The High Court has issued a rule asking why the government should not be directed to formulate guidelines governing the payment and recovery of dower (Denmohor) in Muslim marriages, taking into account inflation and the declining purchasing power of money.
The bench of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar issued the rule on Monday.
The court asked the secretaries of the ministries of law, women and children affairs, religious affairs and home affairs, as well as the Bangladesh Law Commission, to respond.
The public interest writ petition was filed on Jul 5 by lawyer Fahmida Akter, who appeared for the petitioner during the hearing.
According to the petition, a policy should be framed under Section 10 of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961 to protect women's financial rights by considering inflation and the erosion of the value of money when dower is recovered after a long period.
