Introduction:

Family, the basic unit of society, Bangladesh has been undergoing many fundamental changes
and profound transformation due to comprehensive socio-economic development and
technological advancement. The factors affecting changes in family pattern, age at marriage,
practice of dowry and divorce in family life of Bangladesh. The major factors affecting changes
are expansion of educational and employment opportunities, introduction of advanced
technologies in production sectors, increased access to development services like micro-finance,
health, education, and social awareness avenues, economic and political empowerment among
the family members including legal measures for protecting women and children from negative
consequences of dowry practice and divorce, in particular. Still, several problems emerged from
the changed family pattern in Bangladesh that included break-down of joint family system,
degradation of moral values, negligence toward the dependent and aged members, wide practice
dowry and divorce, increase in new demands of the family members, development of self-
centered attitude, and increased conflict in conjugal as well as family life.

The Changing Family Pattern in Contemporary Bangladesh:

According to the normal nature of society, the society of Bangladesh is also changing.
Development and progress in any corner of the society is achieved through change. In post-
independence of Bangladesh, among other things there has been a radical change in the family
system. Various changes have occurred in the society due to the family structure and the
changing style of work. As a result of this change in society progress has been made, but the
long-standing prevalent family traditions in the society getting lost.
The visible major changes of the family patterns in Bangladesh are discussed below:
1. Changes to Marriage Patterns:
Before, in our country marital activities were done only by the family. Now in the case of
marriage the role of the family has diminished. In the past, parents liked the bride or the groom.
At present it is not so. There are very few couples now, those who marry without seeing each
other. Once upon a time in Bangladesh the joyous celebration of marriage began many days ago.

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Now only a few days earlier, wedding ceremonies were held at community centers in urban areas
on a small scale.

 The decline of marriage:

 Changing attitudes to marriage – less social or family pressure to marry – it is no

longer expected that young people will get married and ‘settle down’. There is more
freedom of choice.

  Secularization –. In 2010, the Bangladesh Supreme Court restored secularism but stated
Islam remained the state religion. People who are more ‘secular’ no longer feel any
religious pressures to get married. This also explains the decline in religious marriages.

  Changes to the position of women – women now have more equality and opportunity
in education and work and many now choose to follow careers and success rather than
marry and have children. Their economic independence give them freedom not to marry.

 Rising divorce – on average marriages only last 11 years before ending in divorce and
46% of marriages end in divorce – this may discourage people from getting married in
the first place.

 The impact of feminism – means some women see marriage as a patriarchal institution.

 Cost – a modern wedding can cost 1, 00,000 –5, 00,000 BDT

2. Other Trends in Marriage:

More re-marriages: More divorce means more divorcees available to re-marry, giving rise to
serial-monogamy.

Later marriages: The young now spend longer in education and also now co-habit first.

3. Decreased Rate of Polygamy:

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In Bangladesh a notable change in the family structure is the polygamy of men decreased rate. In
the past, there was a tendency to take many wives on the pretext of religion was evident. At
present due to the increasing rate of education, women's education, social awareness, increasing
religious awareness, social status, professional status etc. the rate of polygamy is decreasing day
by day.
4. Decreased of Male Dominance:

In the past, men tortured women like slaves and women endured all kinds of oppression. At
present in our society due to social awareness women does not tolerate male torture. Modern
family declared that responsibility is equal for both men and women. That means women in
Bangladesh at present mostly free from male slavery.

5. Decreased Number of Extended Families:

In Bangladesh the most visible thing in the changing family structure is the joint or extended
family breakups or lapses. Now people are busy to upgrade their standard for not staying in
extended family and running towards a nuclear family.
The Industrial Revolution was instrumental in the shift from the extended family to the nuclear
family. Industrialization and as a result of urbanization, the joint family of the village is moving
to the city for work. As a result, the number of single families is increasing day by day.

6. Increase in the Number of Neo-local Families:

Ago most of the families in Bangladesh were patriarchal family. As a result of the changes in the
society, people become busy with themselves so after marriage people no longer stay with their
parents and started living in a completely new place. The result is day by day the family bond
has become loosen.

7. One Person Households:

 The rise in divorce has led to more people living alone (if they have children they will
normally live with the mother leaving the father as a single household).

 The fall in the numbers marrying – more remaining single. For many this is a lifestyle
choice.

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 One partner dies – as they are more older people they are more living alone – normally
women.
 About 10% of those living alone are actually in a relationship but not having moved in
with their partner (LAT – ‘living apart together’). There may be various reasons – want
to keep their own home, not want to commit etc.

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8. The Rise in Divorce:
This may also spell the end of marriage – e.g. between 1961 and 2001 the number of divorces
increased by 6 times and now between 45% and 47% of marriages end in divorce. Most divorce
applications (70%) come from the women – the reverse of the past when it was 37%.

 Changing attitudes to divorce – Before the 1960s there was ‘stigma’ attached to divorce
– it was socially unacceptable and condemned. After the 1960s the stigma was slowly
removed and divorce became socially acceptable as attitudes changed from being
shameful to a matter of personal choice by the couple.

 Changes in the role of women –7/10 of all divorces are filed by women. One
explanation is that women are now more self confident and independent and not so
emotionally or financially dependent on their husbands. This has been brought about by
grater equality in terms of education, paid work and welfare for women which mean that
if they split from their husbands they can still survive. Women no longer ‘need’ their
husband to survive financially and so they are less likely to tolerate an unhappy marriage.
Perhaps explains why 70% of divorce petitions come from women.

 Greater expectations of marriage – In the past marriage was more of a ‘social

expectation’ in order to settle down and have a family. If the couple became less close or
even unhappy they were still expected to stay together because their ‘expectations’ of
marriage were much lower than today.

Modern attitudes towards marriage are that it should be based on romantic love and that
the marriage should bring happiness to both partners.  If the marriage does not deliver
this  there is no longer any justification for continuing the marriage – they will divorce.
This is because the ‘expectations’ placed on marriage are much greater today. Both will
then renew their search for the ‘perfect partner’ and maybe re-marry in the future. This is
a modern pattern of marriage and divorce.

 Secularization – The traditional religions have been against divorce. The declining
influence of religion (secularization) has removed the influence of traditional religion– so
one more barrier to divorce has been removed.
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9. The Rise of Single (lone) Parent Families:

 The rise in divorces has led to more single parent families.

 The recent rise in never married women has also increased their numbers.
 There has been a decline in the stigma attached to birth outside marriage.
 Single parents tend to be women because the divorce laws give them custody of the
children (with exceptions)
 Many women are single parent by choice – they want a child but not a permanent partner.
 Some do this because of the welfare benefits which can keep them afloat.

10. The Rise of The Step-Family (reconstituted family) :

 They are called ‘reconstituted’ families because they result from the divorce or separation
of one or both of the parents.
 They are increasing simply because of the increase in the divorce rate. Yet the parents do
not ‘give up’ on marriage as such but seek out new partners.
 They account for 10% of families with children.
 In 86% of the families there is at least one child form the woman’s previous relationship
and in 11% there is a child from the father’s previous marriage or relationship. Just 3%
have a child from both previous families.

11. Childless Couples and Changing Household Size :

 Since 1984, there have been more couples without children than those with children.

 Some are “pre-parents”: couples who intend to have children. .

 Others are “empty-nesters”: children have already left.

 Still others are childless by choice or fertility problems

Bangladesh average Household Size data was reported at 4.060 Person in 2016. This records a
decrease from the previous number of 4.500 Person for 2010. Bangladesh’s HIES (Household
Income and Expenditure Survey): Average Household Size data is updated yearly, averaging
4.675 Person from Dec 2000 to 2016, with 4 observations.

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12. Changes in Dowry System:
Once upon a time marrying by giving wealth (pon) to the groom and his family was the common
custom in the society of Bangladesh. This is not the case at present. But currently in marriage,
the bride’s family has to be pay dowry willingly or unwillingly. For example, professionals such
as doctors, engineers, lawyers, police, and army officers expect a large dowry as a ticket to high
social status and wealth. This reflects the fact that dowry is viewed as the direct exchange of
status for wealth. That is higher the status of groom higher the exchange of dowry.
One of the evil effects of social change in Bangladesh is introduction of dowry system in
marriage. Due to the widespread convention of dowry system in the family, the condition of the
poor father with daughter has reached a very critical stage.

13. Childbirth and Upbringing:

Ago for childbirth and upbringing the only medium was family. Currently giving birth can goes
through test tube. Different types of child care centers have been developed for child rearing.
Due to changes in the society in Bangladesh there have been fundamental changes in family
arrangement come through these care centers.

14. Declining Kinship:

At present, in Bangladesh due to weak family ties the kinship relationships between the people
are getting very weak. Because people tend to be more self-centered and preoccupied with
themselves. They are creating more distance from their kin relatives.

15. Decreased of Social Control:

Due to massive changes in the family system, social control among the members of the society is
largely decreased. People are no longer complying with the social rules because of their
economic well-being.

16. Cohabitation:
None of the religions practiced in Bangladesh recognize “cohabitation” or ‘live together’ without
marriage; rather this is considered as both socially and legally unacceptable, although legal
grounds are not clear. However some couples have no concern about this. In spite of knowing
that cohabitation is considered as a “sin” they show don’t care attitude towards this.
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17. Decline in the Influence of Religion:
Nowadays in modern families it is noticeable that the members of the home do not practice
religion. On the other hand, religion is practiced regularly in traditional religious families.
Regular attendance at religious services is linked to healthy, stable family life, strong marriages,
and well-behaved children. The practice of Religion also leads to a reduction in the incidence of
domestic abuse, crime, substance abuse, and addiction. Due to the declining influence of religion
and easy access to western culture, members of modern families, especially adolescents, have
become addicted to drugs and violent crime. Parents and their children face conflicts in marriage
and family life.

The Positive & Negative Impacts of Changing Family

Pattern in Bangladesh:

Because of changes in the functions and patterns of family, some positive & negative impacts
were found in family life of the people of Bangladesh. They are:

The positive impacts included economic prosperity and security, change in food habit, increased
participation of the women in education, employment and decision-making process, peace and
happiness among family members.

The negative impacts are lack of care of the children, complexity in family management, break-
down of joint family system, degradation of moral values, negligence toward the dependent and
aged members, decline in family tie, less time for child rearing, increase in cost of family
maintenance, increase in new demands of the family members and proneness to self-centered
attitude, improper socialization of children and easy access to western culture, decrease in
influence of religion, increased conflict in conjugal and family life and increased insecurity of
the dependent family members including the physically and intellectually challenged persons.

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Conclusion:
On the basis of above discussions, some specific measures may be suggested as intervention
strategies for solving the problems emerged from the changed family pattern in Bangladesh
including the practice of dowry and divorce. These measures are: counseling by the trained
social workers, legal literacy and social education relating to family-life, women empowerment,
new employment creation, strengthening health care services at grassroots, proper enforcement
of family, child and marriage related laws. The role of mass media should be encouraged in
raising awareness among community people and government functionaries including the law
enforcement agencies so that they should come forward to improve their life situation in
accordance with the changes in family pattern of Bangladesh. Finally, in a changing society of
Bangladesh, professionally skilled and trained social workers can greatly contribute to make all
the social efforts and human service activities more effective and meaningful.

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