Bangladesh's Hindu women fight for divorce rights
Unlike
her Muslim compatriots, Tarulata Rani is unable to inherit anything from her
family, cannot divorce and cannot claim maintenance from her absent husband --
all because she is a Bangladeshi Hindu.
Unlike
Bangladeshi Muslims or Hindus in neighbouring India
and Nepal ,
Bangladeshi Hindu women can't divorce as the legal provisions do not exist and
their marriages have not been allowed to be officially registered.
"Is
it a crime to be born a Hindu girl?" Rani, 22, who was married two years
ago, told AFP.
"I
can't inherit any property. I can't divorce my husband and remarry even though
he left me for another woman and beat me all the time."
Last
month Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved a new law that will introduce
official marriage registration for Hindus in Muslim-majority Bangladesh in a move designed to
protect the rights of women like Rani.
The
legislation, expected to be passed shortly in parliament, has been welcomed by
civil rights activists and many Hindu women.
To
Know More Please Read:
Comments