Teen girl puts off marriage

A seventh grader got her marriage suspended in Trishal upazila of Mymensingh yesterday.

Pleased with 13-year-old Sonia Akhter's courageous stance against her family's will, the local administration assured her of financial support for education.

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Her father Anisur Rahman, a poor carpenter in Bailor Banshkuri village in Trishal, scheduled her marriage for today with a lorry driver, Selim Mia, from adjacent Bhaluka upazila.

Sonia, a student of Etimkhana Alim Madrasa in Ujanpara of Trishal, tried to convince her parents to cancel this marriage so that she could study. But her parents didn't listen to her and organised a premarital ceremony called “Holud” at their house yesterday. 

Finding no way out, Sonia pleaded with one of her teachers, Abul Mansur, Friday night to stop the marriage.

Mansur went to her house yesterday morning and took her to the madrasa and informed madrasa Principal Maulana Osman Gani of her parents' forcing her to get married at this early age.

The madrasa authority then communicated the matter with Abu Jafor Ripon, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Trishal.

The UNO went to the madrasa, called in Sonia's parents and relatives and told them about the curse of child marriage.

Finally, Sonia's parents pledged that they will not marry their daughter off until she becomes mature and reaches the legally permissible age for marriage, which is 18 for girls in Bangladesh. 

The UNO also assured them of all financial support for the girl's education and presented her with two sets of clothes.

Sonia is a brilliant student, captain of her class, a scout member of the madrasa and a good presenter, said the madrasa principal.