Most of the adolescent girls in rural areas are to spend their days in homes and marry off at an early age, said a group of girls at a press conference here yesterday.
The adolescent girls from rural areas said most of the girls tend to drop out of school early and have a little participation in making family decisions, including their own marriages.
The Stromme Foundation organised the press conference at the National Press Club in the city.
The organiser said a special grant from the Norwegian Crown Prince and Crown Princess has been awarded to the foundation’s ‘Sanglap’ programme to support disadvantaged adolescent girls in Bangladesh.
It was disgusting to stay in the house without doing anything, said Salma from Noakhali, who dropped out of school at class nine, adding, “No one gave any importance to what I said or wanted.”
Latifa from Satkhira said her family fixed her marriage with a much older person. “I refused to get married but no one would listen to me,” she said.
“But no more,” said Latifa, “I have learnt a lot of things from Sanglap; I know how to be more vocal, take care of myself, help my family in all kinds of matter, and be confident about myself.”
Latifa now is working as a tailor in Dhaka said recently my family decided to arrange marriage of my brother to a younger girl. But I opposed the decision, as the girl was too young. Both the families listened to my decision.
Deputy Head of Mission at the Norwegian Embassy Kyrre Elvenes Brækhus was present as a special guest.
‘Sanglap’ programme is designed to create awareness among the adolescent girls in rural areas about personal, social and rights related issues. They also get an interest free loan to help involve in entrepreneurial activities, said Joel S. Das, operations manager of the foundation.
Under the programme, training has been given to 40,000 adolescent girls, aged between 11 to 19, in 33 districts of the country, he said.
