Tepakhoribari unon of Domar upazila declared as child marriage free union dated on 7th June, 2015 at union parishad field. The declaration ceremony was arranged by Tepakhoribari union parishad with the support of USS and Plan International Bangladesh. Md. Abtab Uddin Sarker (Freedom fighter), MP, Nilphamari-1 was the chief guest in the declaration ceremony. Especial guests were Upazila chairman, UNO of Dimla Upazila, ED USS, UP chairmen of other unions, teachers, BGB representatives and CSO and journalists representatives. Declaration ceremony was chaired by Md. Rabiul Islam Shahin, chairman of Tepakhoribari union. In the welcome speeches Rabiul Islam Shahin, UP chairman described the ground works have been implemented on the occasion of declaration child marriage free union. “When I seat for village court 80% cases are dowry, divorce and torture and I have been observed these are happing only for child marriage and from that time I was trying to stop it. By time USS has expended their helping hands and it become easy for me to work. This is how I have come up to this stage and declaring our union as child marriage free union”, expressed his feelings and gratitude towards USS, Plan International Bangladesh and other NGOs. In the speeches of especial guest ED of USS said that, “Today Tepakhoribari union and its population has established an example in Domar upazila by declaring their union as child marriage free union. This credit goes to all people of respective union and the NGOs are working here in Tepakhoribari”. There are many NGOs and institutions came to join in the declaration ceremony with their banner and festoons. Md. Rezaul Karim, UNO of Dimla upazila said that, I thank USS for such kinds of initiatives. We have to keep our children safe and safety from all kinds of harms and child marriage is the main barriers to grow up the children. Form the upazila administration I will try my best to keep the union child marriage free union”. Upazila chairman, Md. Tobibul Islam (Freedom Fighter) said that, “it is very difficult to keep the independent instead of get it. So we have to keep our union child marriage free and for that we all must work together.” In the speech of chief guest honorable MP said that “Today is the memorable day for me as I am going to declare it as child marriage free union. From now on wards we are more responsible towards our children. He added that if any child marriages take place here I am requesting UNO to take such an actions so that parents or the children may not think about child marriage. In future I would like to see an upazila that is free from child marriage”. He requested parents, teachers, civil society and also party people to extend their helping hand from their end so that child marriage can be stopped not only in Tepakhoribari union but also whole upazila. Upazila chairman, teacher representatives, journalist and CSO representatives and UP representatives also delivered their valuable speeches in the declaration ceremony. Near about two thousand and five hundred people were present in the declaration ceremony.
Reported by:
Pobon Malo
PC, USS, Jaldhaka
