Monday, October 13, 2025

Comprehensive approach needed to combat early marriage: Speakers

Speakers at a roundtable discussion on Saturday underscored the need for girls’ education, dissemination of information regarding reproductive health, enforcement of laws to prevent early marriage and commitment to action for combating adolescent pregnancy as such girls are
the most vulnerable group in society.Around 25 per cent of the population are adolescents in the country and about 65 per cent of all women get married before the legal age of 18 years. Around 30 per cent of the adolescents aged between 15 and 19 years become pregnant, experts said.
The observation came at a roundtable on “Adolescent Pregnancy: Call for Action”, which was jointly organised by BRAC and The Independent at the conference room of BEL Tower in the city.
Mahbubul Alam, Editor of The Independent and a former adviser to the caretaker government, said in his inaugural speech, “If the young girls get married before adolescence, it will be harmful for them both physically and psychologically, and they will become a burden on society.”
“Though we have achieved success in reducing mother and child mortality, as well as morbidity — one of the millennium development goals — but we still need a comprehensive approach to combat it together,” he added.
Former adviser to the caretaker government Dhiraj Kumar Nath, director (Information, Education and Motivation – IEM) and line director (Information, Education and Communication – IEC) of the directorate of family planning Ganesh Chandra Sarker, vice chancellor of Begum Rokeya University Prof. AKM Nurun Nabi, vice-chancellor of Eastern University Prof. Nurul Islam, vice-chancellor of Presidency University Prof. Muhammad Mahboob Ali, Dhaka University professor Dr Barkat-e-Khuda, Editor of The Stethoscope, Dr Masudur Rahman Prince, director of health population and nutrition programme, BRAC, Dr Kaosar Afsana, chief of party, NGO Health Service Delivery Project  (NHSDP), Bangladesh, Dr Halida H Akhter,  reproductive health specialist Dr Momena Khatun, director, country project,  Plan International, Bangladesh, Dr Samina Chowdhury, associate scientist, Centre for Population, Urbanization and Climate Change (CPUCC), International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Dr Selina Amin, medical doctors Dr Quamrun Nahar and Dr. Riffat Lucy, adviser on health and population, Department for International Development (DFID), Dr. Shehlina Ahmed, actor Mamunur Rashid and actress Rokeya Prachi, among others, also spoke on the occasion.
Dr Morseda Chowdhury, programme coordinator, health, population and nutrition programme of BRAC, presented a keynote paper, in which she noted that adolescent pregnancies are most common among poor and less educated girls and those living in rural areas.
Early marriage is one of the reasons why girls leave the educational system before boys in societies where their rights are not secured and where social norms undervalue girls’ education, she observed.
She added that babies born to adolescent mothers are more likely to be of low birth weight and at an increased risk of infant mortality. About delaying marriage, pregnancy and birth spacing, she suggested that marriage be delayed till 20 years, and the first pregnancy and pregnancy interval be deferred.
About legal and policy issues related to adolescents in the country, she said there is a lack of enforcement of the laws for addressing the issue.
“If we delay child marriage and early births for one million girls, Bangladesh could potentially add USD 69 billion to the national income over these girls’ lifetimes. So we must invest in girls to empower them,” Dr Morseda Chowdhury added.
Dr Barkat-e-Khuda gave an insightful analysis of adolescent reproductive health and rights in South Asian countries, elaborating the country situation with facts and figures. He said a number of initiatives need to be taken to address adolescent pregnancies and early marriages in the country.
“Education can play a significant role in this regard. If girls are given education, their marriages are delayed, which ultimately help reduce pregnancies. Even women can be given microcredit in this regard to empower them so that they can take decisions on their own,” he said.
“If any adolescent girl gets married, her school stipend should be stopped and relevant laws should be strictly enforced,” he said. He emphasised the need to take actionable steps to address early marriage and early pregnancy issues.
Dhiraj Kumar Nath said the laws and policies should not be only on paper; rather, their enforcement was necessary to combat early marriages.
“The rate of adolescent pregnancy is higher among the uneducated and poor segments of society. The involvement of local bodies and a media campaign can be effective in combating early marriage,” he observed.
Ganesh Chandra Sarker emphasised that a holistic approach is needed both from the government and from non-government organizations to ensure social safety for adolescent girls. He also suggested that unnecessary complaints should not be made against the government for its failure in many ways.
“We must realise the existing reality of society, such as why early marriages are taking place. We must find out the root cause and by following this root cause, if we start working on it, the problems relating to child marriage and adolescent pregnancy can be prevented,” he said.
“Adolescent pregnancy is a burning issue for society. Policymakers and decision-makers have to take substantive steps to address the issue,” he added.
Dr Kaosar Afsana said, “The rate of early marriages is now stagnating. Though there has been some improvement, still about 50 per cent of pregnancies occur before 18 years, which cause serious problems for the girls, both physically and mentally.”
“Socio-economic conditions should be changed to improve the condition of adolescent girls as they are the future of the country. If we invest in them, they would give us returns in future,” she observed.
Dr Halida H Akhter said the lack of enforcement of laws is primarily responsible for the failure to combat early marriage and there should be zero tolerance, with all resisting marriages before 18 years of age.
“If girls are imparted education and given stipends, they remain in the educational institutions. This delays the chances of early marriage. Pragmatic programmes have to be undertaken to delay the first pregnancy and the interval between the next one,” she added.
Shahnoor Wahid, Managing Editor of The Independent, asked the experts if there has been any change in the mindset of the girls working in the garments factories, who come from the rural areas, about taking decisions related to their lives, such as the number of children and birth spacing.
Dr Nurun Nabi said, “The girls working in garments factories still cannot take any decisions in their respective families even though they are financially self-sufficient, which empowers them a bit.” He also observed that no significant change has occurred in the lives of women garments workers, as their husbands still decide the number of babies they should have.

-With The Independent input

Related News

Bangladesh and KSA sign pact for workers’ rights

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have just inked a labour recruitment agreement, marking the first deal aimed at promoting fair recruitment practices and protecting workers’ rights. Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser, Prof. Asif Nazrul, and the Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Engineer Ahmad Bin Solaiman Al-Rajhi, recently came ... Read more

Poor pay, allowances of teachers affect education

World Teacher’s Day today Shahin Akhter Poor pay-scale and allowances and low social status mark the poor condition of the teachers in Bangladesh affecting the education sector, observed educationists and researchers. They also said that the Bangladeshi teachers were lagging much behind their fellows even in the neighbouring countries in terms of these facilities and ... Read more

Protecting hilsa: 22-day fishing ban begins

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The government has put a 22-day halt on catching, transporting, storing, selling, and marketing hilsa throughout the country. This measure aims to protect the fish during its crucial breeding season. The ban started at midnight yesterday and will last until October 25, as stated in a notification from the Ministry of ... Read more

Road fatalities: 446 crashes, 417 lives lost in September

News Desk : dhakamirror.com In September, a tragic report from the Road Safety Foundation revealed that at least 417 people lost their lives and 682 were injured in 446 road accidents throughout Bangladesh. Among those who died, there were 63 women and 47 children, as highlighted in the foundation’s monthly report released today. In 151 ... Read more

Man’s fatal fall into Ramna Park lake

News Desk : dhakamirror.com A tragic incident occurred yesterday at Ramna Park in the capital, where a man drowned in the lake. The victim has been identified as 55-year-old Wasimul Haq. The police were able to identify him using fingerprint records. According to Ramna police SI Mizanur Rahman, he was discovered unconscious around 6:00 PM ... Read more

Tariff Commission’s size-based hilsa pricing strategy

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC), also known as the Tariff Commission, has suggested setting a maximum retail price for hilsa based on its size. This recommendation comes in response to the unusual spike in prices seen in the local market. On Sunday, the Tariff Commission released a report detailing ... Read more

Ekushey Book Fair won’t happen in December

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangla Academy announced yesterday (28 September), that the previously scheduled dates for the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 have been postponed. In a press release, they explained that this decision was made following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 21, which indicated that the fair should ... Read more

Working in Bangladesh is quite challenging: CEC

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Election Commission is grappling with a mix of challenges, both seen and unseen, as it gears up for the upcoming elections and responds to various demands, shared chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Saturday. “These hurdles might not be apparent from the outside, but we’re constantly navigating through them,” ... Read more

Travel ban on Keokradong hill to be lifted starting from 1 October

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Great news for travelers! Keokradong hill in Bandarban’s Ruma upazila is set to welcome tourists again starting October 1. The district administration has finally lifted the travel ban that had been in effect for almost three years. Bandarban Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shamim Ara Rini announced the decision today (27 September) during ... Read more

Tree planting campaign to lower pollution, make city more attractive

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Shahjahan Mia has inaugurated a tree plantation and greening programme covering 33 road medians, spanning a total length of 31 kilometres, within the corporation’s jurisdiction. Under the “Zero Soil” programme, ornamental flowering trees and grasses will be planted across 28 DSCC medians, while the ... Read more

Krishi Bank ranks third in remittance collection

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Krishi Bank has shown remarkable success in collecting remittances from expatriates during the first eight months of 2025 (January–August). Known as bank for farmers due to its agricultural loan services, this state-owned institution has climbed to the third position in remittance collection from abroad in that timeframe. This notable achievement has ... Read more

North Bay low : Rain forecast for Bangladesh

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Many parts of the country is expected to witness moderate to heavy and very heavy rainfall in the coming days due to the formation of a low-pressure system over the north Bay and adjoining coastal areas, the Met office said in its latest forecast. According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s 120-hour weather ... Read more

Metrorail boosts service: Extended hours & more frequent arrivals

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka metrorail service is set to start operating earlier in the morning and later at night to better serve the growing number of passengers. Service hours will be extended by 30 minutes at both the beginning and end of the day, and the interval between trains will be reduced by nearly ... Read more

22% minors in Bangladesh’s sex trade

News Desk : dhakamirror.com At least 22 percent of victims of commercial sexual exploitation (abuse of a person, or a minor, through sexual activities in exchange for money, goods, or other benefits) in Bangladesh are children, said speakers at an event yesterday. They shared the information at the launch of “Project Shurakkha”, an initiative of ... Read more

WB Reports Bangladesh Heat Costs at $1.78 Billion in 2024

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Rising temperatures in Bangladesh are fueling a surge in heat-related illnesses, leading to the loss of 250 million workdays in 2024 and economic losses estimated at $1.33–1.78 billion, representing about 0.3 to 0.4 percent of Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, according to a new World Bank report. The report ... Read more

Police clearance no longer required for passports

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced that police verification will no longer be necessary for obtaining a passport, thereby reducing unnecessary hassle for citizens. “Getting a passport is a basic right. We have established a rule that eliminates the need for police verification,” he stated. While speaking at the opening session ... Read more

Metro rail achieves record 4 lakh daily passengers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Metro Rail has achieved a remarkable milestone by carrying over 400,000 passengers in a single day. The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), which operates the Metro Rail, announced this achievement on their official Facebook page on Friday night. For the first time, Metro Rail recorded 403,164 passengers. The Metro Rail ... Read more

Most people, about 66% think civil servants behave as if they are rulers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com More than 100,000 participants have contributed their responses to reform commission’s online survey 80% of the respondents believe that the administration is not approachable for the general public, according to a survey conducted by the Public Administration Reform Commission. Additionally, 66% of participants feel that civil servants act as if they ... Read more

Former Justice Abdur Rouf dies

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Md Abdur Rouf has passed away at the age of 91. He died around 10:00 am while receiving treatment at Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital in Dhaka, as stated in a press release. Justice Rouf had been battling heart disease, lung complications, kidney issues, and ... Read more

Bangladesh climbed 4 positions to rank 93rd in global passport index

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh has climbed four notches up in the latest Henley Passport Index 2025, ranking 93rd out of 99. However, the number of visa-free destinations for Bangladeshi passport holders has dropped from 42 in 2024 to 39 this year, reflecting a decline in global travel privileges. Despite this improvement in rank — ... Read more