Child marriage rampant in Panchagarh
Our Correspondent | Sunday, 27 July 2008
PANCHAGARH, July 26: Over 50 per cent children under five years of age in the district suffer from severe malnutrition and easily fall prey to various diseases. These children were born underweight due to poor health of their mothers.
The poor health of mothers and their offspring is attributed to child marriage. A survey report said 80 per cent of the estimated 347,023 women in the five upazilas of the district were married off in their tender age.
The law of the land prohibits marriage of the girl before attaining the age of 18 and that of a boy attaining age 21. But child marriage in the district goes on unabated.
Girls as young as 10 years of age are compelled to tie knots in the countryside concealing their actual age. In most cases child marriage takes place in the full knowledge of union council chairmen and local Imams.
Though it is the responsibility of the union council chairmen and the Imams to discourage child marriage in their area, yet it is taking place with their connivance for financial and other considerations.
The poor parents of the girls are eager to marry their daughters off at a tender age for getting relief from economic hardship and avoid the responsibility of keeping grown up girls.
The poor health of mothers and their offspring is attributed to child marriage. A survey report said 80 per cent of the estimated 347,023 women in the five upazilas of the district were married off in their tender age.
The law of the land prohibits marriage of the girl before attaining the age of 18 and that of a boy attaining age 21. But child marriage in the district goes on unabated.
Girls as young as 10 years of age are compelled to tie knots in the countryside concealing their actual age. In most cases child marriage takes place in the full knowledge of union council chairmen and local Imams.
Though it is the responsibility of the union council chairmen and the Imams to discourage child marriage in their area, yet it is taking place with their connivance for financial and other considerations.
The poor parents of the girls are eager to marry their daughters off at a tender age for getting relief from economic hardship and avoid the responsibility of keeping grown up girls.