Research evidence highlights pathways to scale early childhood development in Bangladesh

Dhaka, 9 November 2026— Evidence from the THRIVE Programme shows that early childhood development (ECD) support delivered through existing public platforms can improve parenting practices and home stimulation. Experience at larger scale, however, shows that quality, supervision and workforce support are critical for these interventions to achieve their intended impact.

The evidence was presented today at “Early Childhood Development in Bangladesh and the Way Forward,” a national research dissemination event in Dhaka attended by policymakers, researchers and development partners. Dr Jena Derakhshani Hamadani, Emeritus Scientist at icddr,b and National Principal Investigator of the THRIVE Programme, presented the findings and lessons from the research.

Building on previous evidence, the Strengthening Bangladeshi Babies’ Brains (SB3) Programme expanded ECD activities through more than 600 Community Clinics, reaching over 15,000 children and training around 1,950 frontline health workers and more than 400 supervisors.

A recent cluster-randomised trial found that parenting practices, home stimulation and access to play materials improved significantly among intervention families. However, no statistically significant differences were found in child-development outcomes. The findings highlight an important lesson for scale-up: expanding reach alone may not be enough without consistent implementation, supervision and continued support.

Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director of icddr,b, highlighted the close connection between nutrition and early brain development. He noted that poor nutrition during the early years can affect brain development and cognition, reinforcing the need to support both children’s nutrition and development during this critical period.

Dr S M Ziauddin Hyder, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Affairs, attended the event as Chief Guest. He stressed the need to take ECD to national scale. “We now have substantial evidence on the importance of early childhood development. Research shows that play-based learning, cognitive stimulation and regular interaction can significantly support children’s intellectual development, with benefits that continue into later stages of learning,” he said.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s learning challenges, he called for a nationwide plan to expand ECD activities and reach children and families across the country.

Mohammad Golam Kibria, Team Leader and Education Adviser at FCDO, said national scale-up should focus not only on reaching more children but also on maintaining quality. “Scaling up must mean more than reaching larger numbers. It must also protect quality, strengthen frontline capacity, secure sustainable financing and build government ownership.” he said.

A K M Fazluzzoha, Managing Director of the Community Clinic Health Support Trust, appreciated icddr,b’s work supporting children and mothers through healthcare facilities and highlighted the importance of building on this experience to expand ECD services nationally.

The discussions pointed to several priorities for the next phase, including stronger supervision and monitoring, adequate frontline capacity, continued caregiver engagement, sustainable financing and government ownership.

The THRIVE Programme is funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through its Global Research and Technology Development portfolio and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and is managed by Oxford Policy Management.

For any information and support:      

A K M Tariful Islam Khan

Head, Communications at icddr,b

Office: +880-2-9820523-32 Ext 3116, Email: tariful.islam@icddrb.org