Two underage girls and a boy were saved from early marriage in Kulaura upazila of the district yesterday, thanks to the prompt action of the upazila nirbahi officer and the upazila women affairs officer.

“I will show zero tolerance to social menaces like early marriage and dowry,” Chowdhury Md Golam Rabbi, upazila nirbahi officer of Kulaura, said after foiling the marriage of Ubed Ahmed, 14, son of Bokul Mia of Bottola village in Sadar union, and a 13-year-old girl of the area.

Selina Yesmin, upazila woman affairs officer, foiled the marriage of Class IX student Pinky Akhter, 13, daughter of Masuk Mia, in Rautgaon union yesterday afternoon.

Poverty and the controversial role of the village elders are responsible for continuation of early marriages, she said.

“We are conducting motivation programmes for marriage registrars and high school students, and campaigning to build awareness among the people regarding the bad effects of early marriage,” she added.