Staff Reporter :
Child marriage is increasing in alarmingly despite the administration’s effort to stop it in the country.
In a Demographic Health Survey of 2011, it has been shown that, despite the national law prohibiting child marriage, 65 percent of women, who were 20 to 24 years of age at the time of survey, got married before 18.
The speakers at a programme on Sunday called upon people not to encourage marriage under 18 years of age terming it as a threat to the country’s socio-economic development.
Children under 18 years of age are not physically and mentally ready for marriage and child birth, they said this while addressing a Child Protection Fair, aimed at preventing child marriage in Ershad School Playground premises at Karail in city’s Banani area.
Advocacy for Social Change unit of BRAC and UNICEF jointly organized the programme.
Mohammad Mojibur Rahman, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka district, inaugurated the fair as the chief guest.
The fair highlighted a theme styled “girl child is my pride, not marriage before 18 and it should be my pledge”.
Neha Kapil, chief, communication for development, UNICEF Bangladesh, KAM Morshed, director of Advocacy for Social Change, Technology and Partnership Strengthening Unit of BRAC, Salah Uddin Khan, officer-in-charge of Banani Police Station, Mahfuza Jesmine, convenor of child affairs journalists network, Khan Abul Basher, deputy director of Social Service Department of Dhaka, Mohammad Mofizur Rahman, councilor of Ward No-19 of Dhaka North City Corporation, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Government officials, NGO representatives and a large number of children along with their parents were present on the occasion.
A number of stalls displayed cultural programme, including drama, aimed at protecting child rights.
“Girls who get married before the age of 18 have an increased risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth and are more likely to be exposed to violence and abuse. Child marriage negatively impacts schooling and reduces a child’s opportunities in life”, said the speakers.
Terming the existing child marriage as a serious problem in the country, the speakers said problems such as mother and child mortality, malnutrition, health, women repression and over population are directly involved with child marriage. These problems, they opined, can easily be solved if child marriage can be stopped.
