2 girls saved from early marriage in Nilphamari

Two schoolgirls were saved from underage marriage in Kishoreganj upazila of the district on Sunday.

Locals said Sharmin Akhter, 11, a student of Dundipara Government Primary School, and daughter of Ferdous Mia of the area, was set to be married with Mithun Rahman, 21, son of Habibur Rahman of the upazila around 8:30pm.

Being informed, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Siddiqur Rahman, who led a mobile court, rushed to the spot, foiled the marriage and detained the father of the bride.  He was later fined Tk 200.

However, the bridegroom and his family members managed to flee the scene, sensing the presence of the UNO.

In another incident, the same court foiled marriage of Kodbanu, 12, daughter of Abdul Mazid of Khamatpara village in the same upazila around 10:30pm.

Informed that Kodbanu was set to be married with Abdul Kalam, 21, son of Rashidul Islam of the upazila, the UNO rushed to the spot and stopped the marriage.

They also arrested Shamim Hossain, elder brother of the bride, and fined him Tk 1,000, said sources.

In Jhalakathi, a mobile court sentenced two people to 10 days' imprisonment for arranging marriage of an underage girl at Rola in Rajapur upazila of the district the same day, reports our correspondent.

The convicts are Shafizuddin, father of the bride, and bridegroom Md Yusuf Fakir, 22, said Md Yunus Ali, sub-inspector of Rajapur Police Station.

The upazila nirbahi officer led the court, said police.