Perspectives of Law and Public Administration (Oct 2022)
CHILD MARRIAGES IN THE CONTEXT OF BANGLADESH’S INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS
Abstract
The marrying off of minor children that are below the age of 18 years has been common in Bangladesh for more than a century. The objective of the study is to discuss the legislative framework that regulates child marriages in Bangladesh and assess whether there is any progress made or not. The second objective is to discuss the main causes of child marriages and assess whether Bangladesh has complied with its international human rights obligations or not. The study adopted the desktop research and relied on the information available on books, journals and legislation. The study found out that there is no political will to end child marriages because the legislative framework forbids child marriages but also permits it if it is condoned by the parents and the courts. Islamic law is the major cause of the prevalence of child marriages because it permits and tolerates child marriages and 90 per cent of the population subscribes to it. Bangladesh failed to comply with its international human rights obligations.
