RAJSHAHI, Mar 9: Rebeka Khatun is 15. She got married two years ago and now is pregnant for five months. She is an inhabitant of a remote char village Boalmari under char Ashariadaha union of Godagari upazila in Rajshahi district.
Rebeka, while talking to this correspondent at Upazila Health Complex said she came here to check up her maternal health. She was in Class Four at a Primary school while got married because her father thought that he has found a good son- in- law. Rebeka dreamt to be a school teacher. But, after getting married, all her dreams went in vain. Rebeka said sadly, the girls who live in char areas, should never have any dream. They only should maintain their household chores at their parents house and at the in- laws house after the marriage.
There are so many stories like Rebeka. Rebeka along with many girls who got married at an early age were attending a rally and discussion meeting on Godagari upazila premises in observance of International Women's Day.
Discussants at the meeting mentioned women's rights cannot be established by only holding rallies, discussion meetings, seminars and workshops. Rather, organisers of those programmes should be more dynamic and a long-time planning is needed to make womenfolk of the country conscious about their rights. Otherwise, rights of women would remain like those in the villages of Char Ashariadaha union.
After visiting various areas of Char Ashariadaha, it is learnt girls belonged to financially solvent families are getting married at a tender age-still when they are mere children. On the other hand, parents of matured girls of poor families are failing to find a match for their daughters because of inability to pay dowry for the groom. So, those girls have to sit idle at home becoming a 'burden to their parents and family. Most of them work in the fields to help their families. Still, they are unable to make their families happy. They are frequently insulted by their family members for not getting married. Often they are even cursed and termed 'Aiburo'.
Though as girl of a poor family, she got married, her married-life did not survive long because of her parents' inability to pay a big demand for dowry. Julekha Sultana (22), daughter of Jaidul Islam from Rishipara village of Char Ashariadaha had the same story.
She said, she was married to Rafiqul Islam on the condition of paying Tk 0.1 million (one lakh) dowry. Her father gave him taka 45,000 by selling his bullocks but failed to pay rest of the money. Thats why, Rafiqul sent Julekha to her parents' house and fled away to India.
Marium Begum (23) from Chaipara is also living at her parents' house because of the same problem. But, she was happy that her husband occasionally visits her.
Golam Mostafa, Chairman of Char Ashariadaha Union parishad said complaints were being received by his office in an increased number day to day on three issues like- quarrels over conjugal life, violence against women and dowry.
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Long-term planning needed to make women aware of their rights: Speakers
Our Correspondent | Published: March 10, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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