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Terming the Hindu family laws discriminatory to women, children, people with disabilities and the third gender, a group of activists have demanded formulation of codified laws on regulating Hindu family affairs through necessary reforms.
The office-bearers of Bangladesh Hindu Law Reform Council, addressing a press conference on Friday, urged the government to take steps soon to bring reforms in the Hindu laws, as, they argued, such overhauling has already been made in India and Nepal.
They expressed their conviction that the existing Hindu laws are simultaneously inconsistent with the Hindu religion and Bangladesh’s constitution which speaks of equal rights of all citizens.
“We demand reforms in Hindu laws and framing of codified laws since women, children, people with disability and transgender persons are facing discrimination due to the existing laws made two centuries ago based on customs,” Dr Moyna Talukdar, President of the council, said presenting a five-point charter of demands.
She pointed out that the Hindu women in Bangladesh have no right to property of their parents in presence of brother/s. “If there is no male child, a woman is entitled only to utilising family property when the father is dead. Also, the women have no ownership in the property of the husband,” she said.
The council demanded equal guardianship of father and mother and also giving Hindu women the right to adopt children like men.
It mentioned that although Hindu scriptures have left scope for divorce, such right has been given only to men. “But a man can marry as many women as he wishes – the women can neither seek divorce nor can many for the second time,” regretted Dr Moyna Talukdar.
The reform council further demanded that there should be a codified legal system to register Hindu marriage so that none could abuse anyone.
The council leaders argued that reforms in Hindu laws would help establish fairness, ensure progress and women empowerment and human dignity and address the complexities that are created during the legal proceedings.
Besides, they pointed out, reforms in Hindu laws would protect the Hindu women from being misguided and converted into any other religion due to discriminatory provisions of the existing laws.
The council leaders sought the intervention of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for paying heed to their demands and correcting the flaws for the sake of justice and equal rights of man and woman.