Females' marriageable age to remain 18: Chumki

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroze Chumki yesterday said the government is not going to lower the minimum age of marriage for females from 18.

“Child marriage will not be allowed and the (minimum) age limit of marriage for females will remain at 18,” she said.

Chumki was addressing  a roundtable on building grassroots network for women empowerment at the office of the daily Bhorer Kagoj, organised by the daily and Unnayan Shahojogy Team (UST) in association with Paz Y Desarrollo.

Chumki also urged the male members of society to shun child marriage. Imran Hossain Bhuiyan, a lecturer of Development Studies at Dhaka University, presented the concept paper.

Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta and UN Women country representative to Bangladesh Christine Hunter also spoke on the occasion. The speakers also demanded women election commissioners in the Election Commission.