The Crisis We Ignore: Government’s Failure to Address Mental Health and Education Amid Pandemic
**Excerpt:**
The pandemic has left Bangladesh’s youth in crisis, exposing the deep cracks in our mental health, education, and social welfare systems. Recent surveys reveal a disturbing reality: over 61% of young people suffer from depression, and school closures have led to an alarming rise in child marriages and dropouts. While youth struggle with mental health challenges and face family pressure to marry early, government action has been sparse. Our country’s future depends on its young people, yet they are being sidelined and abandoned. To secure a better future, the government must address mental health, strictly enforce child marriage laws, and launch educational recovery programs. For far too long, the voices of our youth have been ignored—it’s time we listen and act.