Child marriage still being practiced

They said awareness of children's rights is crucial for parents and other legal guardians. State Minister for Women and Children Meher Afroz Chumki said that they have identified poverty and the lack of education as the main driving force behind child marriage. “This huge population is sometimes difficult for the government to regulate which is why parents need to ensure their children's rights are not being violated,”she said. The minister also said primary school enrollment for girls is now higher than boys. National Girl Child Advocacy Forum secretary Nasima Aktar Jolly focused on how parents will act from patriarchal values that have a negative impact on their children's lives. She said a type of prejudice make parents marry off their children to avoid the cost of dowry. She stressed on the proper implementation of the laws to prevent this problem. Farida Yasmin, Deputy Police Commissioner, Women Support and Investigation Division, DMP, said the allegation that police often do not help the victims is not always true. “There are victim support centers. We respond quickly to the case if there is any,” she said. Debate for Democracy's chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron summed up the dialogue saying: “We'll able to build a prosperous nation if child rights are insured, we can implement this by nurturing this value amongst all.” The dialogue was held at Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) where students were invited to discuss their issues with the speakers.