Taiyab Ali of South Deshi Bai village in Jaldhaka upazila, in a fit of rage following a quarrel, had told his wife Marium that he would divorce her. But he actually did not do that and they were living together.

As the matter became known to some religious leaders in the village, they came to their house and told them that they should not live together because the wife has been divorced as per Islamic Shariah (law).

The religious leaders advised Taiyab Ali to arrange a hilla (marriage with a third person) marriage of his wife and said they could live together as husband and wife after that.

But the couple ignored the advice and continued to live together.

At this, the religious leaders arranged a shalish (arbitration meeting) in the village and told the villagers to isolate the couple. Since then, they are having an isolated life in the village, Taiyab Ali told newsmen here recently.

He said he has brought the matter to human rights activists also.