Village elders suddenly began discussing Sakhina's fate as very fortunate. Fourteen-year-old Sakhina, a typical girl from a coastal village, used to attend school. However, a few days ago, her marriage was arranged with an older man from the expatriate community. After the wedding, she moved to her in-laws' house, and the entire village praised her for her perceived good fortune.
Within three months of her marriage, Sakhina became pregnant. Her health began to deteriorate as she took on the burden of housework, waking at dawn for Fajr prayer and staying up late to care for her elderly mother-in-law. Exhausted and despairing, she confided in her father, saying, "I can't do it anymore, take me away." But the village elders insisted, "You are lucky; you must stay there."
Not long after, Sakhina disappeared without a trace. Her story, though fictional, symbolizes the plight of thousands of girls and children subjected to child marriage in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world, with a prevalence of 51.4%. This means that 38 million girls were married before the age of 18, and 13 million before the age of 15. Districts like Chapainawabganj, Gaibandha, and Kurigram are among the worst affected, as highlighted by the 2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
The survey also revealed that 89% of children aged 10–14 experience physical and psychological violence at home. Deeply ingrained social norms perpetuate harmful practices such as child marriage and the dowry system, worsened by a lack of awareness and inadequate infrastructure in rural areas.
Despite this grim reality, a glimmer of hope has emerged. Over the past two years, 552 child marriages have been prevented in three districts through active community intervention and continuous monitoring under the SSBC project. This initiative, spearheaded by World Vision Bangladesh, aims to combat violence against children, including child marriage, by promoting social and behavioral change. The project, implemented in partnership with UNICEF and funded by the European Union, spans December 2022 to November 2024.
During a roundtable discussion on child marriage and violence against children held on Sunday, World Vision Bangladesh presented its progress under the SSBC project. Regular community discussions involving men, women, and adolescents have challenged harmful norms.
However, speakers acknowledged that while child marriage has decreased due to government and private efforts, eradication remains elusive. They identified climate change, poverty, protection concerns, and a lack of women's empowerment as key drivers.
Dr Tania Haque, chair of women and gender Studies at Dhaka University, pointed out that proponents of child marriage are exploiting new opportunities, undermining prevention efforts. She emphasized the need to create value for women in society.
Suresh Bartlett, national director of World Vision Bangladesh, stressed the importance of establishing a strong framework for community-based prevention. "What’s next?" he asked, urging for systemic measures in every village and upazila.
Youth leader Samiul Islam Apurba highlighted the challenge of families secretly arranging marriages, often under the cover of darkness. Similarly, Sataria Jannat, a UNICEF Social and Behavior Change Officer, noted that parents circumvent local interventions by moving girls to other areas for marriage.
Mufti Shaikh Muhammad Usman Gonee, Joint Secretary of the Bangladesh National Imam Association, shared his transformation. Previously silent on child marriage, he now addresses the issue in his Friday sermons, emphasizing that religion does not condone such practices.
Stephanie St-Laurent Brassard from Global Affairs Canada advocated for a holistic approach, combining financial literacy, sustainable policies, and educational access. Raising awareness across all societal levels is crucial, she said.
Chandan Z. Gomes, Senior Director of Operations at World Vision Bangladesh, called for reforms to prioritize child marriage prevention. He proposed presenting actionable recommendations from the discussion to government advisors for consideration.
The event was attended by notable figures, including Abu Sayeed Khan, executive editor of Samakal; Abdul Kaium, a local religious leader from Kurigram; Israt Nayer from USAID; Nasrin Akhter, upazila vice chair from Chapainawabganj; journalist Rabeya Baby from the Daily Ittefaq; Sharmin Kabir, founder of Wreetu; Mahamuda Khatun, assistant teacher at Pachim Kuptala High School in Gaibandha Sadar Upazila; and many others.