Mongla (Bagerhat) Correspondent

A potential child marriage was successfully prevented in Mongla upazila under Bagerhat district following prompt awareness efforts and direct intervention by members of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP).

On October 17, VDP volunteer team members Shipon and Payel, along with former VDP team leader Md. Yunus Ali, received information regarding an upcoming marriage arrangement for an underage girl in Ward No. 5 of Chila Union. Upon receiving the report, Mongla Upazila Ansar and VDP Officer Md. Abdullah Al Mamun immediately visited the spot and held discussions with the girl's family.

During the interaction, the Ansar-VDP officer explained the legal consequences, severe health risks, and educational disruptions associated with early marriage. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the girl's education, well-being, and future development, while assuring the family of administrative support for her studies through the upazila administration.

Convinced by the guidance provided by the Ansar-VDP officer and local volunteers, the family realized the negative impacts of underage marriage and formally pledged not to arrange her marriage before she attains the legal age of 18.

Operating under the directives of the Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP, members of the force continue to play an active role in social awareness initiatives and community welfare activities at the grassroots level to protect children's rights and secure their futur