Jewel Mondol, 21, a young lad from Rajshahi, is trying to confirm the identity of his father and has finally asked help form the high court.
Jewel says: “my mother’s name is Rasheda Ayna and father is Md Rafiqul Islam Jumma.”
The young man claims that his father married his mother as per Islamic rules but did not have any valid documents.
He further said that after he was born, his mother lodged a case at the Rajshahi court to get alimony.
“But she lost the case because due to absence of papers, could not prove the marriage.”
However, Jewel feels that if the court permitted DNA tests, then all confusion could be put aside.
Jewel’s mother, Rasheda Ayna told Bangla Tribune: “I used to work at the home of Rafiqul Islam when he married me; later, during a village arbitration, his family refused to accept me.”
She also said that since Rafiq’s family is well off, no one in the area raised any protest at the rejection of Rasheda.
Rafiq is now working as a medical assistant officer at the Domar Hospital of Nilfamari.
When contacted over phone, he said: “I am busy and cannot talk; go and speak to the person who has lodged the complaint against me.”
Local chairman, Md Abdul Mannan, who is fighting to establish Jewel’s identity, says: “when the issue first erupted in 1991-92, a pregnant Rasheda came to me and, based on her complaint, I called a village meeting.”
At that time, false statements were made from Rafiq’s side which dissolved the arbitration meet without any conclusion, he said.
He further added that Rasheda’s initial case was dismissed, following which she lodged an appeal which was overseen by a female judge.
“At the appeal hearing, I along with the principal of the local college also gave evidence but the verdict went against her.”
Supreme-court lawyer, Chanchal Kumar Biswas, told Bangla Tribune: “three-four years after the ruling from the lower court, we are revising it at high court; a rule has been issued and after hearing, we can release the details.”