Combating child marriage

Speakers at a meeting in Rangpur have laid stress on the need for comprehensive efforts of all concerned to put an end to child marriage, according to a report in this newspaper on Saturday. Nearly half of the total population of Bangladesh is women. Hence development of the country greatly depends on the welfare of women. Early marriage stops education of girls. It exposes girls to repeated child-bearing, malnutrition and broken health. It nips in the bud a girl’s dream of becoming self-reliant through proper education in the male-dominated society.
Marriages of underage girls are taking place rampantly in different places of the country, particularly in rural areas. How many cases are detected and actions taken against those responsible? A girl may attain puberty even at age 12 or 13. This gives her physical ability to procreate. But procreation is not all. Physical, mental and intellectual maturity are needed for a planned family life.
There is no alternative to creation of mass awareness to prevent this malaise that has penetrated deep into the society and is doing a lot of mischief. Enactment of law for reducing the rate of child marriage will do little if the overall mindset of the people of the country is not changed. How many people are showing respect to the law of the land and are refraining from giving their underage daughters in marriage?
The government has fixed the marriage age for girls at 18. But girls can be married off even at the age of 16 in special cases. Taking advantage of this provision, scores of girls are being given in marriage. Illiteracy, social discrimination, lack of moral education, age-old superstition and insecurity of girls are mainly responsible for early marriage. As about 90 per cent of the total population lives in rural areas, underage marriages are being solemnized there rampantly. It is contributing to unbridled population growth in the country.  
A massive campaign should be launched to eradicate the menace of child marriage from the society. It is heartening that many girls are stopping their early marriages with the help of the local administrations and are turning to studies.  
We salute the bravery of these girls.  Teachers, students, conscious citizens, UP chairmen and members, village leaders, religious leaders like imams of mosques can come forward to fight this menace.      

 

 

Combating child marriage

Speakers at a meeting in Rangpur have laid stress on the need for comprehensive efforts of all concerned to put an end to child marriage, according to a report in this newspaper on Saturday. Nearly half of the total population of Bangladesh is women. Hence development of the country greatly depends on the welfare of women. Early marriage stops education of girls. It exposes girls to repeated child-bearing, malnutrition and broken health. It nips in the bud a girls dream of becoming self-reliant through proper education in the male-dominated society. Marriages of underage girls are taking place rampantly in different places of the country, particularly in rural areas. How many cases are detected and actions taken against those responsible? A girl may attain puberty even at age 12 or 13. This gives her physical ability to procreate. But procreation is not all. Physical, mental and intellectual maturity are needed for a planned family life. There is no alternative to creation of mass awareness to prevent this malaise that has penetrated deep into the society and is doing a lot of mischief. Enactment of law for reducing the rate of child marriage will do little if the overall mindset of the people of the country is not changed. How many people are showing respect to the law of the land and are refraining from giving their underage daughters in marriage? The government has fixed the marriage age for girls at 18. But girls can be married off even at the age of 16 in special cases. Taking advantage of this provision, scores of girls are being given in marriage. Illiteracy, social discrimination, lack of moral education, age-old superstition and insecurity of girls are mainly responsible for early marriage. As about 90 per cent of the total population lives in rural areas, underage marriages are being solemnized there rampantly. It is contributing to unbridled population growth in the country. A massive campaign should be launched to eradicate the menace of child marriage from the society. It is heartening that many girls are stopping their early marriages with the help of the local administrations and are turning to studies. We salute the bravery of these girls. Teachers, students, conscious citizens, UP chairmen and members, village leaders, religious leaders like imams of mosques can come forward to fight this menace.