Reducing marriageable age of females new way of oppressing girls

A new way of oppressing girls is being introduced in the country with the government pushing to reduce marriageable age of females from 18 to 16, said women's rights activists at a human chain yesterday.

They said if the move is successful, females would be at a risk of suffering damage to their reproductive health and mental health and be deprived of their right to take part in political and economical activities as a citizen of the country.

Social Resistance Movement, a platform of 63 women's rights organisations, arranged the event in front of Jatiya Press Club in the capital demanding the minimum marriageable age of girls be kept 18 in the Child Marriage Restraint Act-2014.       

They said with the world observing the “International Fortnight for Resistance against Repression on Women”, the government's move is contradictory in fighting repression of women.    

Officials of Nari Mukti Sangshad, and Ayesha Khanam and Maleka Banu, president and general secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, among others, addressed the human chain.