Greetings,dear readers! Today’s topic is child marriage and the future of Bangladesh’s dreams. In my opinion, the practice of child marriage is like the petals falling off a flower before it blooms. That’s why, we say that child marriage is a curse for Bangladesh.On this, International Women’s Day, a joint report by UNICEF, UN Women and Plan International stated that Bangladesh ranks eighth in the world for child marriage.
Although, The Child Marriage Prohibition Act, 2018 is an important law to prevent child marriage in Bangladesh. This law was enacted in the context of present day, repealing the 1929 law. According to Bangladeshi law, the minimum legal age for marriage is 18 for girls and 21 for boys. The law clearly states that marriage before these ages is illegal. It also mentions that if any adult (male or female) conducts a child marriage, it will be considered a criminal offense . The offender may face up to two years of imprisonment, a fine of up to 100000 BDT, or both. Even though the law exists, Bangladesh continues to face challenges effectively in stopping child marriage.
The major causes identified include :-1. Poverty, 2. Dowry system,3. Social customs, 4. Religious and social pressures, 5. Regional traditions, 6.Fear of remaining unmarried,7. Illiteracy and the perception that girls are incapable of earning a living. Above all, lack of awareness among parents and guardians.
The negative impacts of child marriage include :-1. Teenage pregnancy, 2. Increased infant mortality rates, 3. Higher newborn death rates, 4. Increased maternal mortality, 5. Poor health of both mother and child.
Prevention strategies, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), include :-1. Ensuring education for girls.2. Enforcing minimum legal age for marriage. 3. Informing parents about the risks of child marriage.
Over the past seven days, members of the organization “Ontore-Amra” have been visiting various schools and colleges to educate girls, distribute posters, and raise awareness among families by visiting their homes.
This campaign will continue. Our slogan will be -“Stop child marriage, build the dream of Bangladesh. ” Above all, the outdated belief that “a woman becomes old at 20 ” is no longer acceptable in the 21st century.
Today’s Proposal :- So, dear friends, from today onwards, if any child marriage takes place in our area, let us immediately draw the attention of the administration. This is our promise.
Conclusion:-If we can stop child marriage, the literacy rate among girls will rise. With education, girls will naturally become self-reliant. Since, half of the population of Bangladesh is female. The country’s development and the realization of its dream future depends greatly on the empowerment and independence of its women.
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Such a crucial and heartfelt topic to raise awareness about! Child marriage has been a longstanding issue that not only robs young girls of their potential but also harms the future of an entire nation. It’s encouraging to see organizations like Ontore-Amra taking concrete steps to change the narrative by educating the next generation and empowering families. Education is indeed the key to breaking this cycle. The more we share knowledge and advocate for change, the closer we get to a Bangladesh where every child can bloom to their fullest potential. Keep up the incredible work!
বাল্যবিবাহ বাংলাদেশের অত্যন্ত গুরুত্বপূর্ণ একটি বিষয়। এর কারণে বিশেষ করে মেয়েরা অঝরেই ঝরে যাই। এই বিষয়টা লেখক তার লেখায় সুন্দরভাবে ফুটিয়ে তুলেছে। তাকে আমি আরো লেখার জন্য অনুপ্রাণিত করছি।
বাল্যবিবাহ,সমাজে অভিশাপ এবং জাতীয় উন্নয়নে প্রধান অন্তরায়। অবিলম্বে এটি বন্ধ করতে হবে। এজন্য সমাজ সচেতনতা তৈরি করতে হবে। আর বন্ধু তপনের এ ব্লগ তাতে অগ্রনী ভুমিকা পালন করবে।ধন্যবাদ বন্ধু তপনকে।
বাল্যবিবাহ একটি সামাজিক ব্যাধি।এ ব্যাধি থেকে মুক্তি পেতে হলে সামাজিক আন্দোলন গড়ে তোলার প্রয়োজন। নতুবা বাল্যবিবাহের সাথে জড়িয়ে আছে কিশোরী মাতৃত্ব। যেখানে আছে মৃত্যু ঝুঁকি। এটি কাম্য নয়।এর ফলে বাংলাদেশ আরও পিছিয়ে যাবে। ব্লগার বন্ধু তপন তার লেখায় এই সুন্দর বিষয় টি উপস্থাপন করার জন্য তাকে অনেক অনেক ধন্যবাদ।