Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pledged to eliminate child marriage completely by 2041. Bangladesh has one of the world’s highest rates of child marriage, with two thirds of girls ending up as child brides.
Most of the early marriages take place, because parents are reluctant to miss the chance of getting ‘appropriate bridegrooms’.
Bangladesh Post on Sunday ran a story headlined ‘Child marriage soaring’ as a lead one. The incidence of child marriage in Bangladesh is on the rise, particularly among girls under the age of 15, according to a BBS study.
There is a surge of about 50 pc in child marriage within the age group of 15 years compared to the previous year. If boys marry before they are 21 and girls before 18, it is considered a ‘child marriage’ in Bangladesh and it is a punishable offence.
However, Bangladesh is witnessing a sharp rise in child marriages. Child marriage is a human rights violation.
All must take charge to end a complex issue like child marriage that requires efforts on many fronts. All have to come forward and work vigorously to protect young girls from this harmful practice immediately. We wish to see our girls fulfil their potentials for innovation and creativity in every sector. We want our girls to have their full share in building smart, knowledge-based societies.
There is a surge of about 50 pc
in child marriage within
the age group of 15 years compared
to the
previous year
The government, development partners, non-government organisations, private sectors and relevant stakeholders must all work together to make it a reality. We believe our girls will come forward for peace, growth and nation-building braving all odds.
Already we have more girls than boys in schools. The vital link between gender, social equity and climate change and recognition of the fact that without gender equality today, a sustainable future, an equal future, remains out of reach, a United Nations (UN) latest study says.
Our girls experience the greatest impacts of the climate crisis as it amplifies existing gender inequalities and puts their lives and livelihoods at risk. Now the women are playing a vital role in different areas, including politics, judiciary, administration, education, health, armed forces and law enforcing agencies in our country.
Different countries and international organisations, including the UN, praised our government for attaching priority to development of the womenfolk. But, if the child marriage is not stopped and girls fail to get admitted to educational institutions, it would be very difficult to achieve sustainable development goal by 2041 and make ‘Smart Bangladesh’.
Therefore, if child marriage can be eliminated, young girls will be able to play a vital role in national development as qualified citizens in future. The lawmakers along with other public representatives and local administration should get engaged creating awareness on prevention of child marriage and adolescent health protection in their respective constituencies.
In addition to preventing child marriage, everyone must work to ensure proper healthcare facility for adolescents. Most of the girls now spend a significant amount of time of their adolescence in schools.
Teachers should motivate girls how and in what way they can be the worthy citizens of the country in this regard. The rate of girls’ literacy has increased while the government has been creating newer employment opportunities for women. However, the equality of men and women cannot be achieved even by law and it will only be possible through positive change of mindset, ethics and values.
Both males and females will have to be aware so that no girl becomes a victim of child marriage. All must change their mindset about girls as it only can prevent child marriage. So, we all will have to believe that girls are not our burden rather everyone should treat them as worthy citizens of our society. They (girls) have to be given equal rights in the co-journey and it is now a reality.