High Court verdict: woman cannot be a marriage registrar



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Photo: Barta24.com

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The High Court has ruled that women cannot be marriage registrars (Qazi) in view of the social and practical situation in Bangladesh.

Lawyer of the writ petitioner Humayun Kabir confirmed the verdict on Sunday (January 10).

A woman from Dinajpur filed a writ petition to become a marriage registrar candidate. The High Court bench comprising Justice Jubayer Rahman Chowdhury and Justice Kazi Jinat Haque dismissed the writ petition. The verdict was published after the signatures of the judges today.

Observations of the published verdict said that women are in physical disqualification at a certain time of the month. In that case Muslim marriage is a religious function and in our country most marriages are taught in mosques. At that time women cannot enter the mosque and they cannot pray. Therefore, since marriage is a religious function, in view of this reality, it is not possible to perform the duty of marriage registrar with women in Bangladesh.

Lawyer Humayun Kabir said, with this observation of the High Court, the High Court has rejected the rule issued on the writ case in this regard. As a result, women cannot be marriage registrars.

Advocate Fawzia Karim, chairman of the Foundation for Law and Development, said, the Prime Minister of the country is a woman. Women are becoming pilots of aircraft, also working in the armed forces. So why can't women be marriage registrars? So we will appeal against the verdict of the High Court.

In 2014, the advisory committee proposed the names of three women as marriage registrars in wards 7, 8 and 9 of Fulbaria municipality in Dinajpur district. The matter of the three-member panel was sent to the law ministry. On June 17 of the same year, the Ministry of Law dismissed the three-member panel with a letter stating that in view of the real situation in Bangladesh, it is not possible for women to perform the duties of marriage registrar.

Later, Ayesha Siddique, who is number one on the panel of marriage registrars, filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the decision of the law ministry. The High Court issued a rule asking why the law ministry's letter regarding the hearing of the writ petition would not be canceled.

Following the hearing, the High Court bench of Justice Jubayer Rahman Chowdhury and Justice Kazi Jinat Haque dismissed the rule. As a result, in view of the social and practical situation in Bangladesh, the decision of the Law Ministry to uphold the marriage registration of women remained in force, the lawyers said.

Three doctors are absent for a long time causing sufferings to the patients



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Pic: Barta24.com

Pic: Barta24.com

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The government has taken various initiatives to ensure the presence of doctors and officials in government hospitals. However, a different picture is seen in Barishal's 50- bed Agailjhara Upazila Health Complex. Three doctors of the hospital have been absent for a long time. As a result, patients have to suffer due to lack of proper healthcare.

Allegedly, medical services at the hospital have come to a standstill due to lack of strict supervision. Therefore, many patients are forced to seek treatment in private hospitals.

According to hospital sources, Dr. Abu Bakar Siddique joined Agailjhara Upazila Health Complex as Medical Officer on July 1, 2011. He has been absent since January 4, 2012 after staying at the hospital for just five months. Similarly, Dr. Soma Halder joined the health complex on October 8, 2014. She has also been absent since November 5, 2015, after serving for one year.

Sources also said that Dr. Shahana Rahman joined the hospital on November 25, 2023. She has not been coming to the hospital for the past 8 months.

Although the three mentioned doctors are absent for a long time, no appointments are being made in their place. As a result, patient services are constantly disrupted. Besides, the hospital authorities are also in trouble.

A responsible source of the hospital, on condition of anonymity, said that this alarming situation has arisen due to the non-punishment of those who are negligent in fulfilling their duties. Also there is a lack of strong supervision.

Upazila Health Officer Dr. Bakhtiar Al Mamun said that Dr. Abu Bakr Siddiq and Dr. Soma Halder have been given letters to join the workplace several times. But they are still not back to work. A departmental case is ongoing against them. In addition, Dr. Shahana Rahman has been given several letters to join the work. The Civil Surgeon's office has also been informed about the matter.

He also said that the information of doctors is sent to higher authorities and ministries every month. As such, the ministry is aware of the matter. According to the latest information, one doctor may be out of a job. Of the remaining two, one is abroad, the other I don't know where. Regarding the appointment of doctors, he said, appointment is not possible until the posts are vacant. As a result, it will take time to find a new doctor.

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Three coordinators in DB for interrogation



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Pic: Collected

Pic: Collected

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Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has taken three people, including Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, into custody from Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in the capital. The other two coordinators are Asif Mahmud and Abu Baker Majumdar.

A DB source confirmed this information on Friday (July 26) night.

DB said three coordinators have been brought to the DB office for security and interrogation purposes.

All three of them are students of Dhaka University.

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What the Home Minister said about lifting of the curfew



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said, everyone has to wait a little with the curfew till public life becomes normal. We are looking at whether the curfew can be relaxed.

He said these things while talking to reporters about the ongoing situation on Friday (July 26) night.

The Home Minister said, we are seeing if the curfew can be relaxed. Police BGB, Army are working. We have to wait a little until public life becomes normal. People should be patient. He also said that a decision may be made subject to discussion on Saturday (July 27).

At that time, he mentioned that there were brutal killings in the name of the movement, and he said, who will take responsibility for this loss of the country? BNP said they are not involved in violence. So who did it? It is a question of the people.

Regarding the arrest of the quota activists, the Home Minister said that the quota agitator leaders themselves are suffering from insecurity. For their safety, law enforcement has been called. Further action will be taken after the inquiry.

Incidentally, the government clamped a curfew from 12 midnight on July 19 to keep the situation normal around the quota reform movement. The army was also deployed.

The curfew was later relaxed for a specified period but has not yet been lifted completely.

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Government to provide treatment & income to all injured: Prime Minister



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Photo: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Photo: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the government will provide treatment and income to all those injured in the recent violence, regardless of party affiliation.

She said this while visiting the injured at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Friday (July 26). Meanwhile, she inquired about the physical condition of the injured.

Sheikh Hasina said that the government will do whatever is necessary for the treatment of those injured in the violence. The government will take responsibility for the treatment of the injured, whichever party they belong to.

She also said, even after accepting all the demands on the quota, why is the movement not ending? Everyone at home and abroad should be vocal against the violence and brutality of BNP-Jamaat.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister visited several wards of Dhaka Medical College Hospital and inquired about the injured. She talked to doctors and nurses. She ordered to give all kinds of treatment to the injured.

Earlier in the morning, the head of government visited the Bangladesh Television (BTV) building damaged by vandals' attack and fire at Rampura in the capital.

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