Child Marriage Restraint Act 2017: Marriage Age, How to Stop a Child Marriage, and Penalties

In this guide: Legal marriage age in Bangladesh · How to stop a child marriage · Penalties for everyone involved · The special provision (section 19) · Is a child marriage valid?

The short answer

Under the Child Marriage Restraint Act 2017, a woman is a minor until 18 and a man until 21, and a marriage where either party is a minor is a child marriage. Anyone can report a planned child marriage to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, the police, the Upazila Women Affairs Officer or the union parishad chairman, who can stop it; a court can also issue an injunction. The adult who marries a minor, the parents or guardians, the person who conducts the marriage and the registrar all face imprisonment, a fine or both. The offences are cognizable, bailable and non-compoundable, and a mobile court can try them.

Legal marriage age in Bangladesh

Section 2 sets the age of adulthood for marriage at 18 for women and 21 for men. If either party is below that age, it is a child marriage. Registrars must check age from the birth registration certificate, NID or exam certificate before registering. Using a false age document is itself an offence.

How to stop a child marriage

1. Inform an official immediately: Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Upazila Women Affairs Officer, police, union parishad chairman or ward councillor, or call the 109 helpline or 999. Section 4 lets these officials act on oral or written information.
2. Officials can stop the marriage on the spot and take steps to prevent it.
3. Court injunction (section 5): a court can order that the marriage not take place. Breaking the injunction is punishable with up to 6 months, a fine up to Tk 10,000, or both.

Child Marriage Prevention Committees at national, district, upazila and union levels (section 3) coordinate prevention.

Penalties for everyone involved

The offences are cognizable, bailable and non-compoundable (s.14), so police can act without a warrant and the case cannot be settled privately.

The special provision (section 19)

Section 19 allows a marriage involving a minor “in special circumstances” and in the minor’s best interests, with a court’s direction and the parents’ or guardian’s consent, following the procedure in the 2018 Rules. Such a marriage is not an offence. The provision has been widely criticised by rights groups for creating a loophole. It is meant for rare cases and requires a court order in advance; it cannot be used to excuse a marriage that has already taken place.

One change is on the way. In 2026 the government announced a draft amendment that would require an online birth record, not a paper certificate, for marriage registration, and close the special provision that allows an under-age marriage in exceptional cases. As of October 2026 it is a draft, not law: the ages of 18 and 21 and the penalties above still apply.

Is a child marriage valid?

The Act punishes child marriage but does not declare it void. For Muslims, a girl married as a minor by her guardian may repudiate the marriage on reaching adulthood if it was not consummated (option of puberty), within the age limit set by law, and the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act 1939 recognises this as a ground for divorce. Dower and maintenance rights still apply. Get advice on the specific situation.