Bashundhara Shuvosangho held a community awareness meeting aimed at preventing violence against women and child marriage in Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga on Saturday.

The event took place at 10am at the residence of Abul Kalam Master in Gulshan Para, organised by Shuvosangho’s Damurhuda upazila unit.

The meeting was presided over by Habibur Rahman, adviser to the Damurhuda unit of Bashundhara Shuvosangho and correspondent of Daily Kaler Kantho for the upazila.

Advocate Ismail Hossain, president of the upazila unit, delivered the welcome address. Other speakers included Vice-President Haji Abdul Kadir, Joint General Secretary Abul Kalam, Literary Secretary Abdul Alim, Finance Secretary Naushad Ali, and member Liton.

The session was conducted by member Akhtaruzzaman Babu.

Speakers noted that violence against women and child marriage have become severe social problems in Bangladesh. Women face various forms of abuse both at home and in society. As women are physically weaker than men and often financially dependent, men tend to exercise dominance and perpetrate abuse.

Misconceptions and prejudice toward women also fuel such incidents, leaving women in a state of helplessness, they said.

They stressed that raising awareness at every level of society is essential to curb violence against women.

Regarding child marriage, the speakers said it disrupts female education, increases maternal mortality, and leads to serious health risks. Underage mothers are at higher risk of giving birth to disabled children, and infant mortality is alarmingly high—with one newborn reportedly dying every hour due to such causes. Even when newborns survive, many face lifelong physical and mental complications.

The speakers concluded that strong social awareness is vital to eliminating child marriage and ensuring a safer, healthier future for women and children.