From Commitment to Community: Youth and Leaders Unite to End Child Marriage at Divisional SRHR Knowledge Fair 2026
The inaugural session was graced by Md. Motiur Rahman, Divisional Director, Directorate General of Family Planning, as Special Guest, and Ummey Habiba Mira, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development and Human Resource Management), Mymensingh, as Chief Guest. The session was chaired by Arnob Chakrabarty, Managing Director of RedOrange. In his opening remarks, S M Shaikat, Executive Director of SERAC-Bangladesh, highlighted the critical role of youth leadership in transforming dialogue into tangible community action.
A powerful highlight of the day was the testimony of youth leader Nowshin Sharmila Badhon, who shared a survivor’s lived experience of overcoming child marriage. Her emotional storytelling brought urgency and humanity to the discussion, reminding participants that behind statistics are real girls whose dreams are stolen too early.
The session “Youth Realizing Dreams: Aspirations vs Action for a Better Future” was chaired by Jannatul Munia, Director-Strategy, RedOrange. Panelists including urban youth councillor Shahena Akhter and young volunteers stressed the gap between awareness and implementation. They called for stronger law enforcement, adolescent-friendly health services, and meaningful youth inclusion in decision-making. Youth-led initiatives such as Prottasha Youth Organization were praised for their impactful street dramas and school-based awareness campaigns.
In the session “Multi-Sector Perspectives on SRHR – Bridging Gaps, Building Bridges”, chaired by Khaleda Yasmin, Director-Health and Gender, RedOrange, panelists from media, civil society, and legal sectors discussed enforcement challenges. They strongly recommended reviving school-based Adolescent Brigades, improving coordination between students and law enforcement, and replacing informal village settlements with formal legal support systems. The panel emphasized shifting community mindsets away from victim-blaming toward empathy, accountability, and collective responsibility.
Throughout the fair, speakers repeatedly underlined that while strong laws exist, real change depends on community ownership, men’s engagement, and sustained youth leadership. Discussions also linked child marriage to gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, and long-term maternal health risks.
RedOrange played a key role not only as host but also through active leadership in chairing critical sessions, demonstrating its continued commitment to SRHR, gender equality, and youth empowerment across Bangladesh.
The Divisional SRHR Knowledge Fair 2026 concluded with a powerful call to action: turning national commitments into grassroots realities. By amplifying survivor voices and empowering young leaders, the event marked an important step toward building a future where every adolescent can realize their full potential free from child marriage.