UNO stops over 100 early marriages within 11 months in Belkuchi

 
Anisur Rahman, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Belkuchi, has taken initiatives to stop some 100 early marriage incidents within 11 months in the upazila. Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Anisur Rahman stopped such one child marriage in Chala Madhyapara area of Belkuchi municipality on Friday where the bride was an eighth grade student (14) and groom was (23) of Mukundaganti village. Acting on tip-off, a mobile court led by the UNO stopped the marriage and fined the bride's father Tk 5,000. The bride's father vowed not to marry his daughter before 18. Earlier, the UNO had stopped a total of 350 child marriages in Sirajganj district, including 34 in Sirajganj's Chowhali upazila and 216 in Sirajganj Sadar. In this regard, the UNO Anisur Rahman told our reporter, "Child marriage increases maternal and child mortality and reduces women's empowerment. Soon Belkuchi Upazila will be developed as a child marriage free upazila."

--- MA Musa in Belkuchi