Preventing early marriage in Bangladesh

Sawrab was due to marry his young bride-to-be, Monowara in September 2004. At the wedding ceremony, the marriage registrar was called to officiate, but realising the couple was under 18-years-old, asked to see their birth certificates. Sawrab and Monowara's guardians could not produce their birth certificates and as a result, the registrar refused to register their marriage.

In Bangladesh, marriage of a child under 18 is prohibited by law. In many cases, however, just declaring the age of the bride is enough for a marriage to proceed. The incidences of early marriage could be reduced if all marriage registrars asked for birth certificates and proof of age.

How Plan has helped

Government bodies in Gazipur, Dinajpur and Nilphamari, supported by Plan, and working with the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Organisation, arranged a one-day workshop with 60 marriage registrars. At the end of the orientation the participants came up with an action plan on how to use birth certificates to reduce the number of early marriages.