Husband ends seven-year marriage over childlessness despite wife's tearful pleas

A seven-year marriage has ended over childlessness despite the wife's tearful pleas at a local mediation meeting. She clung to her husband's feet and begged him not to divorce her, but Rony Khan refused to change his decision and went ahead with the divorce.

A video of the incident recently circulated on Facebook. It shows the woman repeatedly pleading with her husband at the meeting not to end their marriage.

Police sources said the mediation meeting took place on Saturday evening in a village in Hizla upazila of Barishal. Relatives from both sides, local dignitaries and police personnel attended.

The woman, who is from Hizla upazila, married Rony Khan of Mehendiganj upazila about seven years ago in a marriage arranged by their families. Rony and his family now live in Madhabdi upazila of Narsingdi, where he works at a garment factory.

According to Rony, the couple sought medical treatment in various parts of the country after their marriage to have a child. He said he learned during the treatment that his wife would never be able to become a mother. He no longer wanted to remain married to her for that reason.

The woman's brother said local dignitaries at the meeting tried to persuade Rony to save the marriage. But none of their appeals changed his decision.

Local social worker Selim Rarhi, who attended the meeting, said everyone had tried to preserve the marriage. But Rony divorced his wife, citing childlessness. The divorce was finalised after settlement of Tk 1 lakh 80 thousand in dower and other matters, he said.

Ali Asgar, a sub-inspector at Hizla Police Station, said the couple had been in conflict for a long time over childlessness. The woman had submitted a written complaint to the police station. He later brought both sides together in an effort to save the marriage, but those efforts ultimately failed.