Photo: Collected

RANGPUR, Nov 5, 2025 (BSS) - Maternal and neonatal mortality rates have come down to almost zero in the remote char areas of the Brahmaputra basin, where social awareness against all forms of social prejudice is increasing.

This has been possible by eliminating social prejudices by the char people abandoning the culture of child marriage and dowry and getting their children married at the right age by registering them, although this was unthinkable even a decade and a half ago.

Moreover, people in the chars, who were married long ago, are also registering their marriages, although even 15 to 20 years ago, child marriages were 100 percent unregistered in the riverside char areas.

Executive Director of Northbengal Institute of Development Studies Dr Syed Samsuzzaman said this success has been achieved as a result of extensive inspirational activities conducted by various NGOs in the char areas in the last two decades.

A number of NGOs with the assistance of the 12-year term (2004-2016) Chars Livelihood Programme (CLP) conducted inspirational activities to eradicate poverty of char families and improve their socioeconomic conditions by adapting to adverse impacts of climate change.

The UKaid through the Department for International Development, Australian Government through Australian Agency for International Development and Government of Bangladesh extended assistance to the NGOs in implementing CLP activities.

"The comprehensive CLP activities effectively helped eradicate poverty of the poor char people through improving their livelihoods, socioeconomic conditions and health, hygiene, pure drinking water and sanitation statuses," he said.

One of the NGOs implementing the CLP, RDRS Bangladesh, has played a significant role in the socio-economic development of the char people, who previously lived in extreme poverty. Most of them are now living meaningful lives.

"Following massive motivational works, char people are stopping child marriage, marriage with dowry or marriage without registration reducing maternal and neonatal deaths in building a healthier and prosperous Bangladesh," Dr Samsuzzaman said.

Talking to BSS, a number of CLP beneficiary couples narrated harmful impacts of the century-old social curses and superstitions in char areas though they could not even think about marriage registration and marriage at the right ages in the past.

Marriage Registrar Tofazzal Hossain of Roumari upazila in Kurigram said he is registering all marriages of the brides and grooms only at right ages, and even, the aged couples are registering marriages though they married long ago without registration.

Another Marriage Registrar Alef Uddin of the same upazila said marriage registration has turned into a social culture in the riverine char areas where people are marrying their sons and daughters at right ages, which was unthinkable even 15 to 20 years ago.

"Pregnant mothers are delivering babies at an advanced age and receiving assistance from midwives at local union health and family welfare centers. As a result, maternal and neonatal mortality in the char region has come down to zero," said Alef Uddin.

Couples Ramjan Ali and Ayesha Begum, Abul Hossain and Feroza, Kader Fakir and Ayesha of different char villages under Roumari upazila said they registered marriages recently after a longtime of their marriages.

"Now, we understand about a better future, but earlier not," said Kader Fakir and vowed to stop child marriage or marriage without registration and committed to motivate every able char couple to adopt family planning for planned families and safer delivery.

Couple Abdul Mazid and Jamila Khatun of Char Arazi Kanua village under Kawnia upazila in Rangpur said they have married their daughter at the right age with registration.

"However, our marriage was without registration long ago when maternal and neonatal deaths were common in char areas. We also registered our marriage a few years ago," said Jamila Khatun.

The two couples said that it was quite unbelievable even 15 years back that char people could even think about marriage registration, marriage at the right ages, family planning, safe pregnancy and safe delivery to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths.

Former Tepamadhupur union chairman Md Rashedul Islam under Kawnia upazila in Rangpur said the number of maternal and neonatal deaths has reduced to zero now following huge awareness among the char people.

"No incident of maternal or neonatal death was reported from anywhere in char areas under the upazila in recent years," he said.

Former Rangpur Divisional Director (Health) Dr Shahadat Hossain said that even two decades ago, the char people had no idea about the serious effects of premature pregnancy and childbirth in the char areas.

 "They are now registering their daughters for marriage at the right age, adopting family planning methods, and providing safe childbirth and bringing maternal and neonatal mortality rates down to zero," he said.