Leaving dreams behind: stories of girls forced into early marriage
DHAKA, May 01, 2026 (BSS) - From the moment life begins, human beings learn to dream. Dreams shape growth and give people the motivation to move forward. But not all dreams come true—especially for girls from the underprivileged families. For many of them, childhood dreams come to an abrupt and heartbreaking end due to the harsh reality of early marriage.
Momena (not real name), a schoolgirl from BaghaUpazila of Rajshahi, once expressed this painful reality in her notebook: many girls are forced to leave behind their dreams and go to their in-laws’ house even before those dreams fully take shape.
Momena was a student of Nawtika Government Primary School. After completing her primary education, she enrolled in a secondary school.
However, while studying in class nine, she was married off. Later, her younger brother brought her notebook to the same primary school, where former teacher DulariKhatun discovered it.
She showed it with great interest to the head teacher, Kabiruzzaman.
Head teacher Kabiruzzaman said he found it hard to believe that a mid-level student from a lower-middle-class family could think so deeply.
“Perhaps our understanding of children’s inner world is still limited,” he remarked.
DulariKhatun said that most girls in rural areas fall victim to child marriage, and very few protest against it.
It is unknown whether Momena had objected to her marriage, but her writing was striking—almost like a silent protest. That’s why she preserved the notebook as an example.
Momena is now married in Charghatupazila of the same district.
When contacted, she said she has two sons. Her elder son is nine years old, and she has arranged three private tutors for him.She also helps with his studies at home. Her in-laws are very supportive.
Over the past 10 years, she has forgotten the dreams she once wrote about—now all her dreams revolve around her two sons. But her story is not unique.
Helena, a young woman from BarishalSadarupazila, once dreamed of becoming a barrister.
She also wanted to learn acting and dancing. Her family was financially stable, and her father was supportive, so she believed her dreams would come true.
But right after her higher secondary exams, she received a good marriage proposal—the groom was a government officer. She got married.
The following year, she had a child. Her education then became secondary.
Although her in-laws did not oppose her studies, they also did not encourage her.
In this situation, she completed a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. She has no regrets, but now all her dreams center on her five-year-old daughter.
Roksana from Khulna faced even harsher realities. Despite achieving good results in her SSC examination in 2023, she could not get admitted in college due to financial hardship.Her father struggled to support the large family alone.
Eventually, she agreed to marriage. A year later, she gave birth to a baby girl. Now, all her thoughts revolve around her child’s future.
Roksana said, “I had many dreams—to go to college, to attend university, to stand on my own feet, to support my father. But none of that happened. Now I just want my daughter not to face the same fate. I want her to fulfill the dreams I once had.”
These stories may differ in detail, but they converge in one place—the pain of lost dreams.
Even when many young women find stability in their in-laws’ homes, the dreams they once cherished in childhood continue to haunt them.
In this reality, one question remains: do girls’ dreams simply shift to the next generation, or do they quietly disappear?
