13-Year-Old's Horrific Child Marriage Story Shakes World: Abuse, Rape, No Escape

• A 13-year-old Bangladeshi girl's harrowing account of child marriage, detailing daily assault, rape, and her husband's demands for her body, has gone viral globally.
• Her family married her off, offering no support against the abuse, telling her to "endure it" as a daughter-in-law.
• Bangladesh has the highest child marriage rate in South Asia, with 51% of girls married before 18, driven by poverty, disasters, and social conservatism.
• Despite laws banning child marriage (minimum age 18), enforcement is weak, and a 2017 provision for 'family consent' worsened the issue, especially post-COVID-19.
• NGOs like UNICEF and BRAC are working on awareness, but significant progress is yet to be seen, with girls facing severe health risks, school dropout, and mental health issues.

Why It Matters: The tragic story of a 13-year-old highlights Bangladesh's child marriage crisis and weak law enforcement.