Marina Khatun, a 40-year-old woman with hearing impairment from Kodailkati village in Motmura Union of Gangni Upazila, Meherpur, faced a difficult time after her marriage broke down. Following a serious dispute with her husband, Rahan Ali, she returned to her parental home on 25 June 2025. After that, her husband neither contacted her nor provided any financial support. When she tried to communicate with her in-laws about returning, they informed her that she would not be accepted back.
With no financial support and uncertainty, Marina started looking for a way to claim her rights. At that time, she learned about Village Court (a local and accessible dispute-resolution mechanism) from a Union Parishad Member who was aware of the service. In her Area, WAVE Foundation has been implementing `Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh’ Project with support from UNDP for several years to raise awareness among local people and promote access to justice at the grassroots level. Through this initiative, Marina came to know that the Village Court could help her resolve the issue in a simple, quick, and affordable way.
Encouraged by this information, Marina filed a case at the Motmura Union Parishad Village Court on 30 July 2025, seeking BDT 100,000 as maintenance arrears and living expenses. The filing fee was only BDT 20. The Village Court accepted the case and scheduled hearings in which both parties were given the opportunity to present their statements. After reviewing the case, the court delivered its verdict on 27 August 2025, ordering Rahan Ali to pay Marina BDT 85,000. He complied with the decision and paid the full amount.
Marina expressed her gratitude, saying, “I never expected to receive fair justice so quickly and at such a low cost. Through the Village Court, I was able to secure my rights and move forward with confidence.”Marina’s experience demonstrates the important role of the Village Court in ensuring accessible, timely, and affordable justice for vulnerable and marginalized people in rural communities of Bangladesh. Her story reflects how local justice mechanisms can empower people to resolve disputes peacefully, protect their rights, and receive fair solutions without the burden of lengthy and costly legal procedures.
