Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
The Bangladesh High Court on Thursday ordered the government to fully digitalise marriage and divorce registrations, calling the existing analogue system ineffective and prone to fraud.
Ruling on a writ petition, the bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Md Ashif Hasan said the lack of a functional digital database makes it “impossible to effectively verify marriage and divorce”, undermining legitimacy and violating Articles 31 and 32 of the Constitution. The court noted that although laws exist, authorities have failed to build a comprehensive digital system.
The HC directed that all marriage and divorce records must now be digitally registered, securely stored in government servers, and easily verifiable—especially for women. A compliance report has been sought.
Advocate Ishrat Hasan described the verdict to journaliats as a “historic step” that will ensure family security, women’s protection, prevent child marriage, and block secret or multiple marriages and complications linked to proving divorce.
The petition was filed on 4 March 2021 by Aid for Men Foundation and three victims—Md Rakib Hasan (former husband of Tamima Sultana, who later married cricketer Nasir Hossain), Md Sohag Hossain, and Md Kamrul Hasan—arguing that the analogue system allows hiding marriage records across jurisdictions.
On 23 March 2021, the HC had asked the government why registrations should not be digitalised and preserved on a central website. Advocate Ishrat Hasan represented the petitioners; Deputy Attorney General Md Shafiqur Rahman and Assistant Attorney General Eakramul Kabir Romel appeared for the state.