Malaysia/Bangladesh: Current law or policy of Bangladesh regarding marriages between Bangladeshis and Malaysians
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 25 November 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZZZ33242.E |
| Reference | 4 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Malaysia/Bangladesh: Current law or policy of Bangladesh regarding marriages between Bangladeshis and Malaysians, 25 November 1999, ZZZ33242.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad7b10.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was provided by the Second Secretary and Head of Chancery, High Commission for the People's Republic of Bangladesh in Ottawa, in a 22 November telephone interview.
Each religious community in Bangladesh has its own laws governing marriage within that community. The Second Secretary was not certain whether there is any civil law governing marriages between Bangladeshis and foreigners, but could forsee no obstacle to a marriage between a Bangladeshi and a Malaysian as long as the Malaysian is a Muslim. The Bangladesh High Commission has referred the question to Dhaka for an official response.
The following information was provided by the Canadian Program Manager of South Asia Partnership (SAP), an Ottawa-based NGO, in a 24 November 1999 telephone interview.
Each religious community in Bangladesh has its own laws governing marriage within that community. A Bangladeshi can marry a non-Bangladeshi in a civil ceremony, or, if the non-Bangladeshi is a Muslim, in an Islamic ceremony. There is nothing in Bangladeshi law preventing someone from obtaining both a religious and civil ceremony. Islamic marriages in Bangladesh are normally registered with a marriage registrar.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Canadian Program Manager, South Asia Partnership, Ottawa. 24 November 1999. Telephone interview.
High Commission for the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Ottawa. 22 November 1999. Telephone interview with the Second Secretary and Head of Chancery.
Additional Sources Consulted
Citizenship files.
The Status of Women Under Islamic Law. 1990
Woman in Muslim Family Law. 1982.
Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML). 1993-1999
Unsuccesful attempt to contact one other oral source.
Electronic sources: IRB databases; LEXIS-NEXIS; WNC; Internet sites, including:
Global Legal Information Network (GLIN)
Internet Law Library.