Kurigram can be a role model for other districts in bringing down child marriage  rate but more coordinated efforts are required from all level of stakeholders, said discussants at a round table discussion on Saturday. The round table titled “Child Marriage Free Kurigram, A Journey Towards A Dream” was organised at the conference room of Kurigram Deputy Commissioner in Kurigram. The round table was organised by international development organisation Plan International Bangladesh and its local partner RDRS Bangladesh under the project “Building Better Future for Girls (BBFG)” with the support of Sweden Embassy in Bangladesh. Also read: Child marriage was an epidemic within the pandemic in Bangladesh Addressing the discussion as the Chief Guest, the Deputy Commissioner Md. Rezaul Karim said  Kurigram’s District Action Plan implementation is an example for other districts of the country to reduce the curse of child marriage. “To bring the child marriage rate to zero, we all are working together, and are committed to continue the effort in future. We have identified all the relevant stakeholders, engage them with the implementation process which is a big initiative. This made us able to reach to the community level. We are working to bring a positive change in the society through engaging different stakeholders, activating different committees, forming youth forums, strengthening cultural activities.” Also read: Child marriage rates soar in Cox's Bazar in the shadow of pandemic  

Amina Begum of Sadar upazila’s Shuvarkuti village had to take shelter in her father’s home as her husband’s house got destroyed by the flood. She managed some loans and planted apel kul, papaya, chilly and eggplants on 60 decimals of her father’s land. This season she had to count a hefty loss for cultivating crops. Amina took up farming vegetables and fruits to recoup the loss and hopes to make enough to buy a piece of land to build her own home.