Child Marriage in Bangladesh: Too Young to Wed | 101 East | बांग्लादेश में बाल विवाह

Summary

In Bangladesh, one in three girls faces the harsh reality of child marriage, robbing them of their childhood and education. This documentary delves into the lives of young girls like Beasley, who at 13, is forced to marry a 25-year-old man. Despite laws against child marriage, cultural norms and poverty drive the practice, leading to increased risks of domestic violence, early pregnancies, and health complications. The film also highlights the efforts of activists like Kashyap, who works tirelessly to change societal attitudes and protect girls' rights to choose their own futures.

Takeaways

• 😢 One in three girls in Bangladesh are married as children, facing a loss of childhood and educational opportunities.
• 🏫 Despite laws against child marriage, poverty and cultural traditions drive the practice, with families often viewing girls as a burden.
• 🎓 Girls like Beasley, who dreams of becoming a doctor, are forced into marriages that can end their education and future aspirations.
• 👰 The wedding rituals for child brides symbolize a transition from childhood to womanhood, often against their will.
• 🤝 Dowry payments, where families of the girl pay the groom's family, contribute to the perception of girls as burdensome.
• 🚫 Enforcement of child marriage laws is challenging due to fake birth certificates and a lack of birth registration.
• 🌟 NGOs like Plan International are working to keep girls in school and combat the cultural beliefs supporting child marriage.
• 🤰 Child brides face significant health risks, including early pregnancy complications and death.
• 😭 Survivors like Majeeda endure hardships, including domestic violence and the pressure to fulfill marital duties despite their young age.
• 🏥 Fistula, a devastating childbirth injury, is more common among child brides due to their underdeveloped bodies.
• 👮‍♂️ Community activists, like Kashyap, are fighting to change mindsets and prevent child marriages, inspired by personal tragedies.

Q & A

What is the reality for one in three girls in Bangladesh?

The reality for one in three girls in Bangladesh is that they are married off at a young age, often losing their childhood and opportunities for education, and facing risks such as dangerous childbirth, violence, and virtual slavery.

Why are girls in Bangladesh seen as a burden?

Girls in Bangladesh are seen as a burden due to cultural traditions and the dowry system, where families must provide a dowry to the groom's family, leading to financial strain.

What is the legal age for marriage in Bangladesh?

The legal age for marriage in Bangladesh is 18 years old, although there have been proposals to lower it to 16.

How does the tradition of dowry affect girls in Bangladesh?

The tradition of dowry affects girls in Bangladesh by reinforcing the perception of girls as a financial burden on their families, which can lead to early marriage to alleviate this perceived burden.

What is the role of NGOs like Plan International in addressing child marriage in Bangladesh?

NGOs like Plan International work to keep girls in school and fight against strong cultural beliefs that support child marriage, aiming to change societal attitudes and provide support for girls to continue their education.

What complications can early marriage and childbirth cause for young brides in Bangladesh?

Early marriage and childbirth can cause significant damage to the undeveloped bodies of young brides, including complications like fistula, which can leave them incontinent and in pain, leading to social ostracization.

What is the impact of child marriage on a girl's education and future opportunities?

Child marriage often ends a girl's education prematurely, limiting her future opportunities and trapping her in a cycle of poverty, with reduced chances for personal and professional growth.

How do cultural beliefs and societal pressure contribute to the persistence of child marriage in Bangladesh?

Cultural beliefs and societal pressure contribute to child marriage by normalizing the practice and pressuring families to marry off their daughters at a young age, often for economic or social reasons.

What are some of the physical and emotional challenges faced by child brides in Bangladesh?

Child brides in Bangladesh face physical challenges such as malnourishment and complications from early pregnancy, as well as emotional challenges like fear, helplessness, and a loss of control over their lives.

How do individuals like Kashyap work to prevent child marriages in their communities?

Individuals like Kashyap work to prevent child marriages by educating families about the negative consequences of early marriage, advocating for girls' rights to education, and challenging cultural norms through community engagement and awareness campaigns.

What is the significance of the ritual of circling the fire in a Bangladeshi wedding?

The ritual of circling the fire in a Bangladeshi wedding symbolizes the couple's commitment to each other and their marriage, binding them together for seven lifetimes according to tradition.

Outlines

00:00

👰 Child Marriage in Bangladesh: A Glimpse into Beasley's Story

This paragraph introduces the harsh reality of child marriage in Bangladesh, where one in three girls face early marriage, leading to the loss of their childhood and education. It follows the story of Beasley, a 13-year-old girl who is about to marry a 25-year-old man, despite child marriage being illegal. The narrative captures the societal and cultural pressures that lead families to marry off their young daughters, often due to poverty and traditional beliefs. Beasley's dreams of becoming a doctor are overshadowed by her impending marriage, and the paragraph highlights her helplessness and fear as she is prepared for the wedding against her will.

05:10

🏡 The Community's Role in Child Marriage

The second paragraph delves into the societal expectations that perpetuate child marriage in Bangladesh. It discusses how the community's involvement and the lack of concern for the girls' desires contribute to the continuation of this practice. The paragraph also touches on the narrator's personal connection to the issue, having grown up in Bangladesh and witnessing similar traditions. Efforts by organizations like Plan International to keep girls in school and combat cultural beliefs are mentioned, along with the challenges they face. The story of Majeeda, another child bride, is introduced, illustrating the physical and emotional toll of early marriage and the health risks associated with it.

10:13

🤝 Cultural Beliefs and the Fight Against Child Marriage

This paragraph contrasts the cultural beliefs that encourage early marriage with the efforts to prevent it. It presents the views of village elders who believe in the protection and societal benefits of marrying girls young, despite the risks. The paragraph also highlights the physical and emotional abuse that child brides like Madiba face, and the lack of sympathy or support they receive. The focus then shifts to the medical implications of child marriage, such as fistula, a condition that can result from childbirth at a young age. The story of Angela, a patient suffering from fistula, is used to illustrate the long-term consequences of child marriage on girls' health and well-being.

15:14

🌟 A Beacon of Hope: Community Efforts to End Child Marriage

The fourth paragraph introduces Kashyap, a young man determined to change the practice of child marriage in his community. It describes his personal motivation, stemming from a family tragedy, and his efforts to educate and persuade families against marrying off their daughters at a young age. The narrative follows Kashyap as he visits families, shares his message, and successfully convinces them to reconsider their decisions. The paragraph also presents the story of Ashvia, a girl whose marriage was averted thanks to Kashyap's intervention, and her aspirations to join the police force, highlighting the potential that is unlocked when girls are given the opportunity to choose their own paths.

20:31

💔 A Dream Deferred: Beasley's Wedding Day

The final paragraph returns to Beasley's story, detailing her wedding day and the stark contrast between her emotions and those of her groom's family. It describes the rushed and secretive ceremony, the emotional turmoil Beasley experiences as she bids farewell to her family, and the immediate transition into her new life as a wife. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the broader implications of child marriage in Bangladesh, emphasizing the cultural and economic factors that contribute to its persistence and the challenges in breaking the cycle for future generations.

Keywords

💡Child brides

Child brides refers to girls who are married before they reach the age of 18, often due to cultural, economic, or social pressures. In the video, the concept is central as it explores the lives of young girls in Bangladesh who are forced into marriage, losing their childhood and opportunities for education. The script mentions that one in three girls in Bangladesh face this reality, highlighting the prevalence and gravity of the issue.

💡Poverty

Poverty is the state of being extremely poor, often lacking the basic necessities of life. The video script describes Bangladesh's poorest regions where over half the population lives below the poverty line, and it's in this context that child marriages are more likely to occur. Poverty is a driving factor that forces families to marry off their young daughters to alleviate financial burdens, as seen with Beasley's father saving money for a dowry.

💡Dowry

A dowry is a transfer of parental property, gifts, or money at the marriage of a daughter. In the script, the concept of dowry is mentioned as a traditional practice where the bride's family pays the groom's family. This practice contributes to the perception of girls as a burden, as families must save money to pay for their daughters' marriages, reinforcing the cycle of child marriage.

💡Child marriage laws

Child marriage laws are legal regulations that set a minimum age for marriage to prevent the practice of marrying off children. The script mentions that under Bangladeshi law, Beasley's marriage at the age of 13 is illegal. However, the enforcement of these laws is challenging due to cultural practices and the difficulty in proving the age of the child, as birth registration is not universally practiced.

💡Rituals

Rituals are customary practices or ceremonies with a symbolic significance, often tied to cultural or religious beliefs. In the context of the video, Hindu marriage rituals are described, which include the binding of bangles on the bride's wrists and the changing of her attire to signify her new status. These rituals symbolize the transformation of a girl into a married woman, even when she is still a child.

💡Forced marriage

Forced marriage is a marriage conducted without the consent of one or both parties, often under duress or threat. The video script illustrates this through Beasley's story, where she is forced to marry an older man despite her desire to continue her education. Forced marriage is a violation of human rights and is a key aspect of the child bride phenomenon.

💡Education

Education refers to the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, and values, typically through a structured learning environment like schools. The video emphasizes the importance of education as a means for girls to have a better future. Beasley's dream of becoming a doctor and her desire to continue her studies are contrasted with the reality of child brides who are often pulled out of school to get married.

💡Domestic violence

Domestic violence involves physical, emotional, or sexual abuse within the home, often perpetrated by a spouse or partner. The script includes accounts of child brides facing domestic violence, such as Majeeda's experience of being beaten by her husband. This keyword highlights the additional risks and vulnerabilities that child brides face in their marriages.

💡Maternal health

Maternal health pertains to the health and well-being of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. The video discusses the risks child brides face in terms of maternal health, such as malnourishment and complications during childbirth due to their young age and undeveloped bodies. The mention of fistula as a complication faced by young mothers underscores the severe health implications of child marriage.

💡Cultural beliefs

Cultural beliefs are the values, attitudes, and practices shared by a group of people that are passed down through generations. The video touches on the strong cultural beliefs that perpetuate child marriage in Bangladesh, such as the notion that girls should be married young for their own protection or to maintain family honor. These beliefs are deeply ingrained and difficult to change, as seen in the resistance to efforts by activists like Kashyap to prevent child marriages.

💡NGOs

NGOs, or non-governmental organizations, are non-profit organizations that operate independently of governments and are involved in various social causes. The script mentions Plan International, an NGO working to keep girls in school and combat child marriage. NGOs play a crucial role in raising awareness, providing support, and advocating for policy changes to address issues like child marriage.

Highlights

One in three girls in Bangladesh face child marriage, leading to loss of childhood and education, and exposure to dangerous childbirth, violence, and slavery.

Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child marriage in Asia, despite laws against it.

Child brides often come from impoverished backgrounds, with families viewing girls as a burden.

Tradition and cultural beliefs contribute to the persistence of child marriage, with rituals symbolizing the binding of girls to their future husbands.

Girls like Beasley, aged 13, are forced into marriage, with their dreams and aspirations abruptly ended.

The documentary follows Beasley's story, highlighting the helplessness and fear of child brides.

Child marriage is often justified by community elders as a means of protection for girls, despite the risks.

Girls who resist child marriage face societal pressure and are sometimes forced into secrecy.

Organizations like Plan International are working to keep girls in school and combat child marriage.

Lack of birth registration makes it difficult to enforce laws against child marriage.

Child brides face significant health risks, including malnourishment and complications from early childbirth.

Domestic violence is a common issue for child brides, with little community sympathy or support.

The documentary explores the physical and emotional toll of child marriage on girls' lives.

Efforts to change cultural beliefs around child marriage are met with resistance and skepticism.

Individuals like Kashyap are advocating for change, sharing their personal stories to raise awareness.

The film screening organized by Kashyap aims to educate and inspire communities to reconsider child marriage.

Beasley's wedding day is filled with celebration for her family, but sadness and resignation for her.

The documentary concludes with a reflection on the ongoing struggle against child marriage in Bangladesh.

Transcripts

one day she's a child the next she's a wife

that's the reality for one in three girls in Bangladesh at best they lose

their childhood and a chance for education at worse they faced dangerous

childbirth violence and virtual slavery I'm Steve Chow on this episode of one on

one East we enter the world of Bangladesh's child brides

this is one of Bangladesh's poorest regions more than half the population

lives below the poverty line

but right now it's harvest time it's a time of Plenty a time for marriage

and all two oxen the brides come from here the local school young girls like

Beasley Laura Laura kisana they say I want to be

so many things when I grow up dr. Elanna I want to be a doctor so I

can help people I want to study I want to become someone big when I grow up

but today is our last day of childhood tomorrow Beasley is marrying an older

man that she's only met once her groom is 25 Beasley is just 13 under

Bangladeshi law the wedding will be illegal avionic Nahuatl una familia

hablo gotta say Islam I didn't want this wedding

I agreed under one condition that I would continue my studies after marriage

they are marrying me or forcefully say pilot elevated the same

when she gets home from school the preparations for her wedding have

already begun bizzy's father has saved up enough money for a dowry to pay the

groom's family because of this tradition girls in Bangladesh are seen as a burden

no matter whether the families are Muslim like most of the population here

or Hindu like Beasley's family for Hindus marriage is full of rituals the

first of these symbolizes her future as a married woman these Li grimaces as the

bangles are forced over her wrists binding her to her future husband

forever

then busy school uniform is traded in for her first sorry this marks her as a

woman even though she's still just a young girl the last step is to unbraid

her hair and tie it in a traditional not

the symbol of a Bengali bride

her transformation is complete

as everyone prepares for the festivities I sit with Beasley and sense her

helplessness it's hard to know what to say man kiss a girl no does anyone want

to leave their parents house no one wants to do that

but they're forcing me what can I do they are forcing me she's shaking and

she's terrified and she has no idea what's going on around her she has no

control over the situation a bride is supposed to be an essential theme for

any ceremony like this but for the first time what I'm seeing is her being the

last person being asked about anything

outside her aunt grinds tumeric into a paste it will be rubbed on too busy skin

so she glows at her wedding tomorrow

then her aunts bless her with oil and water village elders only gave the

go-ahead for Bizzy to marry one day ago she didn't have time to tell her friends

at school she's playing the role that's expected of her in Bangladeshi society

maintaining family honour by marrying young the whole community is here but no

one seems concerned about what Beasley wants or that her marriage will be

against the law on the morning of Beasley's wedding I can't help but think

how familiar this feels i spent a large part of my childhood in Bangladesh my

grandmother was married when she was just 10 in a village like this one I

want to understand why this keeps happening generation after generation

and if there's any hope for girls like Beasley who would rather make their own

choices like I did

there are organizations who are trying to stop child marriages since it was

outlawed in the 80s but today Bangladesh still has the highest rate of child

marriage in Asia the laws are hard to enforce families defy the ban by making

fake birth certificates the ID is illegal but who knows the child age you

know birth registration is not happening yeah so you can't take them to the law

or to the court or anything because you cannot prove the age of the child so

there is no way that the government can take action tonight Gabe reside works

for Plan International an NGO which is working to keep girls in school but they

are fighting against strong cultural beliefs they do it from all over most

places in Bangladesh and it has societal implication as well because you know if

one child is does not get married at an early age then society talks about it

why she is not getting married experts likes tonight's a government

proposal to lower the legal marriage age from 18 to 16 will be a disaster for

many more Bangladeshi girls girls like majeeda who live in a remote village in

the country's north Madiba is only 13 and was forced to marry last year does

it have a coda she can't talk openly in front of her husband but after a great

deal of persuasion he gives permission for us to go for a drive

career day I grew up and worked in my uncle's house because my parents were

too poor to take care of me then after he died my parents married me off

I studied till the second grade

I'm looking at home the further we go from her home the more happy magical

things but when she talks about life with her husband she can't look me in

the eye ya later for me over Charlotte I didn't feel good getting

married I thought how am I gonna live with this man then three months later I

realized I have to stay here I have to stay at my husband's house for the rest

of my life my dad is already a mother to a little boy doctors told her she's

malnourished and is too young to deal with the baby but I'm on a job it's hard

I'm learning how to be a mother having a kid is so tough my milk isn't enough so

the baby cries when I was giving birth the doctor wanted to do a c-section but

my husband said no done dr. Lovell is it the doctor said how can I even have a

baby because I was married so young I have nothing in my body I'm children

what about when I make her her doula guy kitchen

at home there are other problems my debe says she feels like a slave was I was a

bashful when he won sex I have to give it to him I tell him I

don't like it then he says if you stay in my house you have to give it to me he

grabs me all of a sudden when I'm sleeping then he attacks me

Madiba says her husband is often violent and beat her when she was pregnant she

is an ironical that money way to beats me with his hands on my back when he

beats me I feel sad but there's little sympathy here for girls like Madiba one

village elder tells me girls should be married young for their own protection

other those it boy getting a girl married young is a good

thing even if they die at least they are married it's also a good thing because

some runaway I still don't have our money no murder would have you guys it's

illegal oh we leave the house and mix with boys how do we stop this problem

marry them off at an early age child brides aren't just at risk of domestic

violence pregnancy and childbirth can cause significant damage to their

undeveloped bodies doctor Beatriz Berger is a doctor a Bangladesh's only clinic

dealing with fistula a complication during birth that causes the

reproductive organs rectum and bladder to split the condition leaves young

women incontinent and in pain living as outcasts in their community it's really

hard to live near a patient who's always full of urine it's like honestly I could

welter when we see them it's really hard to tolerate the smell worst case would

be they died I mean many are dying aunt you are a is one of dr. burgers patients

she's been suffering fistula for nine years

that's the most funny did boogaloo get is it I see does it even a doctor

I'm always okay who was dozy notable sure our consumer Shannon Fano Bomi pop

kitchen a important class five porosity fighter poor be a dominant gyro Toto air

boom that poor tweet about choice on on Angela's just had an operation that will

stop her living a life of shame it's just very amazing to have the chance to

help them in this situation and then that to see them when they are dry like

now she got operated yesterday and she spent after many years she spent a dry

knife so that's that's so amazing for her it's too late for Angela's marriage

though her husband left her and married someone else

in these villages girls like on Jawara lose their childhood in a blink of an

eye lisanna but one young man geshe boy is on a mission to stop girls from being

married off so early he takes his message door to door today he's visiting

a family who are planning to marry off their 13-year old daughter with him is a

group of boys who catch up his training to prevent child marriages he thinks

that's the best way to create change in the next generation

yes an unlucky be decided even to know okay Chevy mannequins I see Pollock

habits the Chipola cottagey among boys at Ottavia d'avin he beat a dividend

even Massicotte avila genetic what a volunteer to be able to see apne Coco no

idiot about sister Corbin as the day of nearest man : unlock appreciate upon

doable in the walk by Banga Dorchester Go Go Go diva how long have in lockup

era for I live for a problem as you didn't I have every year yeah

I'm a mobile no matter I can imagine ABA Davis on Corbett Omashu demo covered

event I'm not comin Bolivia - Adama that more ketchup is determined to change her

mind I'm rappin or Valerie say I'm not the

Carib cynical commodity somebody was the lack of our economy

Tom Shannon definitely his family's angry with me booty applause from salsa

let's say cash up hopes he made a difference but it's not easy to change

long-held cultural beliefs it was a tragedy in his own family that drives

him to try and stop child marriages I'm on bones joke on a terrible sure to ami

bacha a cascode pissy I had a niece who committed suicide by

taking poison because her family was forcing her to marry as a child she

never wanted to marry so young everyone was screaming when we took her to

hospital I took her on a rickshaw but halfway down the road she became too

choked I felt sick I kept thinking of her

why isn't she here how many more girls are going to die like this since then

Kashyap has taught thousands of child marriages in his village economists

promotion even less people share so echo Doge otaku look little more Basha ash VI

is one of the girls he saved oh and I've got a boy Potro Coshocton alia she'll

ever be you who is it ami don't last night in a dock without him I would be

married off at 13 he came to my house and asked my parents why they are doing

this I told them I want to study and do something for my community when my

parents knew I could be something big they understood and my marriage proposal

was broken when she finishes school ash via wants to join the police force but

that still doesn't impress her mother mayor glares well daughters are

expensive if she goes to school you have to buy her books so having a daughter is

a problem if she goes to her husband's house there's no issue with expenses now

girls have the same rights as boys but I could have gotten rid of the educational

expenses if I could have married her off after a super negative I live alone

Kashyap wants to reach even more people with his message and he knows how to

draw a crowd if you kill my daughter tonight

thousands of people have come from all over the area to a special film

screening he's organised in villages with no access to electricity TV or

entertainment the audience is hooked

I'm gonna have to talk about in me why sandy token night I'm a girl see under

the quit I could be a neighbor Quixote goes its bizzy's wedding day and

celebrations are beginning at her grooms house this is the man VC is married 25

year-old Schemmel pic 13 year old Beasley because he says she's easy to

control Schemmel tells me he was offered a lot more dowry money to marry other

girls but he wanted the youngest and most innocent bride Nami to artisan de

una cadena money on conversion mckeavy I like her behavior so I picked Beasley

she's pure most girls mix with other boys and have

relations I don't like that I've had better proposals but I didn't like the

girls behavior a good girl goes to school and straight home and that's it

Beasley dreams of being a doctor and wants to stay at school but Shambo seems

to have other plans for her I mean viagra family Gras no matter when

I come home she can cool me down and relieve me of my tension a good wife

takes care of me when I come home from my shop she will make me food and get

along with my parents then our community will consider her a good wife

as the wedding draws closer shells family is in full celebration they are

looking forward to the arrival of a new bride who can help them with household

chores I can't help but feel how different it is in the somber mood at

Beasley's house yesterday I don't wanna go nobody down like this I

can wander that's enough but for Schemmel not everything is going

well local authorities have discovered his

plans to marry a child so they're going to have to hold the ceremony in secret a

mother Victor Mancha knows amethyst near timonium truth is after hagia sofia to

the Aashiqui secretive organic food given with a ignored oven

it's a bad omen to break the tradition of marrying at the bride's house but

there is no choice we head to a location where many child weddings take place

away from prying eyes

everyone is racing to get the marriage started Beasley is already here

her aunts helped dress her in her wedding sari and turn her into a bride

Beasley seems resigned to her fate

she's quiet and sad go my third a boo myself was your I mean I think you wanna

hurt it to me to my time I kick back

Schemmel is also getting dressed good night

he seems a lot happier than Beasley

when they are both ready the wedding can begin

the priest is told to hurry to get the rituals done in case the police come the

couple began the day as strangers now after the ritual of circling of fire

seven times they are married bound together for seven lifetimes

there's a big sense of relief except for Beasley who hangs her head

she says goodbye to her parents it all becomes too much she stops in her

mother's arms family members hold them apart for a 13

year old this is an overwhelming moment

during the final blessing she collapses to the floor

as Beasley continues to sob a relative lives around

then she's bundled into a waiting ban with her husband and new inaudible deep

and just like that her married life has begun

a week later I go back to visit Beasley her life is already very different as a

new bride her friends can no longer visit her and she can't stay with her

family her husband had promised he would allow her to return to school but now

that's not happening jamika doctor hotel

it's sad to see how quickly a girl's dreams can be crushed

not that Schemmel seems to mind can give us a Madonna

thousands of girls like Beasley the Bangladeshi culture marrying young has

continued generation after generation in this world of grinding poverty girls

have little value until that changes it's hard to see how future generations

can break free