Religious Affairs Adviser Dr A F M Khalid Hossain said on Saturday that Imams and Khatibs must play a responsible role in putting an end to the dowry system in society.

He called on religious leaders to use their platforms in various forums to speak out against this social curse, while addressing as the chief guest at an exchange-of-views meeting with Muslim Nikah Registrars held at the Kamrul Islam Siddiqui Auditorium of the LGED building in Chattogram

“Giving and taking dowry is a crime. Dowry is a curse in society. Slogans on banners and festoons alone will not bring the desired outcome. To discourage dowry, Imams and Khatibs must speak out. There are many forums where Khatibs, Imams, and Kazis have the opportunity to speak. These opportunities must be utilised to stop dowry,” he said.

The event was organised by the Bangladesh Muslim Nikah Registrar Forum to discuss issues including the prevention of child marriage, enactment of a law to register marriages and divorces by the Kazi at the bride’s permanent address, and a government reform proposal to divide the marriage registration fee into three parts.

Pledging to convey the Forum’s demands regarding child marriage prevention to the relevant authorities, the Religious Affairs Adviser reiterated the importance of engaging religious leaders in social reform.

He further said that during marriage registration, Kazis and their assistants sometimes collect extra fees beyond what is set by the government, which must stop. “Receipts must be provided when fees are collected,” he said, urging Nikah Registrars to follow the government-prescribed rules regarding fees.

Dr Khalid also requested that the Bangladesh Muslim Nikah Registrar Forum remain above political influence.

Mentioning the long-standing neglect of Chattogram, the Religious Affairs Adviser said, “The Dhaka-Chattogram highway has turned into a death trap. Every year, many people die in accidents on this road. A very tragic incident happened recently. Human chains are being formed in different places over this. I am working tirelessly for the development of this highway.”

He also expressed hope that the Chattogram–Cox's Bazar highway would be upgraded to six lanes within a short time.

Presided over by the Forum’s President Kazi Sayeed Muhammad Abu Sayeed, the event was also addressed by Additional District Magistrate Mahbubul Haque, LGED Executive Engineer Mohammad Hasan Ali, and several Forum leaders.

At the meeting, Forum leaders placed a number of demands, including requiring marriage registration at the Kazi office located at the bride’s permanent address to prevent child marriage, scrapping the proposal to divide the marriage registration fee into three parts, and setting the legal age for marriage registration at 20 for grooms and 16 for brides.

Nikah Registrars from various levels across Chattogram attended the event.