Free bicycles were distributed among 359 poor meritorious students of 57 secondary schools at 13 unions of Magura sadar upazila on Tuesday. The bicycles were distributed at function at Nomani Maidan in Magura town under the ‘Local Governance Support Project-LGSP 3 Project’.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Magura Ashraful Alam handed over bicycles to the students. Deputy Director of the Department of Local Government Kamruzzaman, Sadar Upazila Chairman Abu Nasir Bablu, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abu Sufian, LGSP-3 Project District Facilitator Samshuzzoha, Sadar Upazila Awami League President Ashraful Alam Babul Fakir spoke at the event, among others.
The speakers said that these pink bicycles will not only make it easier for students to get to and from school, the girls will also work as goodwill ambassadors in remote areas to prevent child marriage and violence against women under the slogan 'No marriage before 18, no children before 20'. DC Ashraful Alam said that these activities would also play a huge role in women's empowerment and prevention of child marriage.
UNO Abu Sufian said, 'Under the LGSP-3 project, these bicycles have been distributed among 359 poor meritorious students of 57 secondary schools in 13 unions of Magura Sadar Upazila at a cost of Taka 28 lakh 54 thousand in the financial year 2019-2020'.
Jhuthi, a student of class seven of Jagdal Secondary School in Magura Sadar Upazila, said that the distance of her own village Laskerpur from Jagdal school is 3-km. Most of them have to walk. The bicycle will make it easier for him to travel to school.
Jhuthi also said that she and her classmates would also work to create awareness in the villages to prevent child marriage and violence against women. According to her, because of the closure of schools in Corona, many parents are marrying off their school-going girls. For example, in the last three months, Sumaiya, Nadia and Rupa, students of class eight of Jagdal Secondary School, have been married off by their parents.
Nazmun Nahar, student of class eight of Monowara Zaman Secondary School, Urmi Khatun, student of same class of Jagla HM Secondary School and Samira Khatun, student of class eight of Laxmipur Secondary School expressed similar feelings about getting free bicycles.