Speakers at a function here recently stressed the need for checking early marriage to protect the children from malnutrition and various types of diseases and complexities, reports BSS. “Social awareness and motivation is very important for substantial and sustainable prevention of early child marriage and child pregnancy to build a better nation”, they said.

They made the comments while addressing an awareness meeting on “Checking Early Child Marriage” organized by Fazlupur union parisahd at its hall room under Fulchhari upazila of the district.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Gautam Chandra Pal addressed the meeting as the chief guest and upazila parishad chairman Habibur Rahman, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdul Halim Tolstoy and officer in charge of Fulchhari thana AHM Ashrafuzzaman were present at the event as the special guests while UP chairman Jalal Uddin Ahmed presided over the function.

Responsive support from the community, especially teachers, parents and influential leaders has become must to ensure adolescent-friendly environment through eliminating gender disparity and sexual harassment, the speakers said.

DC Gautam Chandra Pal said the practice of child and early marriage is very damaging, especially for girls and the children are being married off in the society, mostly in rural areas, despite multifarious interventions by the government.

Terming child marriage as gross violation of human rights, the DC underlined the importance of building resistance against child marriage and teenage pregnancies to reduce the women violence and make the family planning activities a success.

A large number of char dwellers of the union including public representatives, social workers, NGO activists and local elite attended the meeting.