GAIBANDHA: Malibari has been declared as the union in Sadar upazila to be free from child marriage. The announcement was made at a meeting on Saturday. The district administration has taken up an initiative to make Gaibandha district free from early marriage. As part of the initiative, Malibari union of the upazila has been declared as early marriage free on Saturday afternoon at a simple function organised by the union parishad (UP) on the premises of the UP with UP Chairman Ali Azam Shah Runu in the chair. Deputy Commissioner M Abdus Samad addressed the function as the chief guest and acting Upazila Chairman Rashida Begum, UNO Ashraful Momin Khan and District Women Affairs Officer Habiba Khatun were present at the event as the special guests. The speakers underscored on creating awareness among the common people about early marriage and its bad effects aimed at building child marriage free society. DC Abdus Samad said child marriage is a curse. It has a bad impact on population growth, women’s health and also cause to the untimely death of women.