Dhaka, Bangladesh - For nearly a decade, Shahana - an animated edutainment series developed by UNFPA Bangladesh with the leadership of the Department of Secondary and Higher Education and in consultation with the National Curriculum and Textbook Board - has helped young people across Bangladesh talk openly about subjects that are too often whispered about, if mentioned at all. Through three series (plus COVID-19 specials), Shahana brings age-appropriate, values-based lessons on sexual and reproductive health, consent, child marriage prevention, cyber safety, emotional wellbeing, and conflict resolution into classrooms and homes, using relatable characters and stories that reflect real life. 

From the start, the goal was simple and bold: equip adolescents with accurate information and practical skills so they can make healthy, informed choices. Series I (2015), produced under UNFPA’s Generation Breakthrough initiative, introduced Shahana and her friends and tackled foundational issues like puberty, child marriage, gender discrimination, and harassment. In 2018, Series II deepened the learning with four episodes - Truth or Dare, The Beauty of Diversity, Magic Box, and Knowledge is Power - and was launched by the Ministry of Education. 

Crucially, the series became a teaching aid incorporated into the curriculum and screened across 33,000 government secondary schools and madrasas, normalizing critical conversations at scale. Series III moved into timely topics such as conflict management, consent/non-consent and respect, emotional management, and cyber security, reflecting adolescents’ evolving needs online and offline.

“In our society, even now, my younger sisters are married off before they turn 18. In the cartoon we see that a child dies, and the husband sends his wife back. If the father is poor, he cannot bear the cost,” a ninth-grade boy reflected after watching six episodes of Shahana in school. 

“At this age, teenagers, both girls and boys, need to be aware of menstruation as it is very important,” added his classmates. Another student noted how the series “normalized” puberty, removing shame by naming natural processes and showing how families can talk about them.

Teachers see the difference too. As one assistant headmaster in Noakhali put it: “Many of the shyness and awkwardness they had about these issues will now be gone.”

Parents also embraced Shahana. Shimu Akhter, who watched with her son and daughter, said the cartoon bridged generational silence she grew up with. 

“I felt so good because I also learned, and my son learned as well. My daughter is growing up, and I understood that I should not treat her the way my mother and grandmother treated me,” Shimu shared. 

By modeling respectful dialogue and accurate information, the series turned potentially sensitive topics into family learning moments, which comprehensive sexuality education aims to achieve.

Shahana’s storytelling power lies in its mix of empathy and realism. Students recall an episode where a 13-year-old girl, Hafiza, is married and becomes pregnant at 14, developing obstetric fistula and losing her baby, a narrative that underscores the health and social harms of child marriage. Others point to episodes where adolescents form clubs, mobilize peers, and even creatively stop a child marriage.

The series also responds to urgent contexts. During the pandemic, three COVID-19 specials addressed adolescents’ mental and physical health, encouraged help-seeking, and guided viewers to services. The edutainment initiative was recognized by the government at the highest level and Shahana continues to reach audiences online, where the growing viewership complements its vast school-based footprint. 

Most importantly, Shahana demonstrates that comprehensive sexuality education is not just about “biology”. It is about values, safety, respect, and life skills. It shows boys and girls learning together, confronting harassment, building self-reliance, supporting parents, and practicing consent.

As one student summed it up after a school competition: “The Shahana cartoon not only entertains us but also provides valuable lessons that are necessary for our lives. We would love to see more episodes.” 

That enthusiasm is the best evidence that learning can be both accurate and joyful, and that Shahana is helping a new generation in Bangladesh grow up healthy, confident, and informed.

Watch a recent feature video on Shahana

Watch Shahana series