Dhaka parliamentary body wants laws common to all
By IANSTuesday, December 21, 2010
DHAKA - A committee of Bangladesh’s parliament has recommended a common law to govern people of all faiths with regard to marriage registration, succession and the giving and taking of gifts.
The current laws on these cover only the majority Muslims.
The parliamentary standing committee on the law ministry Monday recommended enactment of a new marriage law with provision for registration for people of all religions.
The committee members observed that marriage registration should be mandatory for all religions as some communities, including the Hindus, have no obligation in this regard as per the existing law.
“Marriage registration is not mandatory for the Hindus and it should be changed,” lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta said, adding that the people who had not registered their marriage often faced difficulties abroad over identity of spouses.
The committee also recommended amendment to the Succession Act because women were deprived of their legitimate share of the inherited property under the existing law.
“We recommended changes to the Succession Act as it discriminates against women,” committee member Fazle Rabbi Mia told New Age.
The committee also recommended that the law related to gifts should be applicable to people of all religions, not just to Muslims.
