Marriage Permission for Rohingya Couples To Be Issued By Village Administrators In Maungdaw

RB News 

September 2, 2013 

Maungdaw, Arakan – For the past 20 years, Rohingya couples in Northern Arakan State who wished to marry, would have to seek permission from the Nasaka. That officially changed today. From here on, marriage permission for couples in Maungdaw, will be issued by the village administrators. This, after the Township administrator handed over the issuance authorization to them. 

Since the 1990s, the notorious Nasaka imposed many restrictions on the Rohingya people. They restricted marriage. They imposed a limit of two children per family. They issued travel restrictions amongst many other things. The Nasaka have recently been disbanded by the quasi-civilian government. Today, at the regular monthly meeting, the Township Administrator of Maungdaw told the village administrators that the marriage permit for Rohingya couples would have to be issued by the village administrator in each respective village. 

The Township administrator said the permit must be issued accordance these 4 points: 

(1) The bride and groom must be at least 18 years old. 

(2) They must be listed in the family registration papers. 

(3) They must not be listed in the Bangladesh "run-away" list. 

(4) They will ensure that they live in their village permanently. 

Previously when the marriage application was submitted to the Nasaka, it took over a year to process the application. Couples needed to bribe huge amounts to obtain the authorization. Most of the time, the Nasaka brought the bride to their office "to question her." Reportedly, many brides were raped. Many couples fled the country to escape this persecution. 

The villagers are worried that now the Rakhine village administrators will demand bribes for issuing the permit. However, they said it will be easier than before. At least it will be better than the inhumane disbanded Nasaka.