Over 400 young learners of Hasina Momen Girls' High School in remote Bhangura upazila of Pabna yesterday pledged not to get married before reaching 18.

Marking International Women's Day, development organisation Brac arranged the programme where speakers urged fully abolishing early marriage for the healthy future of the female students and the society as a whole.

Local female community leader Mishti Khatun chaired the programme while Md Ainul Haque, chairman of Ashtomonisha union parishad, spoke as the chief guest.

Headmaster of the school Md Abdul Khaleque, teachers Abdur Rahim and Jarina Sultana and Brac officer Goutam Chandra spoke on the occasion.

Many girl students fail to complete schooling up to the SSC due to early marriage and unaware parents hardly consider the health issues while marrying off their underage daughters, especially in rural areas, the speakers said.

Earlier the girl students accompanied by locals formed a human chain in front of the school, carrying banners and festoons with the slogan 'no marriage before 18 in any situation".