety, as the Norwegian Ambassador 
and a high-level delegation visited Barguna this week to observe ongoing 
efforts to end child marriage and empower adolescent girls.

Norwegian Ambassador Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen, together with delegations from 
Norad and Plan International Norway, undertook an inspirational field visit 
to Bamna and Pathargatha upazilas of Barguna district, said the Norwegian 
embassy here today. 

The visit focused on long-running Norwegian support for programmes that 
protect girls and expand access to education.

For over a decade, Plan International and Norad have been jointly working to 
eliminate child, early and forced marriage in Bangladesh. 

During the visit, the delegation observed the Girls Get Equal 2.0 project, 
implemented by Plan International Bangladesh in partnership with the Resource 
Development Foundation (RDF).

The project empowers adolescent girls through functional literacy, climate 
awareness, and essential sessions on sexual and reproductive health and 
rights (SRHR) and gender-based violence (GBV). 

It also supports out-of-school and dropout boys and girls from vulnerable and 
marginalised families, giving them a second chance at education and equipping 
them with the skills needed for employment and entrepreneurship.

Recognised globally as a strong defender of gender equality, Norway 
reiterated its commitment to advancing women's rights. 

The visit underscored collective efforts to end child marriage, promote 
girls' education and ensure that all girls and women can live free from 
violence and discrimination while making informed choices about their 
futures.