Insecurity of women cause of child marriage

Lack of security for women is the reason behind the high prevalence of child marriage in Bangladesh, educationist Prof Serajul Islam Choudhury said yesterday.

“We didn't hear about gang rapes earlier. Pakistanis committed gang rapes in a particular time... But today gang rapes have become a rare entertainment,” said the Dhaka University professor.

Prof Choudhury was delivering the “Golden Jubilee Speech” during the 11th Two-yearly National History Conference at TSC, marking Bangladesh Itihas Parishad's 50th founding anniversary.

Bangladesh has the fourth highest rate of child marriage in the world, according to a 2014 Unicef report.

Prof Choudhury said Sohagi Jahan Tonu was killed in a place which was supposed to have high security.

The body of Tonu, a second year history student of Comilla Victoria Government College and a theatre activist, was found inside Comilla Cantonment on March 20.

“The investigation was done, autopsy carried out. Her body was exhumed and another autopsy done but the reason behind her death couldn't be found,” said the professor, disappointed.

More importantly, he said, Tonu's parents were interrogated and her mother was asked repeatedly why they did not marry their daughter off.

“This is the reason behind the high rate of child marriage in Bangladesh. There is no security for women. Tonu was raped and murdered but she won't get justice... We are living in such a reality,” he said.

The speech titled "A Historic Defeat in History" also shed light on how patriarchy is victimising women.

Choudhury said men were confined to a patriarchal mindset and till the end of that, men and women would not get emancipation.

'TOO LITTLE HISTORY IN TEXTBOOK'

Another emeritus professor of DU, Anisuzzaman, said it was sad that there was very little history in the school curriculum.

Textbooks should have more history at the secondary level; otherwise students will grow up with poor history knowledge, he told the inaugural session of the two-day programme, chaired by National Professor Sufia Ahmed, also president of Itihas Parishad.

The Parishad honoured 22 persons and DU as an institution for contributions to promoting the study of history.