Badarganj will be the first upazila to become free from the social curses of child marriage
and dowry through setting up a unique example in near future.
Divisional Commissioner Muhammad Deloar Bakht made the announcement at a viewssharing meeting organised by Badarganj upazila administration at its auditorium on Wednesday as the chief guest.
“A comprehensive social movement will be launched involving public representatives,
civil society members, GO-NGO officials, marriage registrars, community and religious
leaders, guardians, teachers, students, professionals, socio-cultural activists and elite to
achieve the goal,” he said.
With Badarganj UNO Khandker Ishtiaque Ahmed in the chair, Deputy Commissioner
Farid Ahammad attended the meeting, participated by officials, public representatives,
professionals and civil society members, as the special guest.
Badarganj Upazila Chairman Biswanath Sarker Bitu, pourashava mayor Uttam Kumar
Saha, former upazila Muktijoddha Commander Aiyub Ali Sarker, former upazila Awami
League President Obaidul Haque Chowdhury, addressed.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Ziaul Haque, Secondary Education Officer Mobasser
Hassan, Women Affairs Officer Roksana Banu Habib, Ansar-VDP Officer Maksudar
Rahman, union chairmen Asaduzzaman Chowdhury Sablu, Shahidul Haque Manik and
Wahed Ali Sarker, journalist Ruhul Amin Sarker and upazila Secretary of Shushashoner
Jano Nagorik Mahfuzar Rahman also spoke.
The speakers narrated grievous impacts and ordeals of child marriage, dowry, violence
and repressions on the premature girls leading them to shattered and catastrophic lives
destroying future and increasing neonatal, maternal and children deaths in rural areas.
They also discussed the reasons behind early marriage that have engulfed the backward
people in rural areas including the remote and hardly reachable char areas for decades
together creating unrest in the family life and the society as a whole.
They expressed desire to ultimately free the nation from the curse of child marriage
and dowry through collective initiatives of every body and rectifying the previously
committed mistakes through launching the renaissance from Badarganj upazila.
They expressed firm confidence that Badarganj will become the first upazila in building a
healthy society free from child marriage, dowry, superstition, malnutrition, maternal and
neonatal deaths, repression on women and children to ensure women empowerment. –
BSS, Rangpur
