DIVORCE RATE IN BANGLADESH

 

REASONS BEHIND RISE IN DIVORCE RATE IN BANGLADESH

Written by: Ira Sabah

 

Divorce is very common to see in Western nations but this has not been the same for Bangladesh until recently.  Marriage is not taken seriously in Western nations; some members of our Gen Z generation believe it is merely an event before divorce. People of the West divorce when they “lose feelings” or when they decide to change their sexuality. People in Bangladesh, however, did not have the privilege to divorce anytime they desired, and many still do not, even if they are tied in a severely toxic and abusive relationship. Also, along with privilege being a factor, the individuals in Bangladesh are more compassionate and loving compared to Western people. Even if they have the option to divorce, they choose not to do so out of love for their children. They cannot bear to leave them.

                    

 

Let’s now discuss instances in which Bangladeshis, especially women, do not have the privilege to divorce. Gender discrimination comes first. As a result of their lack of education and early marriage, many women in Bangladesh are unemployed and dependent on their husbands for financial support. They cannot live independently if they divorce. Therefore, even if a woman is a victim of domestic violence, she has no other option than to go through it. The matter is worse if they have children. They know, if they divorce, they cannot take care of the children single-handedly. As an outcome, they are still caught in the merciless violence. Now, I’m not saying the abuser is always the husband. Sometimes women can be just as violent. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that in our society, men are more likely to abuse alcohol, create problems at home, cheat, and use violence on their wives and children. It is not uncommon for Bangladeshi men to have a manipulative mindset. Since they know their wives cannot leave them, they continue to mistreat their wives.  Men in unhappy relationships typically find it easier to divorce if they choose to do so. It is quite easy for them as long as there is no societal obstacle and their family is supportive.

Thanks to the empowerment of women, many women are now beginning to live independently. Not only are they less patient towards abuse, and toxicity in relationships but they are also proud single mothers. Women in Bangladesh give their careers more emphasis due to societal encouragement. In many households, the in-laws of women prohibit them from having a career or going to school. My cousin, unfortunately, was the victim of this. Luckily, her parents were understanding and she quickly got divorced. She remarried to a nice guy who loves her unconditionally, and she now has her dream job. As a result, Bangladesh’s divorce rate has skyrocketed.

Another reason for the rise in divorce rates is inadequate planning. As time goes on, more people get married just out of attraction without learning each other’s whole personality, and without knowing how their spouses or partners will treat them in the future. When two people are married, their love should be sincere and they should always respect one another. A marriage is stable, peaceful, and has deep meaning only if both of them are willing to give effort. Their relationship will end even if one of them views their marriage as casual and unimportant.

The majority of GEN Z people’s family problems were brought on by their parents. Thus, they struggle with severe trust issues when it comes to marriage. They feel that they have seen enough and learned enough. Therefore, these people make rash decisions to be divorced even after the smallest quarrel. Who could blame them, though? Nevertheless, I hope that marriage never loses its meaning or is considered a joke in Bangladesh and that the divorce rate doesn’t rise as much as it has in Western countries. From my observation, I have witnessed people getting married in lavish ceremonies one day, and divorcing the following. I can never stop wondering why people get married in the first place if they cannot keep their promises. Spouses are not called life partners and significant others for no reason.