Personal Law — Marriage, Divorce, Inheritance

Bangladesh Family Law

পারিবারিক আইন — বিবাহ, তালাক, উত্তরাধিকার

Family law in Bangladesh is pluralistic — governed by separate personal laws for Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist communities covering marriage, divorce, inheritance, and custody.

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Key Legislation

Family Law Statutes

Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961

মুসলিম পারিবারিক আইন অধ্যাদেশ ১৯৬১

The foundational statute governing Muslim family matters — polygamy restrictions (requires Arbitration Council permission), divorce registration, and maintenance. Applies to all Muslim citizens.

Muslim Marriages and Divorces (Registration) Act 1974

মুসলিম বিবাহ ও তালাক (নিবন্ধন) আইন ১৯৭৪

Mandates registration of all Muslim marriages and divorces. Marriage registration is performed by a licensed Kazi (marriage registrar).

Hindu Marriage Registration Act 2012

হিন্দু বিবাহ নিবন্ধন আইন ২০১২

A landmark statute providing for optional registration of Hindu marriages for the first time. Aims to protect Hindu women and children by creating a formal record of marriage.

Christian Marriage Act 1872

খ্রিস্টান বিবাহ আইন ১৮৭২

Governs Christian marriages. Requires marriage to be solemnised by a clergyman or marriage registrar. Minimum age 21 for men and 18 for women.

Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act 1939

মুসলিম বিবাহ বিচ্ছেদ আইন ১৯৩৯

Grants Muslim women the right to seek judicial divorce on specific grounds — cruelty, desertion, failure to maintain, impotence, insanity, or leprosy.

Dowry Prohibition Act 1980

যৌতুক নিষিদ্ধকরণ আইন ১৯৮০

Prohibits the giving and taking of dowry. Demanding or receiving dowry is punishable with imprisonment and fine.

Child Marriage Restraint Act 2017

বাল্যবিবাহ নিরোধ আইন ২০১৭

Sets minimum marriage age at 18 for women and 21 for men. Contains a controversial exception clause allowing marriage below the minimum age under special circumstances with court approval.

Divorce

Divorce Procedures in Bangladesh

Talaq (Husband-initiated)

তালাক (স্বামী কর্তৃক)

A Muslim husband may pronounce talaq. Under the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, he must send written notice to the Chairman of the Union Council and a copy to the wife. The divorce does not take effect for 90 days, during which the Arbitration Council attempts reconciliation.

Khula (Wife-initiated)

খুলা (স্ত্রী কর্তৃক)

A Muslim wife may seek dissolution by offering to return her mehr (dower) or other consideration. If the husband agrees, the divorce is effected by mutual consent. If he refuses, the wife may apply to the court.

Judicial Divorce

বিচারিক তালাক

Under the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act 1939, a Muslim wife can seek judicial divorce on grounds including cruelty, desertion for four years, failure to maintain for two years, husband's imprisonment for seven years, husband's impotence, insanity, or leprosy.

Delegated Divorce (Talaq-e-Tawfiz)

তালাক-ই-তাওফিজ

The right of divorce delegated by the husband to the wife through the marriage contract (kabin-nama). If the delegation clause is included in the kabin-nama, the wife can exercise talaq independently under the conditions specified.

Inheritance

Inheritance Laws

Muslim Inheritance (Sharia rules): Governed by the principles of Hanafi jurisprudence. Fixed shares are prescribed for specific heirs (daughters, widows, mothers, fathers). A daughter typically receives half the share of a son. The estate is distributed after payment of debts, funeral expenses, and any bequests (limited to one-third of the estate). Both Sunni and Shia rules may apply depending on the school of jurisprudence followed.

Hindu Inheritance (Dayabhaga): Bangladesh Hindus follow the Dayabhaga school of law. Historically, Hindu women had limited inheritance rights. The Hindu Inheritance (Property) Act proposal has been discussed to provide Hindu women equal inheritance rights, though comprehensive reform remains pending.

Maintenance and Mehr: A Muslim wife is entitled to maintenance during the marriage and during the iddat period (approximately 90 days after divorce). The husband is obligated to pay the dower (mehr) — an amount agreed at marriage. Unpaid mehr is a debt on the husband's estate. Child maintenance is primarily the father's obligation under both Muslim and civil law.

Child Custody (Guardianship): Under Muslim law, the mother has the right of custody (hizanat) of a son until age seven and a daughter until puberty. The father remains the natural guardian. Courts may override these rules in the best interest of the child under the Guardians and Wards Act 1890.

মুসলিম উত্তরাধিকার: হানাফি আইনের নীতি অনুসারে পরিচালিত। নির্দিষ্ট উত্তরাধিকারীদের জন্য নির্ধারিত অংশ নির্ধারিত। কন্যা সাধারণত পুত্রের অর্ধেক অংশ পায়।

হিন্দু উত্তরাধিকার (দায়ভাগ): বাংলাদেশের হিন্দুরা দায়ভাগ স্কুল অনুসরণ করে। হিন্দু নারীদের সমান উত্তরাধিকার অধিকার প্রদানের জন্য আইন সংস্কার আলোচনা চলমান।

সন্তান হেফাজত: মুসলিম আইনে মায়ের ছেলের ৭ বছর এবং কন্যার বয়ঃসন্ধি পর্যন্ত হেফাজতের অধিকার আছে। আদালত সন্তানের সর্বোত্তম স্বার্থে এই নিয়ম পরিবর্তন করতে পারে।

Recent Developments

Women's Rights Reform Proposals 2026

The interim government (2024-2026) has advanced several proposals to reform family law and strengthen women's rights in Bangladesh. These include discussions around uniform family code provisions, enhanced protections against domestic violence, and reforms to inheritance laws to provide greater equity.

Key areas of ongoing reform include: strengthening enforcement of the Dowry Prohibition Act, reviewing the Child Marriage Restraint Act's exception clause, expanding domestic violence protections under the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010, and addressing gaps in Hindu women's inheritance rights.

These reforms reflect a broader movement to align Bangladesh's family law framework with constitutional guarantees of equality (Article 27-28) and international commitments under CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women).

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