MJF deeply concerned about countrywide prevalence of child marriages

Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) expressed deep concern over the countrywide incidence of child marriages and the low presence of female students at schools after the pandemic-induced closure of educational institutions.

In a statement, MJF said the rate of child marriage is very dangerous and worrying.

"If the rate continues, it will not be possible to eliminate child marriages from Bangladesh by 2030," MJF said in the statement.

MJF urged the ministries of women and children affairs and education to take immediate steps to ensure the presence of girls at schools at the village level.

It also demanded that the government identify how many female students were victims of child marriages and to take measures to bring them back to schools.

MJF also demanded that those who registered child marriages be identified and brought to book.

In accordance with the Child Marriage Prohibition Act-2017, the National Level Child Marriage Prevention Committee needs to be strengthened at the union level, the statement said, and asked the government to undertake various awareness programmes with parents and warn them of the adverse impacts of child marriage.