State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumkion yesterday said that early marriage under 15 years of age can be halted by 2021, reports UNB. She said this while addressing a press conference on ‘The early marriage scenario in Bangladesh’ at Secretariat yesterday. The state minister said the government is very firm to stop child marriage because it is a violation of human rights and an obstacle for women empowerment.

She said government has amended Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 keeping provision of stringent punishment and increased fine to discourage child marriage.

Chumki said her ministry initiated a help-line (109) for prompt information about child marriage and steps to stop the menace.

She said a recent media report based on Unicef's findings that the rate of child marriage has increased in Bangladesh was based on old data and does not represent the current situation.

The state minister asked the media for constructive criticism.