Writ petition filed for digitisation of marriage, divorce registrations

A writ petition was filed with the High Court today seeking its directive on the government to digitise marriage and divorce registrations to save people from fraudulence.

Rights organisation Aid for Men Foundation and three victims collectively submitted the petition to the office concerned of the HC through lawyer Ishrat Hasan.

In the petition, the lawyer prayed to the court to ask secretaries of the ministries of law, information and technology and religious affairs, and Bangladesh Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission's chairman for taking necessary measures to this effect.

The three victims, who filed the petition, are -- Md Rakib Hasan, former husband of Tamima Sultana who married cricketer Nasir Hossain, Md Sohag Hossain and Md Kamrul Hasan.

Citing the petition, lawyer Ishrat said marriages and divorces are registered in accordance with the provisions of existing law which is an analogue system without any technological support.

As a result, any husband and wife whose marriage was registered in one jurisdiction can easily conceal it in another jurisdiction and enter into another marriage fraudulently concealing his or her previous marriage or marriages, lawyer Ishrat said.

She said the registration of marriages and divorces need to be preserved on a website. So, any man or woman before marriage will be able to verify using such website whether their future spouse has any previous marriage or divorce record, which will reduce thousands of cases.      

Ishrat Hasan said the HC is yet to set any date for hearing the writ petition.

Earlier on February 22, the petitioners served a legal notice on the government asking it to digitise the marriage and divorce registrations. But the government did not reply to the legal notice, she added.