Collective approach needed to eliminate child marriage

Speakers at a seminar yesterday said, “Despite different government and non-government programmes to eliminate child marriage in the country, it remains at an alarming level mainly due poverty and the patriarchal attitude of society.”
This is affecting a large number of girls in the country and real progress is impossible without eliminating this problem, the discussants added. They stressed the need for a collective and integrated approach to eliminate child marriage.
 “Women’s rights still remain a negotiable issue. Child marriage cannot be stopped if we do not change this mentality,” they said at the seminar.
Discussants said due to lack of implementation of the birth registration act, patriarchal society, poverty and lack of social security, child marriage still takes place in the rural areas across the country.
The speakers made the comments while addressing a mobilisation programme titled “Regional conference on combating child-marriage and role of civil society” at the conference room of Deputy Commissioner’s office under Sadar police station in the city. Khulna district administration and a non-government organisation  jointly arranged the seminar.
Divisional Commissioner of Khulna Md Abdus Samad addressed the seminar as chief guest. Additional Deputy Commissioner (LA) of Khulna Md Sultan Alam presided over the function.  Programme Director (Joint secretary) of Ministry of  Women and Child Affairs Dr Md Aminul Islam presented the key-note papers. Additional Deputy Commissioner (general) of Khulna Md Jahangir Hossain delivered the address of welcome.
Additional Superintendent of Police of Khulna AKM Shafiullah, Paikgachha upazila parishad Chairman SM Babar Ali, Dumuria upazila parishad Chairman Md Khan Ali Monsur and Koyra upazila parishad Chairman AKM Tamizuddin, spoke on the occasion.
Calling upon the guardians to be more attentive towards their children of the 14-18 adolescent age group alongside taking more care of their children up to five years of age, chief guest Abdus Samad said the mentality of male and female children should be built with conscience so that they could be prepared to face any situation.
 “Equal participation of women and their male counterparts in all the national development process could be ensured and Bangladesh could play an important role as a middle-income country if the child and adolescent marriages could be prevented,” Md Samad added.
District and city level government and non government officials, lawyers, NGO personalities, teachers, Imams, Quazis, elected public representatives, journalists and teenagers were participated the seminar.

Collective approach needed to eliminate child marriage

Speakers at a seminar yesterday said, Despite different government and non-government programmes to eliminate child marriage in the country, it remains at an alarming level mainly due poverty and the patriarchal attitude of society. This is affecting a large number of girls in the country and real progress is impossible without eliminating this problem, the discussants added. They stressed the need for a collective and integrated approach to eliminate child marriage. Womens rights still remain a negotiable issue. Child marriage cannot be stopped if we do not change this mentality, they said at the seminar. Discussants said due to lack of implementation of the birth registration act, patriarchal society, poverty and lack of social security, child marriage still takes place in the rural areas across the country. The speakers made the comments while addressing a mobilisation programme titled Regional conference on combating child-marriage and role of civil society at the conference room of Deputy Commissioners office under Sadar police station in the city. Khulna district administration and a non-government organisation jointly arranged the seminar. Divisional Commissioner of Khulna Md Abdus Samad addressed the seminar as chief guest. Additional Deputy Commissioner (LA) of Khulna Md Sultan Alam presided over the function. Programme Director (Joint secretary) of Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Dr Md Aminul Islam presented the key-note papers. Additional Deputy Commissioner (general) of Khulna Md Jahangir Hossain delivered the address of welcome. Additional Superintendent of Police of Khulna AKM Shafiullah, Paikgachha upazila parishad Chairman SM Babar Ali, Dumuria upazila parishad Chairman Md Khan Ali Monsur and Koyra upazila parishad Chairman AKM Tamizuddin, spoke on the occasion. Calling upon the guardians to be more attentive towards their children of the 14-18 adolescent age group alongside taking more care of their children up to five years of age, chief guest Abdus Samad said the mentality of male and female children should be built with conscience so that they could be prepared to face any situation. Equal participation of women and their male counterparts in all the national development process could be ensured and Bangladesh could play an important role as a middle-income country if the child and adolescent marriages could be prevented, Md Samad added. District and city level government and non government officials, lawyers, NGO personalities, teachers, Imams, Quazis, elected public representatives, journalists and teenagers were participated the seminar.