Question:
My girlfriend got married on 1st of July with the consent of both families. On the 1st, the daughter goes to her father-in-law’s house. The son works in a private bank. After marriage, the girl stays at her father-in-law’s house for 15 days which is outside Dhaka. The son works in Dhaka so he is in between coming and going. All of a sudden, the son leaves the daughter at his father’s house out of a whim, to stay for a few weeks. No contact after leaving. The girl does not pick up any kind of phone. Now on 10th of August, the girl comes to know from the Kazi in her area that the boy no longer wants to have a family. It was the boy who told Kazi. Now the girl’s family is completely broken, because they don’t know anything. The girl’s mother and daughter call the boy but the boy is not picking up the phone. There was no trouble between the boy and the girl. What will the girl’s family do now? The girl wants to start a family.
Answer:
In this situation, the girl’s family can take legal action against the husband, as he seems to have abandoned his wife without any formal divorce or explanation. The girl has several options:
- Legal Separation (Divorce): If the boy has abandoned his wife without providing any maintenance or support, the girl may file for divorce under Islamic law (if both parties are Muslim) or Bangladesh Family Law. The girl has the right to seek khula (divorce initiated by the wife) if the husband is refusing to fulfill his marital duties or abandoning her.
- Filing a Complaint: The girl’s family can file a complaint at the local police station about the husband’s abandonment and failure to provide maintenance. They can also report this abandonment under the Domestic Violence Act, which can include neglect and mental cruelty.
- Mediation: The family can try to resolve the issue through family mediation or through a local council or Kazi. Since the boy has already communicated to the Kazi that he no longer wants to continue the marriage, formal divorce proceedings might need to be initiated. The girl’s family can approach the Kazi and demand a formal process of divorce.
- Seeking Maintenance: While the divorce process is ongoing, the girl may be entitled to seek maintenance for her support, especially if the husband is not fulfilling his financial responsibilities.