Govt against under-18 marriages

The government does not want persons under the age of 18 to get married, said State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki yesterday.

The state minister, however, requested consideration if a child becomes pregnant before marriage.

She was speaking at the launching ceremony of Image (Initiatives for Married Adolescent Girls' Empowerment), a Dutch-government funded project that will be carried out in three unions of Gaibandha, Nilfamari and Kurigram. The program was held at Gulshan's Spectra Convention Centre.

Later, Chumki told BBC Bangla that the minimum marriageable age for girls will remain at 18, but a new clause will be added to tackle the social problems of unwanted pregnancy.