National Girl Child Day was observed in Kalia Upazila of Narail district on Monday with a colourful rally and a discussion meeting, highlighting the need to prevent child marriage under the slogan, “No More Child Marriage, Girls Will Conquer the World.”
The programme was jointly organised by the upazila administration and the Upazila Department of Women Affairs at around 10am on October 12.
A rally promoting awareness was brought out from the Upazila Parishad premises. It paraded the main streets of the municipal town before returning to the starting point. Officials from various government departments, women, children and people from different walks of life took part.
A discussion meeting was later held at the Upazila Parishad auditorium, chaired by Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Jinnatul Islam.
Among those present were Upazila Women Affairs Officer Keya Das, Upazila Public Health Engineering Officer Khalid Ahmad Usmani, officials from different government departments, women and children. Speakers at the meeting emphasised girls’ education, health, safety and rights, as well as the importance of preventing child marriage.
They said children are the future of the nation and that ensuring quality education and a safe environment for girls is essential to building a developed, prosperous and humane society. Families, educational institutions and communities must play responsible roles in helping every child grow into a patriotic individual with strong moral values.
The speakers also stressed the need to eliminate discrimination against girls and expand their opportunities to gain education and skills. They called on parents and people from all sections of society to raise awareness against child marriage, violence against children and harmful social superstitions.
They further highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts by families, educational institutions and social organisations, alongside government initiatives, to uphold girls’ rights and build a safe, discrimination-free society.
UNO Md Jinnatul Islam said girls are not a burden on society but a source of potential and a driving force for national development. Ensuring their education, safety and equal opportunities is everyone’s responsibility, he added.
He said child marriage poses a major obstacle to girls’ education, health and ability to fulfil their dreams. Preventing it requires not only the enforcement of laws but also awareness-building at every level of family and society.
He called for collective efforts to ensure that every girl can grow up without fear and establish herself through her talent and abilities, both in Bangladesh and internationally.
