Early Marriage in Bangladesh

Early Marriage in Bangladesh

Early marriage in Bangladesh is one of the obstacles that hinders to the development of the country. Marriage before mental and physical development is called early marriage. This marriage fails to flourish husband and wife with the fragrances of the heavenly blessing. More precisely, if any one marries before the limited age referred by the established law of a country amounts  to be an early marriage. However in Bangladesh early marriage is seen everywhere till now, especially in the villages. Most of the people of Bangladesh are illiterate. They do not think of the consequences of early marriage.

However, Early Marriage is a major social issue. Though it is an ancient practice, this custom is still prevalent in many parts of Bangladesh, especially in the rural areas. There are many reasons behind it. They are Illiteracy, Low status of women, Economic or financial inability of the family, Custom, Traditional beliefs and social mind-set, Developing relational alliances amid families for other business or financial upholds, Gender Inequalities in the society and so on.

On top of this, poverty is a major underpinning factor encouraging early marriage. Young girls are often considered as an economic burden by their families and their marriage to an older man and into another family is often a family survival strategy in order to obtain financial security.

Besides, dowry also plays a catalyst role in these circumstances. In the countryside, there is a common delusory custom that, the amount of dowry gets bigger corresponding to the age of the bride. Thus, the fathers of the brides have to count more money as a payment of dowry, if the age of the girl crosses over 20.

Sexual harassment is another cause which invoke early marriages. Even the parents who do not support child marriage are driven to marry off their daughters early, as a consequence of this harassment. Eve teasing, sexual assaults are not a current issue. This is a grave social problem which affects a girl's life badly and in extreme cases many of the victims commit suicide. Therefore, to prevent the situation, parents choose not to send their daughters at school and as the harassment arises they decide to marry them off without considering their age.

In fact, Consequences of child marriage are dreadful. Firstly, the potential asset of the country loses their possibility as they drop out of education and miss the chance of having a good employment.  As a matter of fact, the newly young brides are expected to do all the household works in the in-laws house which ultimately falls under the crime of child labor.

Moreover, they get the social pressure at the early age to become pregnant. For this pressure they experience several pregnancies as well as miscarriages, risking their health to an extreme poor condition. Eventually, they undergo serious birth complications and tragically many of them demise while giving birth.

Early marriage doesn't only put their health condition in danger; it also put their psychological development at stake. The young brides become the helpless victims of domestic violence which affects critically in their mental growth resulting them to be anxious and troubled all the time. As a result, they become less confident and suffer from inferiority complex. 

So, in fine, it can be said that Government and non-government agencies can obstruct early marriage if they work hand in hand. First of all, the newly added law of considering early marriage in "special circumstances" should be explained evidently, leaving no loopholes. Government should enforce the laws and enact those laws in strong hand with settings some exemplary punishments. Moreover, people should be inspired to stand against this illegal act and they should be motivated by giving recognition if they do so. If we all raise our voices to this illicit act and if we take legal stand wherever we detect early marriage in our surroundings, then the number of these marriages will tend to fall with the possibility of saving some innocent lives. However, lowing the sash of religiosity, removing the darkness of the ignorance and spreading the light of education, it will be possible to stop early marriage.