‘Strengthening of education facilities, activeness of local representatives can reduce child marriage rate’

The strengthening of education facilities for girls and activeness of the local representatives and administrations can reduce the rate of child marriage in Bhola, said Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shawon, MP, Bhola-3 while speaking at a webinar organised recently by COAST Foundation.  

The webinar titled ‘Child marriage, causes and impacts in life’ was moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, the Executive Director of COAST Foundation.

Iqbal Uddin, joint director of COAST Foundation, presented the keynote paper, said a media release. 

Gias Uddin, chairman of Lalmohan Upazila; Mosharaf Hossain, Upazila Chariman, Tazumuddin; Pallab Kumar Hazra, UNO, Tazumuddin; Al Noman, UNO Lalmohan; Md. Russellur Rahman- ASP, Lalmohon circle; AH Towfique Ahmed, UNICEF chief of Barishal spoke at the webinar as special guests.

The organisation conducted a study covering all upazilas of Bhola in 2020 and found that the rate of child marriage in the district is alarming.

The rate of child marriage at the national level is 51.4 per cent, but in Bhola, it is higher, around 60.3 per cent, the study disclosed.

Safety and security of girls, lack of awareness of parents, less priority given to girls, reluctance of local representatives and administrations are the main causes of high child marriage rate in the district, the study said.

Speaking at the webinar, Mosharraf Hossain Dulal said “Char areas in Tazumuddin upazila are prone to child marriage. Special initiatives should be taken there”.

UNO of Lalmohan Al Noman said committee to prevent child marriage should be active more. The rate of child marriage may reduce if more scholarships can be offered to girls, he said.

ASP Russellur Rahman requested the local representatives to inform the local administration immediately after hearing any news of child marriage.

Lorhadinj Union UP chairman Abul Kashem Miya, Farashgonj UP chairman Md Murad Hossain, Lalmohan Upazila chairman Abul Hasan Ripon, Romagonj UP chairman Alhaj Golam Mostafa, Shambupur UP chariman Mizanur Rahman also spoke at the webinar, among others.