Nikah registrars submit memorandum to PM to protect their rights during human chain

The Bangladesh Muslim Nikah Registrar and Nikah Registrar Welfare Unity Council submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman on Monday (9 November). They want the marriage and divorce registration system kept in order. They also demand protection of the professional dignity and rights of Nikah registrars.

The memorandum says the current jurisdictions of Nikah registrars must stay in place, along with their dignity and rights. Under the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Rules, the existing working areas and rights of registrars must be fully kept. It says no rule should split a jurisdiction and appoint more than one Nikah registrar in place of one.

The memorandum says a fair and acceptable solution is possible under the farsighted leadership of Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman. It adds that the Law Ministry is currently working on new amendments to the rules on appointing more than one registrar in one area. A Nikah registrar now registers an average of five to seven marriages a month. With this limited income, it has become hard for them to meet family expenses as prices keep rising. The registration fee for marriages must be increased. About 1,400 posts of Nikah registrar are vacant across the country.

The memorandum demands that Islamic scholars be appointed to these vacant posts on merit. It also demands that jurisdictions stay in place as set out in Rule 13 of the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Rules 2009. On Monday, the groups held a human chain in front of the National Press Club. After it ended, a seven member delegation led by Mr. Maulana Shah Md. Nesarul Haque, president of the Bangladesh Muslim Nikah Registrar Association, went to the Prime Minister’s office at the Bangladesh Secretariat. They submitted the memorandum there and asked for a quick end to the crisis and acceptance of their demands.

Other members of the delegation were Mr. Maulana Md. Nazrul Islam Talukder, president of the Muslim Nikah Registrar Welfare Association, and Mr. Maulana Md. Selim Reza, general secretary of the Muslim Nikah Registrar Association. Mr. Kazi Iqbal Hossain, executive president of the Muslim Nikah Registrar Association, Mr. Mashiur Rahman, Mr. A K M Badrul Haque, Mr. Zobayer Ibne Saleh and Mr. Azizur Rahman Suman were also present. The delegation later submitted a separate memorandum with the same demands to the Law Minister.

At the human chain in front of the Press Club, leaders said Nikah registrars suffered jail, harassment, false cases and torture for 16 long years under the fascist government. They said they will resist at any cost any attempt to harm the livelihood of Nikah registrars. If needed, registrars from across the country will hold a sit in at the National Press Club with their families, wearing funeral shrouds, to win their demands.

The leaders said some conspirators are trying to put the government in an embarrassing position through the Law Ministry. They demanded that at least two qualified and experienced representatives of Nikah registrars from across the country be included in the committee that drafts and amends the Muslim marriage and divorce registration rules. They also said appointments must ensure madrasa based religious education, Islamic Sharia, Muslim family law and the needed knowledge and skills in marriage and divorce registration. They demanded that any proposal to appoint people only on the basis of general academic degrees be cancelled. They also announced that registrars will not return home until their demands are met.

Others who spoke at the human chain were Mr. Maulana Shah Md. Nesarul Haque, Mr. Maulana Kazi Md. Nazrul Islam Talukder, Mr. Maulana Kazi Md. Selim Reza and Mr. Kazi Iqbal Hossain. Professor Enayetur Rahman, Mr. Abul Baki, Mr. Abu Jafar Saleh, Mr. Kazi Zahirul, Mr. Kazi Zakir Hossain, Mr. Mamunur Rashid Khan and Mr. Nurul Amin also spoke.