Student-based platform demands abolishing marriage tax imposed by AL govt
Student movement says they are giving government a one-week ultimatum to take action
Highlights
-
The "Shadharon Chhatra-Janata" platform demanded the abolition of the marriage tax
-
Speakers noted the tax complicates social bonds and hinders young people from marrying.
-
Student movement issue a one-week ultimatum for its repeal
-
The 2016 tax schedule imposed fees of Tk100 for first marriages, Tk5,000 for second marriages, Tk20,000 for third marriages, and Tk50,000 for fourth marriages
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The "Shadharon Chhatra-Janata", a student-based platform, today (19 January) demanded the abolition of the tax imposed on marriages by the ousted Awami League government.
During a human chain held in front of the National Press Club, speakers said the previous autocratic government imposed a marriage tax, making the establishment of social bonds more complicated and challenging for young people.
They urged the interim government to immediately revoke the tax, calling it a democratic demand.
Speaking at the event, Rafiqul Islam Aini, an executive committee member of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said, "Imposing a tax on marriage is one of the examples of the [former prime minister] Sheikh Hasina-led government's oppression. We believe this was an attempt to implement a foreign agenda.
"We support the demand to abolish the marriage tax. We are giving the government a one-week ultimatum to take action," he added.
Mohammad Hasan, a madrasah student, said, "By imposing this tax, the Hasina government made the legitimacy of social relationships uncertain, leading to chaos in personal lives and fostering illicit relationships in society."
According to media reports, the "City Corporation Model Tax Schedule 2016" had introduced different tax rates for first, second, third, and fourth marriages.
Section 152 of the schedule states that a man had to pay a fee of Tk100 before getting married for the first time or after the death of his first wife. If marrying a second wife while the first is still alive, the fee is set at Tk5,000, and for a third marriage while the first two wives are alive, the fee increases to Tk20,000.
A fourth marriage required a tax of Tk50,000. However, the rule did not apply if the wife was mentally ill or childless. In such cases, a fee of Tk200 is required.
