Question:
“My mother passed away in 2015, and my father remarried in 2016. He has been torturing me and my siblings, even throwing my brothers out of the house. He has sold land and is now giving my stepmother a separate house. Now, he is planning to sell our house too. What can we do to stop him? If we don’t take responsibility, will we have to give him a place to stay? My father is making false legal cases against us. Please help with advice.”
Answer:
In Bangladesh, family property is typically passed down based on inheritance laws. If your father is selling the family property without your or your siblings’ consent, it could be a violation of your rights as heirs. You have the right to challenge the sale of the property through the court if it is being done unlawfully or unfairly.
If you believe your father is mentally unstable or abusive, you can approach the court to seek protection under the Domestic Violence Act. The court can issue an order for his behavior to stop.
As for the false cases, you should consult a lawyer to defend yourself legally. You can also seek police intervention if the situation becomes violent or abusive.
If your father is forcing you to provide him shelter or take responsibility for him, you should be aware that under Bangladeshi law, children do not have an obligation to provide shelter to abusive parents. However, you may still be required to care for him if he is genuinely incapable and needs support, but that does not mean you must endure abuse.