Our poor ranking in child marriage

The misguided official attempts to lower the legal marriage of girls have been stopped. But this has come with the caveat that under-18 girls can be married off with their parents� consent. This may well lead to abuse of the law and encourage child marriage even further

According to a survey report by ‘Plan International’, an international child rights organisation, Bangladesh has the highest rate of child marriage globally with as many as 73 per cent women getting married before they reach the age of 18. According to another UNICEF study 29 percent girls in Bangladesh are married off before the age 15.
These figures while deeply worrying are not shocking. A large number of the population, even today, consider the girl child to be a burden to be married as early as possible. Some parents may decide to betroth a daughter early to avoid the cost of education and ease the financial load of caring for a daughter. Families sometimes may also marry off their daughters to erase debts or settle feuds. Unfortunately in many parts of this country the practice of dowry continues and money given to the groom's family can be lowered if the bride is younger.
The existing law that makes early marriage illegal is rarely implemented.  Thankfully the misguided official attempt to lower the legal marriage of girls have been stopped. But this has come with the caveat that under-18 girls can be married off with  parental consent. This may well lead to abuse of the law and encourage child marriage even further. The obvious question that arises is: should the authorities allow parents to commit folly ? The Bangladesh government has ratified the UN convention that defines a child as anyone below the age of 18. So allowing a parent to marry off their daughter at an earlier age  is tantamount to encouraging child marriage, a practice the government is committed to end.
The irony here is palpable. It is true that awareness is growing that marriage of girls under age 18 is harmful not only for the girl and her family but also for the society as a whole. But this awareness is often severely undermined by widespread complicity by elders (and in some cases local government officials) in facilitating child marriages.  
A strong case can actually be made to increase that minimum age for marriage. Many girls who are married at 18 are often denied the chance to pursue higher education and are isolated from society and forced into a lifetime of economic dependence as a wife and mother.
Delaying the age of marriage and investing in girls' futures can have a multiplier effect that benefits the community at large. 

Our poor ranking in child marriage

The misguided official attempts to lower the legal marriage of girls have been stopped. But this has come with the caveat that under-18 girls can be married off with their parents� consent. This may well lead to abuse of the law and encourage child marriage even further

According to a survey report by Plan International, an international child rights organisation, Bangladesh has the highest rate of child marriage globally with as many as 73 per cent women getting married before they reach the age of 18. According to another UNICEF study 29 percent girls in Bangladesh are married off before the age 15. These figures while deeply worrying are not shocking. A large number of the population, even today, consider the girl child to be a burden to be married as early as possible. Some parents may decide to betroth a daughter early to avoid the cost of education and ease the financial load of caring for a daughter. Families sometimes may also marry off their daughters to erase debts or settle feuds. Unfortunately in many parts of this country the practice of dowry continues and money given to the grooms family can be lowered if the bride is younger. The existing law that makes early marriage illegal is rarely implemented. Thankfully the misguided official attempt to lower the legal marriage of girls have been stopped. But this has come with the caveat that under-18 girls can be married off with parental consent. This may well lead to abuse of the law and encourage child marriage even further. The obvious question that arises is: should the authorities allow parents to commit folly ? The Bangladesh government has ratified the UN convention that defines a child as anyone below the age of 18. So allowing a parent to marry off their daughter at an earlier age is tantamount to encouraging child marriage, a practice the government is committed to end. The irony here is palpable. It is true that awareness is growing that marriage of girls under age 18 is harmful not only for the girl and her family but also for the society as a whole. But this awareness is often severely undermined by widespread complicity by elders (and in some cases local government officials) in facilitating child marriages. A strong case can actually be made to increase that minimum age for marriage. Many girls who are married at 18 are often denied the chance to pursue higher education and are isolated from society and forced into a lifetime of economic dependence as a wife and mother. Delaying the age of marriage and investing in girls futures can have a multiplier effect that benefits the community at large.