The High Court has dismissed a writ petition challenging the requirement of obtaining permission from an arbitration council for a second marriage under Muslim family law. As a result, the existing legal provision requiring council approval before contracting a second marriage remains in force, petitioner-lawyer Ishrat Jahan said, bdnews24.com reports. Under Section 494 of the Penal Code, 1860, contracting a second marriage without the consent of the spouse is punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine. Later, the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961, introduced a specific provision requiring a husband to obtain permission from an arbitration council before entering into a second marriage. “A husband must apply to the arbitration council for permission to remarry.

Source: bd News24 January 11, 2026 14:52 UTC