Reform ‘discriminatory, unjust’ Hindu laws

Terming traditional Hindu laws "discriminatory and unjust", a newly formed organisation, Bangladesh Hindu Law Reform Council, yesterday demanded that the antiquated laws be reformed and codified to reflect the concerns of women, children and other marginalised communities.

They called for elimination of gender inequality from the Hindu Law of Inheritance Act, equal guardianship under the Hindu Guardianship Act, reform of the Hindu Adoption Act, introduction of the Divorce Act and compulsory marriage registration.

They placed these five-point demand at a press conference in Dhaka Reporters' Unity.

In her keynote speech, Dhaka University Associate Professor, Dr Moyna Talukdar, president of the organisation, highlighted that the traditional Hindu laws were discriminatory towards women, children, people with disabilities and the transgender community.

These laws have remained unchanged for almost a century and have not been codified, which are hampering the rule of law, she added.

Dr Talukdar pointed out that the laws were adopted during the British rule and were not compatible with traditional Hinduism.

"Although these laws were prevalent in the name of religion, the relationship of these with the religion is nominal in reality. There are clear provisions in Hinduism that women can divorce and remarry, but women can't do this under existing Hindu laws. Husbands can marry as many times as they want, but women can't ask for divorce, or remarry," she observed.

Highlighting inequalities and inconsistencies in existing laws, she said that the Hindu Inheritance Act denies a daughter the right to her parents' property, while the right to adopt also belongs to men, who can only adopt male children.

Pulak Ghatak, general secretary of the organisation, said the organisation had launched on September 1, with a 101-member executive council, with the objective of uniting the nation behind these demands.

"Some are opposing the demands to protect vested interests. But a majority of practitioners of the Hindu religion, women of the community, Buddhists and all humanitarians want to reform the law," he said.

Rights activists Reena Roy, Lakshmi Rani Barai and DU Associate Professor Niru Barua, among others, present at the press conference.