Public awareness to prevent child marriage stressed

Speakers at a discussion in Rajshahi on Tuesday said raising public awareness alongside ensuring proper enforcement of the law was vital in resisting child marriage in society.

They said flourishing their latent talents together with building them as educated citizens could be the effective means to establishing Bangladesh as a dignified nation in the future, reports BSS.

The observations came at a view-sharing meeting titled "Child Marriage and Women Health" held at office conference hall of Divisional Director of Health in the city yesterday. Bikash Socio-economic Development Organization (BSDO) arranged the meeting.

Representatives and members of all organizations concerned joined the program discussing ways and means on how to mitigate the problem. Director of Health Dr Abdus Sobhan addressed the meeting as chief guest with President of BSDO Shaheen Akter Rainy in the chair. Editor of Daily Sonar Desh Akbarul Hassan Millat presented a concept paper on the issue while BSDO General Secretary Azizur Rahman welcomed the participants.

Director of Partner Organization Alima Khatun Lima, Panel Lawyer of LOFS Advocate Shahinul Haque, Journa-list Ayesha Siddiqua and President of local unit of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad Kolpona Roy also spoke. "There are social and economic reasons behind the child marriage.

The public representatives will have to aware the people about the consequences of child marriage and legal provisions in this regards," Dr Abdus Sobhan said. He urged all to make neighbors aware against the child marriage to get good results in removing the social disease.

Akbarul Hassan Millat said responsive support from the community, especially teachers, parents and influential leaders, has become a must for reducing child marriage substantially.

He said eradicating child marriage is imperative in creating a glorious Bangladesh and building a social resistance against child marriage is important. Shaheen Akter Rainy said there is no alternative for creating community awareness through raising school-based awareness on adolescence for combating the existing rate of child marriage. The practice of child marriage is very damaging, especially for girls.