Demand rings louder for scrapping special provision
Different organisations yesterday protested the cabinet's approval of the draft of the “Child Marriage Prevention Act 2016” fixing minimum age for girls' marriage at 18 years and incorporating a provision for special marriage.
The provision in the draft says girls under 18 can get married in special cases subject to clearance from the court and parents' consent.
Leaders of Bangladesh Jatiya Mohila Ainjibi Samity (BJMAS) at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club yesterday said there was a scope of misusing the “provision for special marriage”, which will increase the number of child marriages.
BJMAS Executive Director Advocate Salma Ali presented the summary of a two-year research on Violence against Women. The BJMAS hoped that the government will scrap the special provision showing respect to the public opinion and greater interest.
Meanwhile, Secretary to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Nasima Begum yesterday said the “special provision” of the act was being interpreted in a wrong way. She said what “the highest interest of the child” means in case of special marriage will be made clear through formulating rules.
Speaking at the inauguration of a 16-day programme on “Gender Based Violence” in the capital's CIRDAP auditorium, she said the act would ensure maximum punishment to all parties involved with conducting child marriage. The ministry and Plan International jointly organised the programme.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Nari Sangbadik Kendra, Jatiya Nari Jote, Peshajibi Nari Samaj, National Girl Child Advocacy Forum and Karmojibi Nari have demanded passage of the “Child Marriage Prevention Act 2016” without keeping any condition. The organisations formed a human chain in front of Jatiya Press Club to press home their demand.
The speakers demanded that the special provision must be scrapped. Keeping the “special provision” would be a wrong decision of the government that believes in women empowerment, they added. If any Act is passed keeping “if” and “in special contexts” it would weaken the legal basis of law.
Naripokkho, a rights organisation, yesterday in a statement made similar demands and expressed concern over the government's adamant behavior regarding the issue.
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