Marriage registration becomes social tradition in char areas

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 RANGPUR, April 23, 2018 (BSS) – Marriage registration is gradually becoming a social tradition now in the riverine char areas on the Brahmaputra basin eradicating decades-old curses of marrying girl children at premature ages.

By virtue of digitisation, growing awareness among the char people is helping them coming out of social curses like early marriage and dowry though cent percent wedding was child marriage in char areas without registration even a decade ago.

“The char people are arranging marriage of their sons and daughters at right ages with proper registration brightening the prospect of building an improved society for women and children in char areas,” Divisional Commissioner Kazi Hasan Ahmed said.

The Union Digital Centers (UDCs) has added a new dimension through disseminating necessary information to the common people everywhere, including char area, further accelerating the process of building a healthier society, he added.

Chilmari upazila Chairman Shawkat Ali Sarker, Bir Bikram, in Kurigram said the char people are also getting information on gender issue, child marriage, dowry, marriage registration, safe motherhood, health, sanitation and drinking water from the UDCs.

“Because of various awareness building activities of the government, NGOs and different social groups, the extent of social curses like child marriage and dowry is showing a downward trend significantly,” Sarker added.

Chairman of Nohali union parisahd under Gangachara upazila in Rangpur Abul Kalam Azad Titul said the char women are also showing more interests in marriage registration, family planning, safe motherhood and education of their children.

“The char women in my union are also availing better sanitation facilities and safe drinking water for their children reducing water-borne diseases, improving hygienic condition and enhancing women empowerment in char areas,” he added.

Senior District Information officer of Rangpur Humayun Kobir said many youths, women, adolescents, guardians, students and common people living in char areas are visiting the UDCs to have knowledge on the social curses and way-outs.

Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram Sultana Pervin said the UDCs are playing vital role in achieving the prime goals of building a digital Bangladesh side by side with contributing to reducing all sorts of social curses.

“Getting knowledge from the UDCs and publicities being conducted by the District Information Offices, Bangladesh Television and Betar are now making the char people more aware of the negatives impacts of child marriage and dowry,” she added.

Former Rangpur Divisional Director (Health) Dr Shahadat Hossain said the char women had almost no ideas on the negative impacts of child marriage and giving birth to babies at premature ages in char areas even a decade ago.

“But, the char women are marrying their daughters at right ages with registrations, adopting family planning methods and delivering babies safely reducing maternal and neonatal deaths in char areas on our way to achieve the sustainable development goals,” he added.