MARRIAGE IMPLICATION ON FERTILITY IN BANGLADESH

In Bangladesh, marriage means the prescribed legal union between a mean and women, establishing them in new social roles as husband and wife. Pre-marital cohabitation does not exist and it is looked upon as a social evil. In rural Bangladesh, there is a common belief that a girl age 20 years is too old to marry. Constraints on marriage that didn’t exist before are, however, now making an appreciable change-shortage of land, unemployment, etc. As early as possible a girl must to go to her husband’s household. A mature girl may cherish illusive fantasies about events related to sexual pleasure and wishes to find a household as soon as possible so that she can comfortably establish a happy home with children and can lead a life with proper rights and esteem. For the man, age at marriage is not rigidly determined but it is usually decided by this ability to independently support a family. If he is the eldest or the only son he will be expected to get married early. Therefore, employment outside the family is not an important criterion for marriage for the son. Marriage in Bangladesh is mostly arranged by the father and other relatives or guardians.