7 jailed for arranging early marriages in Pabna, Jessore

Seven people have been jailed for arranging marriage of two underage girls in Pabna and Jessore districts.

A mobile court sentenced a union parishad (UP) member and four others to one month's imprisonment each for arranging marriage of an underage girl at Bhadra village in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna on Friday, reports our correspondent.

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The convicts are Saidul Islam, 45, member of Mothurapur Union Parishad, Akkas Ali, 42, night guard of the UP, bridegroom Kawsar Hossain, 22, and his relatives Uzzal Mandol, 45, and Nazrul Islam.

The court also fined them Tk 1,000 each, said police.

Subroto Kumar, officer-in-charge of Chatmohar Police Station, said family members arranged marriage of Jesmin Khatun, 11, a Class VII student of Saint Riturs High School in the upazila, in the afternoon. The UP member Akkas Ali was also involved in arranging the marriage.

On information, Md Mizanur Rahman, assistant commissioner (land), who led the court, rushed to the spot and stopped the marriage. The five people were also arrested.

The arrestees were later produced before the court that pronounced the verdict, said the OC.

In Jessore, a mobile court sentenced two people to seven days' imprisonment each for arranging marriage of an underage madrasa girl at Patbari village under Benapole Police Station in Jessore district the same day.

The convicts are bride's uncle Sohrab Hossain, 34, and her grandfather Maminur Rahman, 50, reports our Benapole correspondent.

Sharsha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdus Salam led the court, said OC Apurbo Hasan of the police station.