RANGPUR, Dec 19, 2024 (BSS) - The remote, erosion-prone Gajoghontha union, located along the banks of the river Teesta in Gangachara Upazila of Rangpur, has been declared child marriage-free.

 The union was declared as a child marriage-free union with the slogan "My village is my responsibility; I will make it child marriage free" at a function held at the Gajoghontha Union parishad hall room today. 

The Youth Vigilance Team, Village Development Committee (VDS) and Children and Youth Forum organized the function in collaboration with World Vision Bangladesh (WVB) to declare the union as a child marriage free union and celebrate the event. 

 Gangachara Upazila Social Services Officer Mosaddekur Rahman attended the function as the chief guest with Senior Manager of Rangpur Area Coordination Office of WVB Swapon Mondol in the chair.

 Gangachara Area Programme Manager of WVB Leobart Chisim, its Field Programme Quality Specialist Md Kamrul Hasan, Field TP Specialist-Livelihoods Md Tahmidur Rahman and other WVB officers were present.

 At the celebration, the guests, local people and representatives of various professions signed a declaration and took an oath to form a child marriage-free union and society on the way to build a new Bangladesh free from discrimination. 
    
 Later, the child marriage-free board was handed over to the Gajoghontha Union parishad office building.

 Leobert Chissim said that activities are being carried out to raise awareness among the local people about the prevention of child marriage by distributing leaflets, holding street plays and yard meetings and working with adolescents at risk of child marriage. 

 Chief guest Mosaddekur Rahman said that child marriage is a curse for the nation and the state and child marriage leads to malnutrition of children and mothers. 
 
"Child marriage ruins the beautiful future of children. So, Gajoghontha union is being declared child marriage free," he said.

 Members of Union Parishad and VDS, representatives of Children and Youth Forum, journalists, marriage registrars, teachers and local people attended the function.