The consultation meeting between the elected representatives of Rajnagar Union Parishad, and local communities was organised on December 10, 2023. 19 girls and boys were also joined the discussion.
The primary purpose of the consultation was to raise awareness among local government about negative consequences of early girls’ marriage. It was included sexual health, mental development, and climate change, with key focus on effectively combating child marriage. Discussions centered on the impact of puberty and climate change on adolescent health, identifying factors like inadequate recreational facilities, games and counseling in schools as responsible for child marriage. Elected bodies acknowledged the urgency for more initiatives and expressed concerns regarding the high child marriage rate in Bagerhat.
Results included- a) youth groups including boys and girls are more confident to speak about their expectations and choices; b) youths’ groups and its members abilities are enhanced; c) roles of the local government has been revisited by the community discussion.
