Although the government had set a target to reduce the rate of child marriage in the Bangladesh by one-third within 2021, that target was not achieved. Rather, child marriage has increased.
Presently, Bangladesh has the highest prevalence of child marriage in South Asia, with 51 percent of girls married before turning the age of 18, according to the UNFPA findings.
Highlighting the significant variations in child marriage rates across South Asia, the UNFPA report released on Wednesday said in contrast to Bangladesh’s figures, only 2 percent of girls in the Maldives were married before 18, 10 percent in Sri Lanka, 18 percent in Pakistan, 23 percent in India, 26 percent in Bhutan, and 35 percent in Nepal.
If such is the statistics, isn’t the policymakers’ trumpeting of Bangladesh’s unstoppable progress in socioeconomic aspects is just hollowed?
It is needless to say that increase in child marriage increases the risk of early pregnancy. Marriage of girls below 18 years of age is considered as child marriage while mothers aged between 15 and 19 are called teenage mothers.
60 percent teenage mothers suffer from anemia and malnourishment. As a result, these mothers give birth to malnourished children.
Early pregnancy is also detrimental for both mother and child.
The report mentions that maternal health is also a major concern in Bangladesh, where the maternal mortality ratio stands at 115 deaths per 100,000 live births.
About 70 percent of births are attended by skilled health personnel and 54 percent of women aged 15–49 use contraceptives. Life expectancy at birth stands at 74 years for males and 77 years for females.
Despite global progress in investing in girls, Bangladesh continues to struggle with deeply rooted gender inequalities, limiting opportunities for adolescent girls in education, employment, and safety, it said.
Teenage motherhood puts both mother and child at serious health risk. Not only the mother and child, but also the future generations will have to suffer for this.
Therefore, we do not think that there is any scope for any laxation regarding child marriage. Rather, those who break the law should be brought to book and social awareness should also be raised in this regard.
It is a matter of hope that many girls from remote areas are being vocal against child marriage and a positive public opinion is also being created in the society.
