ICDS: Advocacy workshop on reducing child marriage held in Tajumuddin. On Sunday (October 8) morning, an advocacy workshop on reducing child marriage was held at Tajumuddin Upazila Auditorium of Bhola under the initiative of ICDS. Md. Sohail Imam Khan, Deputy General Secretary of Bangladesh UNESCO National Commission spoke as the chief guest in this workshop held under the UNESCO Participation Program. ICDS Chief Executive Officer Md. Mortuza Khaled presided over the meeting. Upazila Secondary Education Officer Md. Golam Kibria spoke as a special guest in the workshop. Upazila Social Service Officer Md. Siddikur Rahman and others also spoke there. In the speech of the chief guest, Deputy General Secretary of Bangladesh UNESCO National Commission Md. Sohail Imam Khan said that Bangladesh is at the 5th position in terms of child marriage. Bangladesh has the highest number of child marriages in South Asia, and Bhola district in Bangladesh. As Bhola is surrounded by rivers, the rate of child marriage is high here. In our society girls are considered a burden whereas Prophet himself said girls are mercy. Allah blesses the house where a girl child is born, He gives her a girl child whenever He is pleased with His servant. Where the first in this list are some countries in Africa, including Somalia, where extreme poverty persists. The 5th position of Bangladesh surprised the whole world. Daughters are not burdens, they are assets. Old age gives hope more than sons. --- Even if we say a thousand words about child marriage, child marriage will not stop until we ourselves are aware. At this time, he requested to inform the administration if he hears about the marriage of a minor through a notary public. The present Kazi also requested the imams not to help in child marriage. During this time, he pointed out the punishment and made the imams and kajis aware. He requested the local upazila executive officer to ensure maximum punishment through law to all those involved in child marriage. He made the present students aware of the ill effects of child marriage. He requested them to call 999, 109 and 1098 toll free numbers if they get any news of child marriage, so that the child marriage is stopped. The workshop was attended by hundreds of teachers-students and Qazi-Imam from different educational institutions of Tajumaddin Upazila. The chief guest called upon everyone to work together to increase social awareness to reduce child marriage.