World · Bangladesh Bureau
Bangladesh must strengthen preventive measures against child marriage
Experts and rights advocates are calling for comprehensive action to combat child marriage in Bangladesh, emphasizing the need for preventive strategies alongside enforcement of existing laws. The issue remains a significant challenge affecting thousands of children across the country annually.
LSN Bangladesh ·
Child marriage continues to persist as a widespread social problem in Bangladesh despite legal prohibitions, prompting renewed calls for multifaceted preventive interventions. Rights organizations and policymakers stress that tackling the practice requires coordinated efforts across education, social protection, and community engagement sectors.
The persistence of child marriage undermines educational opportunities and perpetuates cycles of poverty and gender inequality. Young girls who marry early face health risks from early pregnancy, limited economic independence, and reduced access to education and employment opportunities. Boys engaged in child marriage similarly experience disrupted schooling and constrained futures.
Experts highlight the importance of strengthening prevention mechanisms including improved enforcement of child protection laws, enhanced access to quality education particularly for girls, and targeted interventions in vulnerable communities. Community awareness programs and engagement with parents and religious leaders have shown promise in shifting social attitudes toward the practice.
Stakeholders emphasize that effective prevention requires coordination between government agencies, civil society organizations, and community members. Addressing underlying factors such as poverty, limited educational access, and entrenched social norms is essential to achieving sustainable progress in eliminating child marriage throughout Bangladesh.