Child marriage remains a deeply entrenched challenge in Bangladesh, disproportionately affecting rural girls and undermining their health, education, and economic potential. This study investigates the prevalence, drivers, and lived realities of child marriage in rural contexts, drawing on nationally representative survey data and qualitative interviews. Quantitative findings reveal a rising trend in child marriage and a strong correlation with early childbirth, food insecurity, and low paternal education. Regression analysis highlights key risk factors, including poverty, traditional gender norms, and religious affiliation, while protective factors include delayed menarche and the presence of male siblings. Qualitative insights underscore the role of social stigma, reputational anxiety, and digital exploitation in shaping marriage decisions. The study also evaluates the effectiveness of intervention strategies, finding that conditional economic incentives outperform adolescent empowerment programs in delaying marriage. Legal frameworks, particularly the ‘special provision’ clause in the Child Marriage Restraint Act (2017), are shown to be vulnerable to misuse, weakening enforcement. By integrating statistical analysis with community narratives, this research offers a nuanced understanding of child marriage in rural Bangladesh and identifies pathways for targeted, context-sensitive interventions. The findings emphasize the need for structural reforms, localized engagement, and sustained investment in education and economic resilience to disrupt the cycle of early marriage.
Hashibul Hassan (Fri,) studied this question.