Question
My elder brother got engaged a few months ago. Since then, he and the girl have been facing many disagreements. He now feels their marriage won’t work and wants to cancel the wedding. However, the girl is threatening to file a cheating case against him, saying it will affect his government job. What can we do?
Answer
In Bangladesh, an engagement is not legally binding, and breaking it off does not usually result in a cheating case unless there was intent to deceive. If the engagement was only social and no religious or civil marriage rites have taken place, it does not create a legal obligation to marry. To safeguard against false claims, your brother should file a General Diary (GD) at the local police station, documenting the situation. This will help protect him if any legal action is threatened.