Drive against child marriage at Aditmari

Underprivileged people are the ones who commonly marry off their daughters when they are still children in Bangladesh, and the scenario is no different in the northern bordering district Lalmonirhat. A large number of poor families at chars and remote areas usually get their daughters married very early. Lack of awareness about the adverse impacts of child marriage among the mass people is the cause behind this, local people said.

Recently at Dewdoba village of Palashi union at Aditmari upazila, the father of a girl was jailed for one month because he arranged his daughter's marriage despite her being underage. The bridegroom was jailed as well. Jahurul Islam, the executive magistrate of the mobile court as well as the Aditmari upazila UNO convicted them on the spot in presence of the police and local people. Jahurul Islam has taken stern measures against child marriage. As a result of his actions, the people of the upazila are more aware about the bad impact of child marriage. "Regular drives against child marriage and social crimes has had an impact in the last four months,"Jahurul said. UNOs at four other upazilas Lalmonirhat sadar, Kaliganj, Hatibandha and Patgram have also taken similar steps against child marriage in their respective upazilas.

Mosaddeque Hossain Chowdhury, Chairman of Teesta River basin union parishad Mahishkhocha at Aditmari upazila said that the people living at remote and char villages are building awareness among themselves against child marriage. The rate of child marriages in this union has already decreased, the UP chairman said.

Salma Akhter,13, daughter of Mainuddin Miah at Utarsaptana village in Lalmonirhat sadar got married when she was only 11. "I become a mother of a son last year, and the baby is now one year old. I have been facing numerous physical and mental problems," said Salma, adding that her husband Nasir Ali has run away and how she lives with her parents. "We were wrong to marry off our daughter at such an early age, and now all of us are suffering," said Salma's father Mainuddin Miah. "Our daughter did not agree to the marriage but we forced her into it, thinking that it will be good for her future. But it was a great mistake," he added.

Like Salma Akhter, Nur Banu Akhter also got married too soon. At the age of 15, she is the mother of two children at Teesta char village Kalmati. "I get very sick often and my two children are also ill. We are receiving treatment at my parents' house. My parents' are paying for the treatment and my husband never comes to visit us," said Nur Banu, adding that her husband already said that he will divorce her if she fails to comply with his demand. Nur Banu's father Naser Ali said, "We settled the marriage of our under aged daughter because we were afraid of her future and her security. Also, getting your daughter married early is a tradition in the char area. We had no idea how we would all suffer as a result."

Mousumi Akhter,13, daughter of Akher Ali of Teesta char Kalikapur village at Kaliganj upazila was married a year ago but she was divorced after nine months of marriage as she fell terribly ill and could not keep up with her husband's demands.

Ahsanul Kabir Bulu, the Char Health and Education Project Manager of an NGO informed that the people of chars face health difficulties due to child marriage, and their lack of awareness to the possible future sufferings expose them to making the wrong decisions about their daughter's marriage. Now the char people are becoming aware about health and education, he said.