Asset, not burden
If education and security is ensured for girls, child marriage can be stopped, said speakers at a discussion yesterday.
The discussion on child marriage was organised by Prothom Alo in association with Unicef in the capital.
At the event, Maleka Banu, general secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, said the society needs to see women and girls as assets, not burdens. She called for greater investments for girls and women to empower them. She also opined that girls should be given quality education.
Tania Haque, teacher of Dhaka University, said parents should not discriminate between sons and daughters.
Barrister Sara Hossain, honorary executive director of BLAST, said it is a must to get consent of a girl before she is married off.
Nasima Begum, secretary to the Women and Children Affairs Ministry, said the Child Marriage Restraint Act 2017 does not allow marriage of a girl before 18 that easily. She said the government keeps the “special provision” considering the girl's interest and the act can only be applied with the consent of the parents.
Humaira Farhanaz, UNFPA national programme officer for gender, adolescent and youth, also spoke.
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