The percentage of child marriage of the girls aged 15 to 19 was increased by 10% in 2021 than it was in the previous year.
During Covid-19 outbreak period, 27% of the girls in this specified age-range got married.
The information was revealed in the report of United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) on child marriage published on Sunday.
It released two reports titled ‘Child Marriage during Covid-19’ and ‘Health management in the Slum Areas of Cities’ in a programme held at a hotel in the Capital.
According to the report, during two years of Covid-19, 27% of the Bangladeshi girls of age-range 15 to 19 got married. In the first year (2020), 24% of them got married and in the second year (2021) it was 34%.
On the other hand, according to Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019 conducted by Bangladesh Statistics Bureau and UNICEF jointly, the percentage of same age-ranged girls is 33%, while for girls under age 18 its 51%.
In the survey of UNFPA, it has been stated that according to the participants in the survey, the rate of child marriage got increased during Covid outbreak as girls had been victim of bullying and other type of harassment.
The report urged to conduct more survey and research to find out the effect of Covid and lockdown on child marriage. The survey has been conducted among 2,820 girls from 20 districts during December 2021 and January 2022. The percentage of child marriage rate differs in districts. For example, the percentage of child marriage is 40% in Lakshmipur, while its only 4% in Rangamati. Only 24% of the married girls returned to school education later on.
In addition, the survey also included periods of the girls. In the report, it has been stated that only 42% of them use special clothes during periods. There are presence of superstitions among the girls regarding the issue and they also lack proper washing facilities. Among the sanitary napkin users, 68% don’t feel comfort to purchase the pad and they dry the used pads or clothes in secret places.
The report urged to make the girls more aware of the matters and increase their facilities as well.
@The article appeared on the print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on September 19, 2022 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque
