More about Amina
and her family
Government officials had visited Amina's school to talk about child marriage. Her father is very much against child marriage and was interested when he learned that, at least in theory, it was a punishable offense.
"If parents marry off a daughter before she reaches the age of 18," he said, with a laugh "the girl can file a civil suit. I heard this from my daughter!"
Amina
age 17, unmarried in bangladesh
Amina's father is a day laborer and her mother does odd jobs to earn money. The family often runs short of food. Yet, Amina's parents have turned down many marriage proposals, allowing her instead to continue her studies.
This is possible because, since 1994, the government of Bangladesh has provided scholarships for all girls who wish to attend secondary school.
Amina's father has a highly personal interest in her continuing education. He feels humiliated because of his own illiteracy; He was once asked to leave the adult literacy class in which he had enrolled on the grounds that he could not be taught. He is still angry about this.
He asked Amina to teach him to spell his name, which he did proudly—and aloud—for the interviewer. "I can't meet my children's desires," he said gravely. "I can't give them three meals a day let alone give them anything beyond the bare necessities. I can't even buy a sari for my wife. But at least I can fulfill their desire to learn, without spending much money."