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The High Court on Wednesday delivered a judgment saying that the Hindu widows will get a share in all kinds of properties, agricultural land and non-agricultural land, of their deceased husbands.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Miftah Uddin Choudhury delivered the judgment after hearing a civil revision petition filed in this regard.
Advocate Abdul Jabbar appeared in the court for the petitioner, while Advocate Syed Nafiul Islam represented the defense side.
Barrister Uzzal Bhowmick who appeared in the court as an amicus curiae said, "An act was enacted in 1937 for securing rights of the Hindu women to properties. Hindu widows will be entitled to both agricultural and non-agricultural property, read the act."
"But following a case, the then Indian federal court ruled that the act would not be applicable in case of agricultural lands. After the Liberation War, Bangladesh government in 1972 adopted the act of 1937 with the observation of the federal court. So discrimination in the distribution of property remained after 1972," added the lawyer.
After Wednesday's judgement, the restrictions of the federal court are no longer in place, said Barrister Uzzal Bhowmick. The lawyer also said now the Hindu women can hand over their properties.
After hearing a civil case, a Khulna court in 1996 gave judgment saying that Hindu widow Gouri Dasi would get share of her deceased husband. But her husband's brother, Jotindranath Mondal, filed a revision petition with the High Court in 2004 against the lower court judgment. After hearing, the High Court delivered the judgment on Wednesday.