New term for ‘child marriage’ suggested

Speakers at a seminar have suggested that those marriages that take place before the prescribed age be termed ‘Shishu Bibaho’ instead of ‘Balya Bibaho’ in Bangla.

An adviser to the prime minister has nodded the proposal.

Both the terms, however, stand for ‘child marriage’ in English.

At the seminar titled ‘Equity and Justice in Society: Protecting Rights of Children’ it was pointed out that 66 percent of the marriages in Bangladesh took place before the grooms and bridegrooms attained the legal age for marriage.

United Development Initiative for Programmed Action (Uddipan) Director Md Emranul Haq Chowdhury and Bangladesh Jatiya Mohila Ainjibi Samity Executive Director Salma Ali presented the keynote paper at the seminar, organised by government-run Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF).

The keynote paper said ‘child marriage’ should be called “Shishubibaho” instead of “Balyabibaho” in Bangla.

Gowher Rizvi, the International Affairs Adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, supported the proposal.

He admitted the ‘lack of coordination’ in the steps taken by the government for protection of the rights of the children and prevention of their oppression.

He said role of families was greater than that of the government and social organisations for child rights protection.

“Child court exists only on paper. It needs to be functional,” he added.

Rizvi said 700,000 children were living on the street and the government could rehabilitate them if it took initiatives.

PKSF governing body member Bandana Saha presided over the seminar that marked the 25th anniversary of the organisation.

As per law, a Bangladeshi girl can get married at 18, the age when she just ends childhood according to Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Recently women and children affairs ministry proposed lowering the minimum marriageable age for girls to 16, which drew flak at home and abroad.