ZCZC
BSS-01
REPORT-CHILD-MARRIAGE (with picture)
Govt-NGO collective efforts to prevent child marriage stressed
RAJSHAHI, July 3, 2018 (BSS)-Collective efforts of all government and non-
government entities concerned have become an urgent need to combat child
marriage and child pregnancy.
Prevention of children marriage and child pregnancy is the precondition
for substantial and sustainable improvement of child and maternal health.
The observation came at the launch of Rajshahi Divisional Report titled
“Child Well-being Survey in Urban Areas of Bangladesh 2016” in the conference
hall of Rajshahi Circuit House in the city on Monday.
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and UNICEF Bangladesh jointly
organized the ceremony.
Attending the meeting, administrative officials, researchers and experts
underscored the need for infusing dynamism into this field so that the
relevant sustainable development goals are achieved.
Secretary-in-charge of Information Management Division under the Ministry
of Planning Sourendra Nath Chakravarty and commissioner of Rajshahi division
Nur-Ur-Rahman addressed the meeting as chief and special guests respectively
with Deputy Commissioner SM Abdul Kader in the chair.
Additional commissioner of Rajshahi division Aminul Islam, Social Policy
Evaluation, Analytics and Research Head of UNICEF Bangladesh Carlos Ekosta
Bermudez and its Rajshahi and Rangpur divisional head Nazibulllah Hameem also
spoke.
During the survey report presentation, BBS Joint Director Ashraful Alam
Siddiqui told the meeting that child marriage and child pregnancy has been
increasing alarmingly in Rajshahi division during the last couple of years.
Chief guest Charkravarty highlighted the importance of children welfare
survey in the database development planning.
He underscored the need for a proper utilization of the survey reports in
the development planning relating to women and child health, nutrition and
education.
He put emphasis on responsive support from the community, especially
teachers, parents and influential leaders to ensure adolescent-friendly
reproductive health services for reducing child marriage and child pregnancy.
The practice of child marriage is very damaging, especially for girls. It
seems that girls are treated as burden to society, mostly in rural areas.
It is vital to increase awareness regarding the negative impacts of early
marriage with the help of the mass media.
Eradicating child marriage and child pregnancy is imperative in founding a
glorious Bangladesh.
BSS/AH/AKM 1007hrs