More than half of the women in Bangladesh are married before the age of 18, says UNICEF quoting a 2019 Multiple indicator Cluster Survey. The report says that Bangladesh has the highest prevalence of child marriage in Asia and eighth highest prevalence in the world. Approximately, 34.5 million women in Bangladesh were married before they turned 18. Over 13 million women were married before they turned 15. UNICEF data shows that 24 percent of the women give birth before the age of 18.
UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh Sheldon Yeti said, despite progress the number of child brides in Bangladesh is staggering. He said millions of girls are being robbed of their childhood, and denied their fundamental rights. He called for urgent and concerted action to protect girls, to ensure that they stay in school, and have the opportunity to grow up to their fullest potential.
Girls who marry in childhood face immediate and lifelong consequences. They are less likely to remain in school, and face an increased risk of early pregnancy, in turn increasing the risk of child and maternal health complications and mortality. The practice can also isolate girls from family and friends, and exclude them from participating in their communities, taking a heavy toll on their mental health and well-being, said UNICEF.
Worldwide, conflict, climate-related disasters, and the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 – especially rising poverty, income shocks, and school dropout – are helping to increase the drivers of child marriage. As a result, girls living in fragile settings are twice as likely to become child brides as the average girl globally.
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