"On September 19, 2020, I came to know about Kali Akhter, a 16-year-old girl in Ramnathpur village who was about to get married, at 16! When I heard about this child marriage attempt, I quickly went to that area. Believe it or not, I ended that marriage with the help of the local police."

Momena Khatun, a mindful member of the Rangchati Union Parishad in Kalmakanda Upazila of Netrokona district. Out of the blue, she finds out about a child marriage attempt in Ramnathpur village, just two kilometres away from her village Chaitanyapur. Hearing this news, she could not sit tight.

Describing her experience of ending child marriage, Momena claimed it was not an easy task at all. "I went there, and they listened to me and ended the marriage-there is no reason to think it was a real softball. When I first talked to the local leader and the parents of the girl's family, I requested them to stop the marriage, explained to them how child marriage is a crime, and the girl will have a problematic life ahead of herself. She will suffer both physically and mentally. But they paid no attention to me. While insulting me, they advised me to close my eyes and mind my own business."

"But I did not give up. That's when I met the Rangchati Union Parishad Chairman. He gave me several suggestions on what I can do to end the marriage. Given his suggestions, I phoned the office of the local Department of Women and Children and explained the matter to them, seeking their cooperation to end this child marriage. Eventually, police were sent from the local police station, and later they interrupted the marriage to be held."

Not all heroes wear cape; Momena has ended two child marriages in the last two months in a single effort.

Encouraged by Momena's initiative of ending child marriage, Parul Akhter, another mindful member of the Kalmakanda Union Parishad, has ended a child marriage happening in her village. About a month ago, she came to know that the marriage of a juvenile eight-grader Panchamari village, Zahura Khatun was forcibly being married to Babul Mian of Chandail village over the phone.

"When I heard about Zahura, I immediately informed this matter to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO). When the UNO came to know about this, he headed a mobile court on the wedding day. He ended the marriage and convicted three people through a mobile court of involvement in the incident." Parul described the incident.

"To end child marriage and prevent violence against women in the area, an organization called 'Nari Unnayan Forum' has been formed with all the women public representatives of the area. UNDP's Efficient and Accountable and Local Governance (EALG) project is providing the technical support." Afroza Begum Shimu, Vice-chairman of Kalmakanda Upazila, mentioned.

She was saying how the rate of child marriage and violence against women is a bit higher in Kalmakanda than elsewhere.

"These problems are more due to lack of basic education and ignorance. However, since the formation of the Women's Development Forum early in 2020, child marriage attempts and violence against women have supposedly reduced in the Upazila. I, myself, have managed to end so many child marriage attempts."

UNDP's Efficient and Accountable and Local Governance (EALG) project official Md. Abdur Razzak disclosed there are many areas in Kalmakanda where many low-income people live. Basically, the low rate of education, lack of employment and lack of awareness among the locals are the reasons behind the high rate of child marriage and violence against women in the region.

However, in the current situation, many local government agencies and administrations are working towards ending child marriage and demolishing the abuse of women. More awareness campaigns and stories of unsung heroes like Momena and Parul can effectively ameliorate the situation.