The epidemic of child marriage in Bangladesh
Bangladesh has the highest rate of child marriage of girls under the age of 15 in the world. According to a UNICEF study, 29 percent of girls in Bangladesh are married before 15, and two percent before 11.
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Repeated inaction by the central government and the complicity of local officials allow child marriage, including of very young girls, to continue unchecked.
Bangladesh is also highly exposed to natural disasters. Disasters push families into poverty, and poverty helps drive decisions to marry girls off, so more girls are put at risk.