The legal age of marriage in Bangladesh is governed by the Child Marriage Restraint Act (CMRA) of 2017, which sets the minimum age for marriage at 18 years for females and 21 years for males. Prior to the enactment of the CMRA, the legal age of marriage in Bangladesh was 18 years for females and 21 years for males under the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929.
The CMRA was enacted in response to the high prevalence of child marriage in Bangladesh, which has long been a major social issue in the country. According to a report by UNICEF, Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world, with 51% of girls married before the age of 18 and 18% married before the age of 15.
The CMRA imposes penalties on those who facilitate, encourage, or conduct child marriages, including imprisonment for up to two years and/or a fine of up to BDT 100,000 (approximately USD 1,200). The law also provides for the nullification of child marriages, with the option for either party to the marriage to apply for a declaration of nullity.
However, despite the legal prohibition on child marriage, the practice remains prevalent in Bangladesh, particularly in rural areas where poverty and traditional beliefs are major factors contributing to its persistence. The Bangladesh government has taken various measures to address the issue, including awareness-raising campaigns, community mobilization, and legal enforcement.
In 2014, the Bangladesh government launched the National Action Plan to End Child Marriage by 2021, which aimed to reduce the prevalence of child marriage to 27% by 2021. The government also established a dedicated hotline and a mobile app for reporting incidents of child marriage, and introduced a conditional cash transfer program to incentivize families to keep their daughters in school.
In conclusion, the legal age of marriage in Bangladesh is 18 years for females and 21 years for males under the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 2017. Despite the legal prohibition on child marriage, the practice remains widespread in Bangladesh, posing significant challenges to the country’s development and social progress. Addressing the issue of child marriage requires a multi-pronged approach that includes legal enforcement, community mobilization, and targeted interventions to empower girls and their families.
References:
- Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2017, Bangladesh: http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/act-1207.html
- United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). 2019. “Child Marriage in Bangladesh.” https://www.unicef.org/bangladesh/sites/unicef.org.bangladesh/files/2020-06/UNICEF-Bangladesh-Child-Marriage.pdf
- National Action Plan to End Child Marriage, Bangladesh (2014-2021): http://planipolis.iiep.unesco.org/sites/planipolis/files/ressources/bangladesh_national_action_plan_to_end_child_marriage_2014-2021.pdf