'Don't buy foreign wives': Chinese embassy in Bangladesh warns against marriage scams

As per Chinese law, no marriage agency is allowed to engage in or disguise engagement in cross-border marriage matchmaking services. (Representational image: Unsplash)

The Chinese embassy in Bangladesh issued a reminder on Sunday, urging Chinese citizens to strictly follow the law concerning foreign-related marriage and avoid being misled by illegal matchmaking agents or cross-border dating content on short video platforms.

Chinese citizens have been advised to stay away from commercial cross-border marriage agencies and remain vigilant against online romance scams to avoid both financial and personal losses, according to a report by the Global Times.

They should reject the idea of “buying a foreign wife” and think twice before marrying in Bangladesh, it added. As per Chinese law, no marriage agency is allowed to engage in or disguise engagement in cross-border marriage matchmaking services, and no individual is permitted to carry out or disguise such activities through deception or for profit.

The embassy added that judicial processes in Bangladesh are often prolonged. If someone is arrested on suspicion of human trafficking, it can take months or even years from the initial police filing to a court verdict, significantly impacting family reunification and long-term life plans.

This warning came amid growing concerns over bride trafficking in China, as the country is facing dwindling marriage rates due to the now-scrapped one-child policy and cultural preference for sons. At least 30 million Chinese men are unable to find a spouse and are referred to as “leftover men”, spurring the demand for “foreign wives”.

According to a report by The Daily Star, Bangladeshi women were being trafficked to China under the pretext of marriage, lucrative jobs or education opportunities. Criminal gangs then force these women to get married to Chinese nationals and smuggle them into China.

The embassy noted that many of these marriages are arranged through illegal or exploitative means and may lead to serious legal consequences. It urged victims of romance or marriage scams to promptly report the incidents to China’s public security authorities.

Under Bangladesh’s Anti-Human Trafficking Act and Penal Code, organisers of human trafficking face a minimum of seven years in prison, with penalties extending up to life imprisonment or even the death penalty. Those who incite, plan, or assist trafficking can face three to seven years of imprisonment and fines up to 20,000 taka (about Rs 14,000).