A Correspondent:
Lalmonirhat: Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu yesterday underscored the need for making holistic approaches to curb social menaces like drug abuse and child marriage.
“Children of different ages are becoming addicted to drug. Coordinated efforts by parents, society and the administration are needed to bring them back to a healthy life,” he said.
The minister was speaking at a sports equipment, sewing machines and relief materials distribu-tion event at Khuniagachh Union under Sadar Upazila.
He said everyone must work together against drugs, gambling and other social crimes.
Referring to various initiatives taken to prevent child marriage, he said that no child marriage had taken place in the area during the past month since the formation of the Alokito Lalmonirhat Committee. “This is a major achievement for us,” he said.
He urged teachers to discourage parents from marrying off girls at an early age and to raise aware-ness among guardians.
The minister said girls are unable to properly understand the responsibilities of married life if they are married before reaching the appropriate age.
This can lead to family conflicts and even divorce, he said. Therefore, girls should be allowed to continue their education, he said.
“The government is providing various opportunities for women education. Girls will benefit from these opportunities, while their parents will also gain respect,” he added.
At the program, 10 sewing machines were distributed among unemployed women.
Essentials like rice, lentils, salt, sugar, turmeric and chili powder were also distributed among more than 400 distressed and disadvantaged families.
The minister also handed over around 100 footballs to headmasters and students of various educa-tional institutions.
Khuniagachh Union BNP President and former chairman Abdul Malek presided over the pro-gramme.
Zila Parishad administrator AKM Mominul Haque, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mononita Das, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Abdul Matin, senior BNP leaders, and teachers and stu-dents of various educational institutions were also present.
