Bangladesh: Early Marriage Shatters Dreams of Underage Girls

[Amar-Sonar-Bangla]

Early Marriage Shatters Dreams of Underage Girls

By UNB, Dhaka

The New Nation
May 23, 2003



When Sahulat Jahan was married off 5 years ago she was still a 13-year-old school student. Sahulat used to go to school even after her marriage. But one day she returned home shocked and decided to give up study.


'I don’t want to go to school anymore. My classmates and even teachers talk about my marriage and I feel embarrassed,' recalls Sahulat, a meek housewife of Misarai, Chittagong, who was forced to marry a man double her age.


She says: 'I had a dream to have a degree. But my dream was shattered due to the early marriage. My poor father knew it well that I was underage, but he was worried about my security and decided to marry me off as early as possible'.


Many Bangladeshi women such as Sahulat, particularly in rural areas, are being married off for various social reasons, including poverty and security concern, although the country has a law against child marriage.


The law enacted in 1929 has set the minimum age for the marriage of men and women in Bangladesh. It is 21 for men and 18 for women. The law has done little to stop child marriage. This is mainly because of the poor enforcement of the law.


There are many countries where early marriage is a common phenomenon but in Bangladesh it is very high. UNICEF statistics show that only 5 percent adolescent girls can continue study after marriage. (ASB:It's so sad that they cannot make of themselves, that which they desire )


According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, the adolescent population in the country is 2.80 crore and 1.37 crore and of them are female. On the other hand, UNICEF says 5 percent the 10-14 and 4 percent of the 15-19 age groups are married.


More than half of the under-19 girls are married and 58 percent of them have already become mothers or are pregnant, according to the Women and Children Affairs Ministry.


The rate of maternal mortality in Bangladesh is 4.26 per thousand and it is largely blamed for early marriage. Doctors say marriage before 18 and pregnancy before 20 may cause various physical and mental problems to a woman.


According to World Health Organisation (WHO), the possibility of death for the under 18 lactating mothers is 2-5 times higher than the women who go for child after 20.


Early marriage deprives girls of their rights. In most cases, the victims of early marriage develop various mental complications as they are forced to stop their study after marriage.


In view of the situation, the Women and Children Affairs Ministry has started a special motivation programme to make people realise the bad sides of the child marriage.


The main aim of the programme is to encourage parents to delay their daughter’s marriage until they reach 20. However, the programme has reported little success.



ASB: I believe that early marriage is a major issue not only in Bangladesh, but also amongst the community in the UK. It's a shame that girls are being seen as a social burden and 'married off' hither and tither. A gross violation of human rights.


Unfortunately this practice is condoned and encouraged in much of the Bangla and wider Islamic society, as females are not fully valued and cherished as they should be. One can only hope that this practice is eradicated as swiftly as possible.

[Star]

If there is a culture that needs changing I would suggest the focus should be more on the fact that a girl's education does not have to end with marriage.


I have seen first hand examples of girls completing their university educations after marriage - and that may be the way to go, more so in the west..


As we grow up through school, college, university - all our Western peers date and have relationships with members of the opposite gender - it is part of life for them - and as Muslims, we are immersed in this culture yet feel bound to resist any such temptations.. little surprise that amongst our bangladeshi community in the UK - dating and pre-marital relationships exist - some will even support the concept.


I see no reason why a couple should not marry at a young age - providing they are mature enough for marriage - and for girls as well as guys to carry on with their education after marriage.


That is the Islamic way to go.

[rini_h]

This so sad they what they do in BDesh. For me, Im 15 this year,not going get married till i finish univercity and i can look after myself too. im nnot going to bre burden on anyone. Be my own persons.

This day and age girl are all marrying later in their life.like my cousin in BD who got a job now and she need nobody to talk for her, not at 13 eowwww gross!!: its good they try stopiing it.

[zain_]

Fact is educated parents ain bangladesh and the uk are more and more marrying their son/daughters at a later time in their life. After educarion or a job.


I just been uni and its hard enough to study without a family to see after too. so how will that work out?


Its about right marry at 20+

[rini_h]

I just thought so i asked. at what date do girls and boys have to marry in Islam. some married at 16 and other muslims i know r not married a 27 even!