Bangladesh allows polygamy for Hindu men: IRFR

Hindu civil law allows men to have multiple wives, but there are officially no options for divorce, IANS says quoting a US government report.

The International Religious Freedom Report for 2016 (IRFR), released in Washington on Tuesday, examined the marriage laws governing religious groups in various countries.

Referring to IRFR, IANS said polygamy is permitted for Hindu men in Bangladesh.

"Buddhists are covered under Hindu law and divorced Hindus and Buddhists may not legally remarry," the report said.

Women are also prohibited from inheriting property under the civil laws for Hindus, the report added.

Several organisations, including Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh Mahila Parishad and Banchte Shekha have criticised the government for continuing to uphold these laws, IRFR said.

"A survey conducted during the year by Research Initiatives in Bangladesh and MJF showed that 26.7 per cent of Hindu men and 29.2 per cent of Hindu women would like to obtain a divorce but did not do so because of existing laws," it added.

Although Muslims women have fewer divorce rights than men, courts must approve divorces and men have to pay former wives three months of alimony, the report noted.