Marrying off girls at a tender age is thought to be a standard practice in rural Bangladesh. More than 60 per cent girls are married before they turn 18. According to a law, no child can be married off before the age of 18. But most of our rural people do not abide by the law. It is not just a violation of the rights of the girl-child, but considering that young brides have children at a tender age, these girls also become vulnerable to health risks owing to early pregnancies.
It is not only the responsibility of the government to curb this menace, but parents of girls should also realise their responsibility of educating their children -- irrespective of their gender -- and not ruin the lives of their daughters by marrying them young.
Shahjahan Sirazi,
Malibagh, Dhaka,
mshaju001@gmail.com