Widow’s Fingerprint Taken for Family Card, Marriage Document Emerges in Fulbaria

A 43-year-old widow in Fulbaria upazila of Mymensingh has alleged that her fingerprint was taken on the pretext of helping her obtain a family card, and that a marriage document was later prepared and circulated in her name. The woman claims she never consented to any marriage and did not meet any groom or participate in a marriage ceremony.

According to the woman, local Jamaat-affiliated figure Abdus Sattar initially collected a photocopy of her national identity card and her photograph, saying these were needed to arrange a family card. Several days later, she was reportedly called again and asked to put her fingerprint on a document. She later learned that people in the village were saying that she had been married. She was also shown a marriage registration document, or kabinnama, bearing her name.

The document reportedly lists local resident Abdul Quddus as the groom. The woman said she had previously rejected a marriage proposal from him and maintained that she had never agreed to marry him. The document also reportedly mentions a dowry of Tk 250,000, with Tk 50,000 shown as having been paid in cash.

Questions have also been raised about the authenticity of the marriage document. The marriage registrar whose name and seal reportedly appear on the document has denied conducting the marriage. He claimed that his seal, signature and registration details may have been misused to prepare a fake document. One of the persons named as a witness also reportedly denied attending or witnessing any marriage.

Abdus Sattar has denied the allegations. He claimed that he did not take the woman’s fingerprint in connection with a family card and alleged that he was being implicated because of a dispute over land.

The incident has already led to local mediation meetings involving community representatives. However, no final determination has yet been made regarding whether the marriage document was forged or who may have been responsible for preparing it.

Fulbaria police said they had heard about the incident but had not received a written complaint at the time of the report. Police said that an investigation would be conducted and legal action taken if a formal complaint is submitted.