In the early 2000s, the illiteracy rate for girls between the ages of 15 and 24 in Bangladesh was 80%, while the illiteracy rate for males in the same age group was 83%. This highlights a significant gender disparity in education during that time period.
The high illiteracy rates reflected broader social and economic challenges that affected access to education for both genders. However, the figures also indicate that boys had a slightly lower illiteracy rate compared to girls, which was indicative of societal norms that prioritized male education. Over the years, various initiatives have been taken to bridge this gap and improve literacy rates among both girls and boys.