Bangladesh: HC questions use of abusive words against women in divorce notice

Bangladesh desk: The High Court on Sunday asked the government to explain the legality of the husbands’ using ‘degrading, inhuman and irrational words’ as a long practice in ‘Talaq form’ served on divorcee women.

An online bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman issued the ruling after hearing a writ petition filed by a victim named Rakhi Zaman.

The court asked the secretaries of the Law and Justice Division and Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, and the inspector general of registration to respond to the ruling within four weeks.

Petitioner’s lawyer Abdullah Al Noman quoting the divorce notice told the court that Rakhi K Zaman being the wife of Rakib Muktadir Joarder was ‘disobedience to the husband’ which was ‘totally contradictory to the Sharia’.

‘Women are highly prejudiced and humiliated in the family life and face severe problem in further marriage due to use of such abusive words,’ the lawyer told the court.

The lawyer prayed for repealing the practice allowed by the Nikah Registrar, stating that such talaq notice form creates a scope to violate fundamental right and human dignities of citizens guaranteed under of Article 28 of the constitution.

He said that the Article 28 provides ‘The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth while the Article 32 says, no person shall be deprived of life or personal liberty saves in accordance with law.’