<i>UNO could stop it for a few hours only</i>
Parents of a 14-year-old girl at Narikelpara village of Chatmohar upazila under the district married her off on Wednesday night although the upazila administration had stopped the child marriage earlier on the day.
Marriage of the girl, Shakila Parvin, daughter of Md Jaidul Islam of Narikelpara village, was held in presence of advocate Eti Hossain Swapna, wife of Chatmohar upazila parishad Chairman Shamsuddin Khabir.
Shakila, also a class seven student of Chatmohar Pilot Girls' School, went to her father-in-law's house the same night.
"Shakila Parvin's parents arranged her marriage with Abdus Subhan, son of Bokul Hossain of Ankutia village in Chatmohar upazila, on Wednesday noon. Hearing the matter, I informed the upazila nirbahi officer. He along with us rushed to Shakila's home to stop the early marriage," said Chitra Rani Saha, Chatmohar upazila women affairs officer.
"In response to our request, Shakila's father assured us not to marry off the girl at such an early age,” Md Firoz Shah, upazila nirbahi officer of Chatmohar, told this correspondent.
"But the child's parents completed her marriage rituals in presence of advocate Eti Hossain Swapna, wife of Chatmohar upazila parisahd chairman, on Wednesday night. Tk 2 lakh and one was fixed as denmohar (dowry to be paid to the bride). Assistant kazi (marriage registrar) Ismail Hossain registered the marriage,” Chitra Rani said.
Asked about the matter, advocate Eti Hossain Swapna said, “I did not lead Shakila's marriage. I went to attend the ceremony as an invited guest. The girl's family arranged her marriage for her safety."
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