RAJSHAHI: More community participation is needed to a build child marriage free society as it’s a precondition to achieving the sustainable development goals, said speakers in a participatory discussion, reports BSS.
They viewed flourishing their latent talents together with building them as educated could be the vital means of founding Bangladesh as a dignified nation in near future.
The observations came at a roundtable discussion titled “Child Marriage Prevention: Our Responsibilities” held at in the conference hall of Mohanpur Upazila Parishad of the district yesterday.
The Hunger Project Bangladesh (THPB) organised the discussion in association with ‘Safe School Campaign for Girls Student’ and ‘Her Choice’ Programme. More than 35 members of the civil society including headmasters from different schools were present in the meeting.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Alamgir Kabir addressed the discussion as the chief guest with Secondary Education Officer Joynal Abedeen in the chair.
Headmaster of Mohabbatpur High School Abdul Alim Sheikh, headmaster of Mougachhi High School Shariful Islam and headmaster of Keshrehat High School Shafiqul Islam also spoke.
During his keynote presentation, Subrata Kumar Paul, area coordinator of THPB, said responsive support from the community, especially teachers, parents and influential leaders, has become a must for reducing child marriage substantially and sustainably.
He said eradicating child marriage is imperative in creating a glorious Bangladesh and building a social resistance against child marriage is important. He said the programmes intend to involve the community people so that they can play a pivotal role in changing the social mindset on child marriage.
Besides, the venture aims to build awareness among the adolescents about their rights to reproductive health, he added. The discussants unanimously said there is no alternative to creating community awareness through raising school-based awareness on adolescence for combatin