Early marriage bid foiled, 3 held

A schoolgirl was saved from early marriage after she courageously protested against it at Birgupalpur village under Madarganj upazila of the district yesterday morning.

The girl Subarna, 14, daughter of Lutfor Rahman of the village, is a Class IX student of Mirza Rawshan Ali High School in the upazila.

Locals said Subarna's father was preparing to forcibly marry her off with Khairul, 25, an expatriate and son of Joardar Akanda of Fazilpur village under the upazila.

As the girl was dead against the marriage, her father started torturing her and even tied up her hands and legs to make her agree to marry the man, locals said.

"Finding no alternative, she and one of her classmates informed me of the matter and requested me to stop the marriage," said Rayhan Rahmatullah Rimu, head teacher of Subarna's school, adding that he immediately informed the police and requested them to take necessary steps in this regard.

Police went to the spot and prevented the marriage, said Rampada Mandol, officer-in-charge (OC) of Madarganj Police Station.

Police detained Lutfor Rahman, the girl's maternal uncle Mirza Ranju Miah, and marriage registrar Aminul Islam, the OC added.