Fellows save girl from early marriage

Classmates yesterday saved a college girl from early marriage in Gurudaspur upazila of the district, thanks to local administration who rushed to the spot and foiled the marriage.

Police said family members of Jannatul Mawa, daughter of Zakaria Islam of Nazirpur village in the upazila, arranged her marriage with a local youth without her consent.

Finding no alternative, Jannatul, an HSC second-year student at Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula Government College in Natore, sought help from her classmates, who went to the office of Natore Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sahina Khatun and informed her of the matter.

The DC immediately asked Gurudaspur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Monir Hossain to take action and the  latter rushed the girl's house and stopped the marriage bid.

Jannatul's father Jakaria said he was compelled to arrange his daughter's marriage as some local youths have been teasing her since long.

UNO Monir said the brilliant girl achieved GPA-5 in all board exams, including PSC, JSC and SSC, and no one has the right to arrange her marriage without her consent.

"We are very happy that we could save our friend from the curse of early marriage," said Sabrina Islam, one of Jannatul's classmates.