The word ‘Kumari’ meaning ‘Virgin’ to be removed from Marriage Registration Forms

The High Court ordered to remove the word ‘Kumari’ from marriage registration forms.

The court further said that the word ‘unmarried’, ‘divorced’ or ‘widowed’ must be included for grooms. The order was passed on Sunday (25th November 2019) by the bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Khijir Ahmed Chowdhury. The amendment of the ‘Nikahnama’ (marriage registration) was made under Section 9 of the Bangladesh Muslim Marriage and Divorce (Registration) Act, 1974.

The word ‘Kumari’ translates to ‘virgin’. In a marriage registration form, on column number 5, a to-be-bride was required to mention whether she is a virgin. The inclusion of this word, which requires a girl to be a virgin to be suited for marriage carries stigma, injustice and discrimination. This law was challenged by BLAST, Naripokkho and Mahila Parishad in 2014. The verdict was passed after a final hearing today (25th August 2019). 

Source: Prothom Alo

Picture: bdnews24