Speakers in a function here said the religious leaders including the imams of the mosques could play vital role in preventing child marriage, violence against women and children to help build a welfare state.

“The people of the society still now respect the imams as their religious leaders and they listen to the speeches of the imams attentively. In this context, the speeches regarding child marriage prevention of the imams could create positive impacts to the mindset of the people”, they said.

They made the comments while they were addressing a concluding ceremony of 3-day long workshop on prevention of child marriage, violence against women and children at the training center of a voluntary organization at Kholahati under Sadarupazila in the district very recently.

World Vision, Bangladesh chapter of World Vision International, Christian humanitarian aid, development and advocacy organization, arranged the workshop under Strengthening Social and Behavior Change Project funded by European Union and UNICEF.

Senior health education officer of civil surgeon office Md. Amirul Islam and visitor of Islamic Foundation Bangladesh here Abu Bakar Siddique conducted the workshop as the resource persons.

In the workshop, Amirul Islam highlighted the negative impacts of child marriage elaborately and Abu Bakar Siddique described the role and responsibility of the imams in the prevention of violence against women and children in the eye of the Islam.

A good number of imams participated in the workshop where they gave their commitment to play role in this regard in the society.

Earlier, the workshop started through the welcome speech delivered by project officer of area program office of the organization here RekhaKhatun.