64pc victims of child marriage: Study

Around 64 percent of all women aged between 20 and 24 in Bangladesh were the victims of child marriage, shows a nationwide survey.
The occurrence of child marriage is higher in rural areas than in urban areas, and education significantly contributes to the elimination of this curse, says the report, which was launched at a hotel in the capital yesterday.
Plan International Bangladesh and International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) jointly carried out the survey between July and August last year, when 5,367 married women were interviewed across the country.
Around 86 percent women of this age group who did not go to school were married off at early age and the wish of the parents or family was the reason for their marriage, said Dr Quamrun Nahar, associate scientist of ICDDR,B, while presenting the findings.Based on the report, she placed a series of recommendations to end child marriage. These include strict enforcement of existing laws, implementation of online birth registration, and improvement of girls’ safety.
The other recommendations are increasing awareness of families and communities, fostering children’s agency in preventing child marriage, involving men and boys as key agents to stop child marriage, investing in girls’ education and adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health.
Addressing the function as chief guest, Meher Afroze Chumki, state minister for women and children affairs, said lack of awareness and poverty were the key reasons for child marriage. She emphasised awareness building and training of community leaders to eliminate child marriage and dowry system.
Canadian High Commi-ssioner in Bangladesh Heather Cruden, Plan International’s Regional Director for Asia Mark Pierce, Plan’s Interim Country Director Elena Ahmed, UNFPA Representative in Bangladesh Argentina Pinto Matavel Piccin and representatives of different organisations and academicians, among others, also spoke on the occasion.
At the function, the UN’s Youth Courage Award for Education was handed over to Keshob Roy, the only Bangladeshi among seven youths, who got the award announced on Malala Day, July 12.
Besides, several other children and youths were awarded crests for their role in preventing child marriage.