15-year-old girl weds in 'child marriage-free' Kaunia
Just four days of declaring Kaunia upazila in Rangpur free from child marriage a 15-year-old girl becomes victim of early marriage on Friday.
Local anti-early marriage campaigners said despite informing the matter to the authorities concerned the wedding of the underage girl could not be stopped.
The girl, an HSC first-year student of Mirbagh College and a resident of Chandipur village under Kursha union, was married to Saiful Islam, 25, of neighbouring Mashari village on Friday.
Hearing the arrangement of the programme Kaunia Press Club Secretary Mizanur Rahman went to the spot and informed the local administration to stop the ceremony.
Villagers alleged that they requested local UP Chairman Mohammad Hossain Sarkar to take necessary steps to prevent the marriage but he kept silent due to reasons unknown.
Marriage registrar Kazim Uddin said he declined to administer the ritual and left the bride's house when he came to know that the girl is only 15-year-old.
Later, Ashraful Islam, imam of Chandipur mosque, administered the marriage, he added.
UNO Syed Farhad Hossain asked the UP chairman to take necessary steps.
On July 25, the local administration declared the upazila free from early marriage.
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