A seventh grader from Sirajganj’s Belkuchi upazila was saved from early marriage at the intervention of the local administration on Thursday night.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Anisur Rahman went to the girl’s house with members of law enforcement. By then, preparations were underway to marry off the 14-year-old to a 25-year-old man.

A mobile court, led by UNO Anisur, stopped the child marriage and fined her father Tk 5,000.
The girl’s father also gave an undertaking that he would not marry her off until she reaches adulthood.

Child marriage in Bangladesh

A UNICEF report released in October last year noted that despite significant progress in recent years, Bangladesh has the highest prevalence of child marriage in South Asia and ranks among 10 countries in the world with the highest levels.

It called for accelerated action to end child marriage in Bangladesh by 2030.

(UNB)