Dhaka: It might seem to be a strange advisory, but it’s actually a reminder.
The Chinese embassy in Bangladesh urged Chinese citizens to strictly follow the law about foreign-related marriage and avoid being misled by illegal matchmaking agents or cross-border dating content on social media or other platforms.
According to a Global Times report, Chinese citizens have been advised to be alert about commercial cross-border marriage agencies and online romance scams to avoid financial and personal losses.
The advisory added that Chinese people should not entertain the idea of “buying a foreign wife” and think twice before marrying in Bangladesh.
Chinese law doesn’t allow any marriage agency to engage in or disguise engagement in cross-border marriage matchmaking services. No individual is permitted to carry out or disguise such activities through deception or for profit.
Pointing out that judicial processes in Bangladesh often get prolonged, the Chinese embassy warned that if someone is arrested on suspicion of human trafficking, it can take months or even years for a court verdict, which can impact family reunification and long-term life plans.
Why has the warning come now?
China is facing dwindling marriage rates, with the reasons believed to be the now-scrapped one-child policy and cultural preference for sons.
According to reports, around 30 million Chinese men are not able to find a spouse and are referred to as “leftover men”, spurring the demand for “foreign wives”.
Dhaka-based newspaper The Daily Star reported that Bangladeshi women were being trafficked to China under the pretext of marriage, lucrative jobs or education opportunities. Once in China, these women are forced to get married to Chinese nationals.
Victims of romance or marriage scams have been advised to report the incidents to China’s public security authorities.
Organisers of human trafficking in Bangladesh face a minimum of seven years in prison, with punishment extending up to life imprisonment or even death penalty. Those who incite, plan, or assist trafficking can be imprisoned for three to seven and slapped fines up to 20,000 taka (about Rs 14,000).
