‘Child, Not Bride’ campaign launched in city

“Girls should be in school, not getting married,” Norway’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Hakon Arald Gulbrandsen, said at the launch of the “Child, Not Bride” campaign in Dhaka.

The campaign seeks to prevent child and forced marriage while promoting the safety and security of girls. It aims to change social attitudes and affirm girls’ right to make decisions about their own lives.

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Girls should be in school, not getting married.

Early and forced marriage remains a major challenge in Bangladesh, particularly in districts vulnerable to climate shocks and economic hardship. Gulbrandsen said the campaign would use humour to engage people and influence attitudes, while warning of the harmful effects of child marriage on girls’ health and education.

BBC Media Action is implementing the campaign with funding from the Norwegian State Broadcasting Corporation’s Telethon and support from Plan International. The campaign has been rolled out on Hello Check’s official Facebook, YouTube and TikTok platforms. Government adviser Mahdi Amin said girls’ rights were among the government’s top priorities and a matter of strategic national importance. BBC Media Action country director Md Al-Mamun called for a multi-stakeholder approach, while Plan International Bangladesh deputy director Neelima Yasmin shared field observations from several districts.

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While child marriage is a serious issue, this campaign uses humour to engage and influence people. Child marriage remains a major challenge in Bangladesh and can have harmful consequences, particularly for girls’ health and education.