RAJSHAHI, Dec 27, 2021 (BSS) - Highlighting the aspects of substantial

and sustainable reduction of child marriage, speakers at a discussion
mentioned community engagement can be the best ways of preventing child
marriage.

     Besides, collective efforts of all government and non-government
entities concerned have become crucial to combat child marriage and child
pregnancy as it's the precondition for improvement of child and maternal
health.

     Public representatives and marriage registrars can play pivotal roles to
attain the cherished goal in this regard.

     They came up with the observation while addressing a participatory
meeting with public representatives and marriage registrar in the city
yesterday discussing and devising ways and means on how to eradicate child
marriage.

     The Association for Community Development (ACD) organized the meeting at
its office conference hall supported by UNICEF.

     Deputy Director of the Department of Women Affairs Shobnom Shirin
addressed the meeting as chief guest, while Ward Councilor of Rajshahi City
Corporation Umme Shalma spoke as special guest with Marriage Registrar
Khoibar Hossain in the chair. ACD Programme Manager Monirul Islam moderated
the discussion.

     Shobnom Shirin said the present government under the dynamic and
visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been implementing
diversified programmes to free the society from child marriage.

     Terming child marriage as gross violation of human rights she also said
it is vital to increase awareness regarding the negative impacts of early
marriage with the help of the mass media.

     She said responsive support from the community, especially local
administration, public representatives, teachers, parents and influential
leaders, has become indispensable to ensure adolescent-friendly reproductive
health services for reducing child marriage and child pregnancy substantially
and sustainable.

     Ensuring equal rights on education, training, science and technology is
also important to women empowerment.

     Overall national development could be possible when the children coming
from the poor and underprivileged families will be educated and ensure all
other fundamental rights they deserve, she added.

     Physical and mental development of children could be possible when they
were protected from violence and deprivation.