69 rights bodies for keeping it strictly 18

The country's achievements in the last 50 years will become questionable, if the government reduces the marriageable age for females to 16 from the existing 18 through loopholes in the law, said speakers at a views-exchange meeting yesterday.

Samajik Protirodh Committee, a platform of 69 women's right, human rights and development organisations, arranged the meeting in the capital's Jatiya Press Club.

Speakers demanded that the marriageable age for females remain at 18, said a press release.

Ayesha Khanam, president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, questioned how the government can change the marriageable age to 16 in 2015 when it has been fixed at 18 since 1929.

Prof Mizanur Rahman, chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), was a special guest at the programme.

Women's rights organisations have been expressing their concern since a clause that permits, under special circumstances, marriage of girls at the age of 16 appeared in the draft of the new Early Marriage Restraint Act.