RANGPUR, June 1, 2022 (BSS) -Marriage registrars could play a crucial role to protect children and prevent child marriage for ensuring their normal growth, education and empowerment on way to attain sustainable development goals.

  The opinion came at a program on 'Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Material Distribution and Orientation on Child Protection' held at the District Registrar's Office here on Tuesday afternoon.

  The District Registrars' Office with assistance of Rangpur Area Office of World Vision Bangladesh organised the event for marriage registrars of Rangpur City Corporation area. The event was arranged as a campaign to eliminate all sorts of violence against women, prevent child marriage and distribute social and behavior change communication materials among participating marriage registrars.

  Rangpur District Registrar Md. Abdus Salam Pramanik attended the program as the chief guest with senior manager at Rangpur area office of World Vision Bangladesh Anukul Chandra Barman in the chair. Marking the 50th founding anniversary of World Vision, a video documentary with participation of religious leaders and civil society members in child protection was screened on the occasion.

  On behalf of participating marriage registrars, Md. Ekram Uddin discussed various barriers they face at community levels in preventing child marriage and sought support of local administrations and public representatives to thwart the social menace.

   Terming child marriage as a concern across the country, he stressed on stopping the social curse with joint initiatives of common people and administrations to ensure education, empowerment and brighter future of adolescents. The chief guest said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called upon all to come forward to eradicate child marriage from their respective positions to implement the pledge to build a child marriage free country developed Bangladesh by 2041.

  "The role of marriage registers is very important in stopping child marriage. Let us say no to child marriage thinking about the brighter future of our children," he said.

  Anukul Chandra Barman stressed on creating social awareness and said everyone needs to work together for ensuring strict implementation of the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2017 to build a child marriage-free Bangladesh. Later, a marriage registrar board with names, mobile numbers and awareness messages was distributed among each of the 22 participating marriage registrars.