Bhairab, Kishoreganj, 21 September 2023:
Government officials, local government representatives, NGO workers, social experts, at an Advocacy workshop, remarked that child marriage is becoming the main barriers to social development in Bangladesh.
World Concern Bangladesh arranged the workshop on Sunday (21 September 2023) under Ensure Protection & Justice through Integrated Approach (EPJIA) Project.
The objectives of the workshop were to identify the role of duty bearers, local government to stop child marriage by ensure proper implementation of laws relating to child marriage in the society.
Md. Fazlul Kobir, former Chairman of Kalikaproshad Union Parishod & the president of Community Protection Committee (CPC) has presided over the program attended by the chief guest Md. Musa Miah, Upazila Assistant Agriculture Officer of Bhairab Upazila; Md. Abdullah Al- Santu, UP member of Kalikaproshad Union Parishod, Mst. Shahana Begum, Headmistress of Kalikaproshad High School, Mr. James Sunny Bairagee, Program Officer, Ensure Protection & Justice; and Nazim Sarkar, Branch Manager, Rural Micro-credit Program.
Md. Fazlul Kobir, former Chairman of Kalikaproshad Union Parishod & the president of Community Protection Committee(CPC) has presided over the program and said “Early marriage is becoming a harmful virus in our society.”
He also said that, “we should start from our own house to stop it. He also added that Education is the proper way to reduce child marriage. It is challenging but not impossible.”
Mst: Shahana Begum, Headmistress of Kalikaproshad said in her speech that a large number of children are drop out from school due to child marriage. Almost 80% parents are responsible for happened child marriage. We also working with Upazila Administration to reduce child marriage from community level. Most of our girl’s child don’t get opportunity to achieve higher education. They are often victim of early marriage. So, we should ensure children’s education first.”
Mr. James Sunny Bairagee, Program Officer of Ensure Protection & Justice through Integrated Approach (EPJIA) Project of World Concern, Ghatail, Tangail facilitated the program. He said that social superstation, temptation, poverty & lack of education are the main causes of child marriage. We also working with Upazila Administration to reduce child marriage from community level. He also mentions proper implementation of laws relating to child marriage & punishment of child marriage must ensure to stop child marriage.
“By proper implementation and Child marriage law, we can reduce child marriage from our country,” said the discussants from the Civil society, CPC & WC staffs at the event.
