Students take stand against child marriage in Bhola

A large number of students from schools and madrasas took a public stand against child marriage at an awareness raising programme hosted by Bashundhara Shuvosangho on Tuesday.

Students raised various slogans, including: “Say no to child marriage,” “No marriage before 18,” “Let education be the main strength of life,” and “Stop child marriage, build a better future.” Their enthusiastic participation made the entire programme lively and meaningful.

Teachers said such initiatives by students are highly commendable. Addressing parents, they said, “Parents must prioritize their children’s education to help build their future and keep them away from harmful practices like child marriage.”

President of the Bhola district unit of Bashundhara Shuvosangho, Md Shafayat Hossain (Siam), said, “Child marriage is a major social problem in Bangladesh. As a result, adolescent girls drop out of education, face the risks of early motherhood, and suffer physically and mentally. Although the government has taken various laws and programmes to prevent child marriage, solving this problem also requires social awareness and collective resistance. Students can become the pioneers of social change. Their awareness and protest will one day play an important role in building a child-marriage-free society.”

The Shuvosangho Bhola unit’s Joint General Secretary Md Ifaz, said, “Early pregnancy increases the risks of maternal and infant mortality, malnutrition, and various health complications. As a result, it hampers the development of a healthy and skilled workforce.”

Israt Jahan Nuha, work and planning secretary, said, “Shuvosangho will continue organising such awareness programmes in the future so that child marriage and all other harmful social practices can be eliminated.”