An Alliance titled ‘Girls not Brides Bangladesh Alliance’ was launched on Thursday to end child marriage in the country. At the launch, the organisers said Bangladesh has one of the highest rate of child marriage in South Asia and according to United Nations Population Fund report 2013 between 2011 and 2020; more than 140 million girls would become child brides.
In collaboration with a global network, 13 national and international organisations working in Bangladesh have formed the alliance to end child marriage.
Girls Not Brides-GNB’ Bangladesh Alliance organised the launching ceremony and on the occasion they also arranged a roundtable meeting at BRAC Centre auditorium in the capital.
At the meeting, speakers said child marriage was very alarming in the country despite non-government organisations programmes and activities.
They said that according to a UNICEF report 2011, in the country 66 per cent of the girls were married before they were 18 which showed that the number of child marriage was higher than 2009.
Former adviser of caretaker government Sultaan Kamal said, ‘According to the review of different statistics till now women are not seen as person in the country.’
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad chairperson Ayesha Khanam and Information Commissioner Sadeka Halim blamed lack of security for the alarming number of child marriage.
Whereas former divisional head of planning commissioner Salma Khan pointed out social stigma as main reason and urged media to play important role to end child marriage.
BRAC vice-chairperson Ahmed Mushtaque Reza Chowdhury, Girls not Brides Bangladesh Alliance convener Sheepa Hafiza, Marie Stopes Bangladesh senior director Kazi Golam Rasul, Bangladesh Human Rights Commission permanent member Kazi Riazul Haque, Begum Rokeya University vice-chancellor Nurunnobi, Piroj Ali Union Union Parishad member Sajeda Begum, Channel 71 journalist Farzana Rupa, UNDP police reform project consultant Fowzia Khandoker Eva and Gazipur sadar qazi Md Nurul Islam also spoke at the roundtable meeting.
-With New Age input
