Bangladesh child marriage law sparks criticism

A controversial child marriage law in Bangladesh which allows children as young as 14 to be married off by their parents was criticised by rights groups Tuesday. Parliament passed the Child Marriage Restraint Act on Monday night, replacing a law dating back to the British colonial period.
The new rule keeps the minimum marriageable age for males at 21 and for females at 18 but relaxes the restriction for "special circumstances" - including for girls who elope, are raped or bear children out of wedlock. Rights groups have criticised the law, saying it would jeopardise the gains Bangladesh has made in cutting the levels of child marriage and improving the health of women and children.