Fabeha Monir

Photojournalist

fabehamonir.net

Child Marriage in Bangladesh

School: Ateneo De Manila University , The International Center of Photography (ICP) Falmouth University

Hira Moni, 15, holds her 8-mont..." she said. Bangladesh

Hira Moni, 15, holds her 8-month old son, Mohammad. She got married when she was 12 years old. Her parents house in Gabura, Bangladesh, is prone to flooding. "Parents Marry off their daughters because when disasters come, our house goes under water often," she said. Bangladesh

Shahnaz,17,was married at age 1...like mine." Bangladesh

Shahnaz,17,was married at age 14 as her father was unable to provide for the family after a cyclone destroyed their home. "I dream to raise my child in a good manner", she said. "I don't want him to have a life like mine." Bangladesh

Sathi Mondol, 16, was seven mon...e a child." Bangladesh

Sathi Mondol, 16, was seven months pregnant when this photo was taken. "After my marriage, I didn't try to study beacuse I got pregnant." she said. "Now I am waiting for my child. Still, now I am a child. I think it will be difficult for me to raise a child." Bangladesh

Disha Mistry, 17, married her h..." she said. Bangladesh

Disha Mistry, 17, married her husbnad one year ago. "I told my parents that I don't want to get married, but because of poverty and natural diasters they decided about my marriage," she said. Bangladesh

Marufa Khatun, 14, recetly gave...hold work." Bangladesh

Marufa Khatun, 14, recetly gave birth. She was married at age 11. "Women and girls are suffering more than men in this area," she said. "Girls collect water and do all the household work." Bangladesh

Many womne in the mangrove fore...lect drinking water. Bangladesh

Many womne in the mangrove forests of Bangladesh rely on fihsing to earn a living. They also often have to travel long distances to collect drinking water. Bangladesh

"It's very difficult to do household work, cook and manage a family at this young age," Mondol said, "I cannot play with anyone. I used to play with dools, marbles and other toys, but now I cannot play because no one will allow me. I used to bathe in the pond water and loved catching fish, but now I cannot." Bangladesh

Shahnaz, right, watches other g..." she said. Bangladesh

Shahnaz, right, watches other girls play. "If there were fewer natural diasters like cyclones and floods in the area and no water crisis, then the girls in the area would have studied (more) and suffered less," she said. Bangladesh

Kanchan Gain, 17, got married t..." she said. Bangladesh

Kanchan Gain, 17, got married this year. She says she was happy because girls in the area usually get married at a younger age."Young girls are getting married here beacuse of poverty and natural diasters," she said. Bangladesh

"Sometimes I think I a...39;t play." Bangladesh

"Sometimes I think I am a child." Gain said. "I want to play again. I love to play with marbles, but when I went to my husband's house I can't play." Bangladesh

"When I was pregnant, ...ool again." Bangladesh

"When I was pregnant, I couldn't go to school." Khatun said. "But now I am trying to attend school again." Bangladesh

How the climate crisis fuels gender inequality

The climate crisis may be a collective problem, but its impacts do not fall equally. Women and girls often bear the heaviest burdens.

Bangladesh is considered an “emergency hotspot” for girls’ rights according to humanitarian nonprofit Save the Children, which ranks countries with the highest risks that a girl will both be married as a child and face life-changing consequences from climate change.

The low-lying country is extremely vulnerable to the climate crisis. As the impacts of extreme weather push people further into poverty, and families become desperate to relieve some financial strain, the nonprofit says the risks of child marriage increase.

Twelve million girls are married before the age of 18 each year globally, according to Girls Not Brides. That is 23 girls every minute.
Marufa Khatun, from Satkhira in southwest Bangladesh, was married at 11 because her parents could no longer manage after cyclones and floods ripped through their community. Now 14, she is the mother of a 3-month-old baby. “I got married early because natural disasters are happening frequently now and our father cannot afford our expenses,” she told CNN.
Governments around the world have committed to end child marriage by 2030. But a recent analysis from Save the Children found that almost 9 million girls worldwide face extreme risk of climate disasters and child marriage every year.