Child marriage act bangladesh

In the next few weeks, the Parliament of Bangladesh is due to review the Child Marriage Restraint Act 2016, which includes a provision that would allow child marriage in “special cases”.

The proposed new law also does not specify a minimum age of marriage.

Here is what you need to know.

1/ Currently, the law in Bangladesh says that women need to be 18 to marry, and men 21. The Child Marriage Restraint Act 2016 would weaken this law and make girls more vulnerable to child marriage.

On paper, child marriage has been illegal in Bangladesh since the adoption of the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929.

However, the law is poorly enforced and the punishment - up to one month in jail and/or a fine of up to 1,000 Taka (US$13) - rarely acts as a deterrent.

Although elements of the proposed new law – stiffer punishments and better law enforcement – are welcomed, allowing marriage under 18 in “special cases” would be a step b