The Legal Status of Court Marriage in Bangladesh: Public Misconceptions, Legal Reality, and the Need for Reform

The phrase court marriage is widely used in Bangladesh, yet it has no clear, independent basis as a distinct form of marriage under Bangladeshi law. In common usage, the term usually refers to one of several different practices: the execution of an affidavit before a notary public or first-class magistrate, a declaration by consenting adults regarding their intention to marry, or in some cases a legally valid marriage solemnized and then followed by documentary steps for protection or proof. This gap between public understanding and legal reality has produced confusion, litigation, exploitation, and administrative uncertainty. This paper examines the legal status of so-called court marriage in Bangladesh, identifies the social and legal misconceptions surrounding it, and argues that the absence of a coherent legal framework has harmful consequences, especially for women, interfaith couples, and adults marrying against family wishes. The paper contends that, under current law, marriage in Bangladesh remains primarily governed by personal religious laws and statutory registration systems rather than by any general secular mechanism known as court marriage. It further argues that reform is needed to clarify the law, prevent fraud, and create a rights-based civil marriage option for consenting adults.