Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said there is nothing to be worried about the government’s new law on child marriage.

‘The law has been framed taking the reality of our society into consideration,’ she said in reply to a supplementary question from Jatiya Party lawmaker Fakhrul Imam during Prime Minister’s Question Answer Session in the parliament with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

Sheikh Hasina said some NGOs and individuals, who have no idea about the reality of society in rural areas, are raising questions about the provision of allowing marriage of a girl under 18 years in special case.

‘They are far away from reality,’ the prime minister said adding that many western countries allow marriage of girls at 14 and 16 years.

‘A law can never be rigid, there must have an alternative in special cases particularly in case of unexpected pregnancy of any girl under 18. Otherwise it might be disastrous for the society,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has been making relentless efforts to make people aware about child marriage. In view of this, girls are being encouraged for education and provided with scholarship side by side with creating scope for job.

Girls are being given scholarship for higher studies to lessen the burden of education on their guardians so that the girls and their guardians don’t become worried for their marriage at early age, she said.