A roundtable dialogue was held in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday (June 24) to address the eradication of child marriage and the promotion of gender equality. Organized by World Vision Bangladesh’s ‘Child Safety Net Project,’ the policy dialogue took place at the Sadar Upazila Conference Room.
The event brought together administration officials, civil society members, educators, religious leaders, and youth representatives from World Vision’s Child Forum to strategize a coordinated social resistance against early marriage.
Partha Pratim Bagchi, World Vision’s Mobilization and System Strengthening Officer, moderated the session. In his opening presentation, he noted that while child marriage disproportionately harms girls, it also imposes severe mental and financial burdens on underage boys. He emphasized that empowering youth to speak out is critical to uprooting this social crisis.
Chief Guest Tahmina Akhter, Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), stated that child marriage is not just a legal offense but a gross human rights violation. She stressed that the administration remains uncompromising, but noted that enforcing laws is not enough. "To build a safe, non-discriminatory society, we must radically change our traditional mindset," she said.
Special Guest Subrata Biswas, Deputy Director of the District Women's Affairs office, highlighted the crucial role of parents. He warned that child marriage destroys entire families and that shifting social perspectives is just as important as legal enforcement.
Event Chair Jaganmoy Prajes Biswas, World Vision Upazila Coordinator, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to protecting marginalized children. He called for joint accountability from state, society, and international organizations to end a practice that "crushes childhood in the bud."
Community leaders echoed these sentiments. Religious representatives clarified that no faith supports forced early marriage or abuse, urging moral resistance from local places of worship. Meanwhile, educators emphasized the need to stop school dropouts and prioritize the economic and social empowerment of girls to build a knowledge-based society.
Representatives from the Child Forum delivered one of the strongest messages of the day: "We will not let our childhood be mortgaged to darkness. Child marriage takes away our right to dream. The young generation is united, and we will stand as the first wall of defense for our rights."
The dialogue concluded with a unanimous call to strengthen strict legal monitoring and to activate social prevention committees at the union and upazila levels to ensure a child-friendly future in Cox's Bazar.
