Bangladeshi student Sanjida Islam Choya has been named to the list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2022 for her role in the fight against child marriage.
Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world, but Sanjida is trying to change the situation, BBC said as they published the list on Tuesday.
Her mother was married at a young age but, after being inspired by a school presentation on the effects of child marriage, she decided to act against the menace, which is blamed for high mortality rates among mothers and new-borns as well as other hazards.
Sanjida, her friends, teachers and collaborators call themselves Ghashforing (grasshoppers) and they have been reporting incidents of child marriage to the police for a long time.
Now at university, Sanjida's work with Ghashforing has not stopped and she mentors new members of the group. So far, they have prevented 50 child marriages.
Elated by the recognition, Sanjida in a Facebook post on Wednesday said that she was forever grateful to be included in the list.
“I do not want any other girls to face the same fate as my mother,” said Sanjida, known as a preventer of child marriage among her friends, relatives and neighbours.
While studying at Nandail Pilot Girls High School in Mymensingh, Sanjida and her friends prevented their first child marriage while she was only 13 and an eighth grader.
Hailing from Jhaugora village of Achargaon under Nandail Upazila, Sanjida is now a first-year honours student at Gurudayal Govt College in Kishoreganj.
On Wednesday, the neighbourhood where she lives was jubilant over her achievement. Families and friends were seen congregating at her home to celebrate.
When contacted, Sanjida said: “Even though it always feels wonderful to be recognized for one's efforts, I can't quite believe how significant the acknowledgment will be.”
She heard about the achievement on Tuesday when a person from the BBC gave her the news over the phone.
“I was so stunned and amazed that I was unable to accept what I was hearing. My parents didn't take it seriously either. But then they sent me a link, and this is when I got shocked. The list includes renowned Indian actress Priyangka Chopra, and having my name on the same list was just unbelievable,” she said.
Sanjida had first-hand experience with the drawbacks of child marriage because her mother, Liza Akhter, was a child bride. Her mother has often been ill.
Sanjida learned about several of her classmates getting married while studying in school. Following this, she founded the organization to stop child marriage with six of her friends.
They sought assistance from the administration and a local journalist whenever it was not possible for the organisation to prevent a child marriage alone, said Sanjida.
Her mother Liza Akhter said they have received threats for her efforts, but “Sanjida has always been encouraged to prevent child marriage whenever possible.
“Sanjida performed quite well, which is why she received the praise. This achievement will inspire others to make bold decisions.”
According to Nandail Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abul Mansur, Sanjida's success is a victory for the entire nation.
“She has prevented 50 child marriages alone. I believe that more people from society will come forward and join hand in this noble cause,” he said.
The Upazila Parishad has always supported her in her endeavours and will continue to do so, he added.
The list
The BBC list includes global music phenomenon Billie Eilish, Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska, actors Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Selma Blair, the “tsarina of Russian pop” Alla Pugacheva, Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi, record-breaking triple jump athlete Yulimar Rojas, and Ghanaian author Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah.
This is the 10th season of the BBC's 100 Women.
The other Asian women on the list include Fatima Amiri of Afghanistan, Aye Nyein Thu of Myanmar, Velmariri Bambari of Indonesia, Sirisha Bandla of India, Priyanka Chopra Jonas of India, Sandya Eknaligoda of Sri Lanka, Sneha Jawale of India, Kimiko Hirata of Japan, Ayesha Malik of Pakistan, Nigar Marf of Iraq and Milli of Thailand.