‘Rohingya-Bangladeshi marriage illegal’

Marriage registrars in Bangladesh will be prosecuted if they officiate marriage of a Rohingya with a Bangladeshi, Law Minister Anisul Haque has said.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 10 July 2014, 01:35 PM
Updated : 10 July 2014, 01:35 PM

Haque was speaking to Deputy Commissioner’s (DCs) at the third day of the annual conference on Thursday.

“Rohingya-Bangladeshi marriage is illegal. The marriage registrar who does this will face legal charges.”

The ministry will issue a circular to address the issue, he said.

Persecuted in Buddhist Myanmar, more than 500,000 Rohingya Muslims live in Bangladesh as refugees but only a small portion of them are registered and live in camps.
Rohingyas who crossed over to Bangladesh more than two decades ago have got involved in criminal activities such as drug trafficking. Many have been caught with fake Bangladeshi passports.
DCs expressed concerns over drugs and gambling menaces influencing the country’s youth in their session with the law ministry and suggested that mobile courts be given greater authority.
“I will contact the Home Ministry and take necessary steps … but the maxium punishment will remain two years of imprisonment. I don’t think enhancing of imprisonment time is necessary.”