Duaripara-Jhilpar slum is located on the north-western boundary of North City Corporation. However, the light of awareness has penetrated a little though the entrance of modern amenities reached. They are still unaware about the importance of planned families to them which is not more than a campaign.
The number of families of two children has to be searched out. Most families have more than three children. It is clear from the conversation that they are somewhat unaware and some of them are obsessed with superstition. Shajeda Begum, mother of 6 children, husband Bazlu Mia is a rickshaw puller by profession. Residents of Bhola's Char Fashion area have been living in this slum in Dhaka for a long time. Shajeda Begum used to wash the house as employment. Corona has made her now completely unemployed.
The question was, did you hear about family planning, do you know its merits? As if the answer was ready in her mouth, she immediately replied. If Allah is willing what we will do, killing lives is a great sin. Many others nodded in agreement.
Hasina Khatun stays in the next room. Husband Ibrahim Mia works as a mason. Hasina Khatun also works as domestic help. They have two sons and one daughter in their family. She gave birth to another child, Abdullah, 8 months ago.
She was also asked about family planning and a happy family. She laughed and blew up the matter. She said that Allah has given mouth to eat and He will see everything. Bibi Hasina lives next to three rooms of Hasina Khatun. She also works as a domestic help. Four children are spreading light in her house. Three children named Lamia, Jisan and Ihsan are also lighting the house of Julekha Begum, wife of a van driver Shahjahan Miah. Rickshaw driver Zakir Hossain's wife Kulsum Begum also has three children.
Duaripara (Pallabi Jhirpar) slum is located on the road no. 5 at the end of the metallic road. Almost all of them are residents of the Char Fashion area of Bhola. In addition to indifference to family planning, another issue is noteworthy. That is, there is enough practice of child marriage here. Girls are being married only when they are fourteen or fifteen years old. In this case, due to strict prohibitions, child marriage is going on with a lot of cover.
Fatema Khatun is married to printing press worker Ashraful Islam. They are going to have a new face soon. Anyone can guess her age by looking at her face. At least you don't have to be smart to guess that she is not old enough to get married. She was asked a question about how old she is.
She wanted to avoid it at first with a smile. When asked again, she replied that it might be eighteen. What is usually taught in the case of child marriage? That is what Fatema Khatun said.
The campaign has long been carried out by the Department of Family Planning, the Department of Health and various NGOs. There is a popular slogan: a woman is not old enough in her twenties should not get married before twenty. That being said, early marriage and pregnancy are risky for the mother’s health. Arfina Khatun also got married before the age of fifteen. She got pregnant in less than a year. That's still a lot like a child. That Arfina is going to be a mother herself after 4 months.
The picture of slums in Dhaka city is more or less the same. Although some NGOs are working in these areas, the people concerned do not think that something very effective is happening. They think that effective programs are needed to make the slum dwellers aware. Otherwise it will be difficult to prevent child marriage, polygamy and to implement planned happy family. Although a large part of the society is quite aware of this. But it is difficult to reach the desired goal by leaving out the part to be mentioned. However, that work is not possible only for government offices or NGOs alone. Everyone must come forward.