Child Marriage Prevention Act being hardened

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki yesterday said the Child Marriage Prevention Act is being made tougher with the provision of a two-year jail and fine of Taka 50 thousand for the offender.
“The present government has taken various initiatives to prevent child marriage. But those are not being effective because of social outlooks and lack of awareness. Therefore, the Child Marriage Prevention Act is being amended to make it tougher,” she said speaking at the award-giving ceremony of a debate competition marking the National Girl Child Day 2014.
Held at the National Press Club, the programme was jointly organized by National Girl Child Advocacy Forum and Debate for Democracy.
Prof Dr. Maleka Begum of Central Women’s University, NCBP Chairperson Salma Khan, National Girl Child Advocacy Forum Dr. Badiul Alam Majumder and Secretary Nasima Aktar Jolly also addressed the function. Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron was in the chair.
The state minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Girl Summit in UK, had mentioned child marriage as a social problem and asserted to resolve it. Amendment to the Child Marriage Prevention Act is reflection of the Prime Minister’s commitment, she added.
Referring to the debate over fixation of age of marriage for girls at 18 or 16 years, she said the government would not take any decision over this hastily.
Discussions would be held with all on this issue, she said and added that the Prime Minister would take the best initiatives for welfare of girls. The state minister urged mass media to create awareness against early marriage.
Dr. Maleka Begum criticized and protested the proposal to lower the age of girls’ marriage to 16 while the boys’ to 18 years.