Dhaka: The High Court (HC) today issued a rule for including details of a bride's and groom's previous and existing marriages, as well as information about their children, in the Nikahnama (marriage contract).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a High Court division bench of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice SM Iftekhar Uddin Mahamud issued the rule after holding a hearing on a writ petition filed in this connection. Supreme Court lawyer Ishrat Hasan filed the writ, which was moved by Sheikh Omar and Tanjila Rahman Jui before the court.
The petitioner highlighted that the current Nikahnama does not mandate the bride and groom to provide comprehensive details of their previous marriages, divorces, and children. This lack of information has led many individuals to conceal such crucial details, resulting in deception and family disputes.
The plea sought directions to amend the Nikahnama to make it mandatory for both the bride and groom to disclose details of all their previous and existing marriages, children, ongoing maintenance obligations, guardianship, and other legal liabilities. It also called for the inclusion and verification of their birth registration, national identity card, or passport numbers.