# High Court: Husband Must Pay Denmohor, Financial Hardship No Excuse for Wife’s Legal Right

> The High Court has ruled that denmohor is a wife’s independent financial right and a husband’s legal obligation. Financial hardship cannot cancel the liability, though courts may permit instalments in genuine cases. A w…

Published: 2026-10-07 · Desk: Latest · Source: Tezzfeed Desk · By: Samiaa Jahan Happy

The High Court has ruled that dower, or denmohor, is an independent financial right of a wife and a legal liability of the husband arising from marriage. The court made it clear that a husband cannot avoid paying denmohor simply by claiming financial hardship. The ruling reinforces the legal protection given to women regarding their financial rights within marriage.

According to the court, denmohor is not merely a traditional or symbolic part of a marriage agreement. It represents a financial entitlement that belongs directly to the wife. Once the amount of dower is agreed upon as part of the marriage, the husband becomes legally responsible for paying it according to the terms of the marriage contract.

The High Court also clarified that financial difficulties do not automatically release a husband from his obligation to pay the dower. A person facing genuine financial hardship may request the court to consider his circumstances, but such hardship does not erase the underlying legal liability. In appropriate cases, courts may allow the amount to be paid in instalments if genuine financial difficulties are established.

However, the court stressed that allowing instalments is different from cancelling or waiving the wife’s right to dower. The husband remains responsible for the full amount, even when a court permits him additional time to make the payment. The purpose of allowing instalments is to provide a practical way for the liability to be fulfilled, rather than to deprive the wife of her legal entitlement.

The ruling further stated that no court can waive or cancel a woman’s dower on her behalf. A wife may voluntarily relinquish her right to dower, but such a decision must be made freely and without pressure, coercion or undue influence. This means that a woman’s decision to give up her dower must genuinely come from her own choice.

The court’s observation highlights the importance of ensuring that women are not forced into surrendering their financial rights. A wife cannot be considered to have voluntarily given up her dower simply because she remained silent, faced family pressure or was placed in a vulnerable situation. Any relinquishment must be a genuine and independent decision.

The High Court also upheld a decree involving Tk 20.40 lakh covering dower and maintenance-related payments. By upholding the decree, the court maintained the financial obligations that had already been recognised in the case.

The ruling is significant because it provides a clear interpretation of the legal status of denmohor in marriage. It confirms that dower is a right belonging to the wife and a corresponding legal obligation on the husband. The financial condition of the husband may be considered when deciding how the payment should be made, but it cannot be used as a basis to completely avoid the obligation.

The decision also underlines the principle that marriage does not remove a woman’s independent financial rights. Once dower becomes payable under the marriage arrangement, the wife has the legal right to claim it. Courts can provide reasonable arrangements for payment when circumstances require, but they cannot simply take away that right.

Overall, the High Court ruling strengthens the legal position of women regarding denmohor. It makes clear that a husband’s financial hardship may affect the timing or method of payment, but not the existence of his legal responsibility. At the same time, a woman retains control over whether she wishes to voluntarily relinquish her dower, provided that her decision is made freely and without any form of pressure or undue influence.

Original reporting: https://www.tezzfeed.com/
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