Question: I got married without telling my mother and kept the fact of the marriage secret. Now, I want to remarry the same person with both families involved. My questions are:
- If we marry the same person a second time, will the marriage be invalid?
- If the Kabinnama (marriage contract) is not illegal, what money will be taken?
- If we remarry twice, will it cause any problems when applying for a foreign visa?
- How many times can a marriage be known through the NID card or birth certificate?
Answer:
- Validity of Second Marriage: In Bangladesh, if a woman and a man are already legally married (whether through a formal ceremony or in a Kazi office), remarrying the same person without a divorce is not valid. Remarriage requires either the dissolution of the previous marriage (divorce) or the death of one spouse. If you remarry the same person without divorcing, the second marriage would be considered invalid under Muslim Family Law Ordinance, 1961 or the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
- Kabinnama and Mahr (Marriage Money): If the marriage is legally valid and not a secret or illegal one, Mahr (dower) will be an important part of the Kabinnama. Mahr is the amount that the husband must pay to the wife at the time of marriage, and it is a legal obligation. If the marriage is invalid, the Mahr payment may not be enforceable. The amount of Mahr would have been agreed upon in the Kabinnama and should be paid according to that agreement.
- Foreign Visa Application: If you remarry the same person twice, the legal status of your marriage may cause complications. Since the second marriage would be considered invalid without a proper divorce, it may affect your application for a foreign visa. Visa authorities often require proof of legal status, and an invalid marriage could result in visa rejection or other legal issues. It’s important to ensure that your marital status is legally recognized before applying for visas or other official documentation.
- How Many Times of Marriage on NID/Birth Certificate: The National Identity Card (NID) in Bangladesh does not explicitly mention the number of times someone has been married. Marital history may be referenced in official documents related to specific legal matters, such as divorce or remarriage, but it is not automatically recorded on the NID card. Similarly, the birth certificate would not indicate marriage history, as it is primarily for documenting birth details.