<i>A moment's mistake and consequent miseries</i>
Conjugal life of an elderly couple at stake as local leaders are out for hilla
Conjugal life of an elderly couple at Laxmanpur Mondolpara village of Bangalipur union of Saidpur upazila under the district is hanging in the balance as local community leaders are pressurising them to perform hilla (purification) marriage.
Asgar Ali, 75, of Laxmanpur Mondolpara village of Bangalipur union of Saidpur upazila uttered the word talak (divorce) twice during a quarrel with his wife Mamota Bagum, 62, over a family matter on September 25.
Hearing the matter, a few community leaders of the area informed Mufti Md Abul Hossain, a teacher of neighbouring Al-Jamiatul Islamia Mozaharul Ulum Moinul Islam Daorae Hadith Madrasa at Bhimpur Shailbari village of Taraganj upazila in Rangpur district, for his opinion regarding the matter.
As Mufti Abul Hossain opined that the couple had been divorced and they must live separately, local community leaders including Ayub Ali, Momtaj Hossain, Sohrab and Rafiqul forced Asgar to leave the village.
The madrasa teacher said Mamota would have to undergo a hilla marriage with another person and only after getting divorce from him, she can again get married to Asgar if they want to continue their conjugal life.
For over two weeks, Asgar stayed at his daughter's house in Parbotipur upazila of Dinajpur district.
On Sunday, the chairman of Bangalipur union parishad arranged bringing Asgar Ali back to the village, saying that he would settle the matter amicably.
"I told the local community leaders that such so-called verbal divorce has no legal basis,” the chairman said.
Contacted, Asgar Ali said in a chocked voice, "I did not actually divorce my wife. But influential people are out to make our 50 years' conjugal life hell."
Mamota Begum also expressed her anguish at the suggestion of hilla marriage.
Mufti Md Abul Hasan claimed that he gave opinion according to Islami Shariat.
On the other hand, Moksedul Haque, a local moulana, said the couple can legally and religiously continue living together as utterance of talak merely out of anger does not make divorce effective.
Advocate Abdul Wahab, a lawyer of district judge's court, said, "Marriage registration and divorce law clearly says that divorce cannot be done verbally. Written notice has to be given and legal procedure performed if a couple want to get divorced."
Contacted on Sunday, Saidpur UNO Shafikul Islam said he heard the matter from this correspondent for the first time.
“I shall enquire into the matter to solve the problem as per law,” he added.
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