13,886 Child Marriages in Pandemic, 5,089 Unwanted Pregnancies

At least 13,886 child marriages took place in 21 districts between April and October in 2020, said a survey report published on Thursday.

The report also said that out of these victims 5,089 admitted that they had unwanted pregnancies during the coronavirus pandemic.

Among these marriages, 4,866 were registered by the marriage registrars, said the report published by Manusher Jonno Foundation at a webinar.

The Rapid Analysis of Child Marriage Situation During COVID-19 in Bangladesh was conducted by MJF with the support of Plan International, UNFPA and UNICEF.

The survey was conducted on 21,258 unmarried and married girls aged 19 years, their parents and representatives from the local government, local leaders and teachers of 409 unions under 84 Upazilas at 21 districts.

Among the child marriage victims, 50.6 percent are aged between 16 and 17 years while 47.7 percent are aged between 13 and 15 years and 1.7 percent are aged between 10 and 12 years.

The highest number of child marriages, 1,512, was conducted in Barguna followed by 1,272 in Kurigram, 1,222 in Nilphamari and 1,041 in Lakshmipur.

An increase in poverty rates, existing social norms, school closure, and lack of security were identified as the main reasons for the situation, the report said.

The survey was conducted on the respondents from - Dhaka, Manikganj, Cumilla, Khulna, Barishal, Barguna, Rangamati, Kishoreganj, Sirajganj, Chattogram, Lakshmipur, Jamalpur, Jashore, Naogaon, Kushtia, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Thakurgaon, Gaibandha, Sunamganj and Sylhet districts.

The webinar was chaired by MJF executive director Shaheen Anam.

According to a UNICEF report published in October 2020, in Bangladesh, 51 percent of young women were married before their 18th birthday.

Among the country's entire female population, 38 million married before the age of 18, of which, 13 million married before age 15, it also said.

Bangladesh has the highest prevalence of child marriage in South Asia, and is among the 10 countries worldwide with the highest rate, it added.

The National Helpline Centre for violence against women and children under the women and children affairs ministry in 2020 received a total 13, 21,167 phone calls out of which 2,047 or 0.15 percent calls were for complaining about child marriage, and till March 3 this year the centre received 1, 66,196 phone calls while 477 or 0.28 per cent calls were for complaining about child marriage.