A recent matrimonial dispute in Ranisankail Upazila, Thakurgaon, has ignited widespread debate across the district. The drama unfolded immediately on the wedding night, when the groom alleged that the bride he married was not the woman he had been shown prior to the ceremony. The ensuing “bride swap” claim quickly escalated into legal action, drawing both families into a bitter courtroom battle.
According to the details, the marriage took place on 1 August 2025 between Raihan Kabir, son of the late Ibrahim from Chandipur, Pirganj, and the middle daughter of Ziarul Haque from Bhandar, Ranisankail. The groom’s family raised suspicions of a switched bride on the very night of the wedding. Despite several attempts at reconciliation through multiple meetings, no settlement was reached, prompting both sides to file lawsuits.
On 27 August 2025, the bride’s father filed a case against Raihan Kabir and his cousin, Manik Hasan. In response, Raihan Kabir lodged a counter-case on 2 September 2025 against the bride’s father, Ziarul Haque, and the matchmaker, Motaleb. On Monday, 19 January 2026, the court rejected Raihan Kabir’s bail application and ordered his detention.
The timeline of key events is as follows:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 August 2025 | Marriage between Raihan Kabir and Ziarul Haque’s middle daughter completed |
| 2 August 2025 | Bride returned to her father’s house |
| 27 August 2025 | Bride’s father files case against the groom and his cousin |
| 2 September 2025 | Groom files counter-case against bride’s father and matchmaker |
| 19 January 2026 | Court rejects groom’s bail, orders detention |
Further context emerged from Raihan Kabir’s maternal uncle, Badal, who explained that the matchmaker Motaleb had arranged the bride for Raihan. The prospective bride was initially seen at a tea stall in Shivdighi in late July. Approval was communicated, and the marriage was quickly arranged without showing the bride again. According to Raihan, it was only after the bride washed her face on the wedding night that he realised she was not the same woman he had been shown.
Ziarul Haque, the bride’s father, has strongly denied these allegations, insisting that the groom saw his daughter clearly before the wedding. Nearly 70 guests attended the ceremony, he noted, and he accused the groom’s side of demanding a dowry of 1 million taka the day after the wedding. He alleges that when the demand was refused, the false bride swap accusation was made to tarnish his family’s reputation. Matchmaker Motaleb also rejected the claim, asserting that the bride was properly presented to the groom at her father’s house.
Advocate Zainal Abedin, president of the Thakurgaon Bar Association and legal representative of the groom’s side, stated that the court proceedings would reveal the truth. The matter remains under judicial consideration, with both sides steadfast in their claims.