Govt slammed for putting cart before horse

Women's rights activists yesterday criticised the government for forming a draft action plan on child marriage without specifying the minimum legal age of females for marriage.   

They urged the government not to form any action plans until the legal bar regarding age for marriage is settled.

The activists under the banner "Shamajik Protirodh Committee" held a press conference in the capital's Jatiya Press Club also protesting the government's attempt to lower the minimum age of females for marriage from the existing 18 to 16.

Mentioning Islamist group Hefajat-e Islam, eminent educationist Rasheda K Chowdhury said there are groups of religious fanatics who are against women's education and economic progress.

"Lowering girls' legal age for marriage would eventually serve their purpose," she said.

Sultana Kamal, executive director of Ain o Salish Kendra, said, "The step [lowering the minimum age] would be suicidal for a county that has just begun to reduce maternal and child mortality and make progress in women's development indicators."   

Nari Progati Sangha Director Rokeya Kabir, citing a 2014 Unicef report, said 39 percent of Bangladeshi girls got married before their 15th birthday, the highest rate in the world, while 74 percent got married before the age of 18. 

Ranjan Karmakar, executive director of Step Towards Development, among others, spoke.