Bride’s Family Marries Controversial Expatriate Groom

A Japanese expatriate from Brahmanbaria, whose first wedding was called off after an argument over the absence of a whole goat from the wedding feast, has married another woman.

Junaid Mia, son of Abdul Jalil of Niamatpur village in Kasba, Brahmanbaria, completed his second marriage at around 11pm on Tuesday at the home of his new bride’s maternal uncle in Niamatpur. The groom later shared a photograph with his bride on social media, asking well-wishers to pray for the couple.

The marriage comes just days after Junaid’s scheduled wedding to Rasheda Akter, daughter of Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan of Tolatola village in Akhaura, was cancelled amid an argument over the wedding menu.

Junaid and Rasheda were due to marry on Monday afternoon. The groom’s family had arrived at the bride’s home for the ceremony, but tensions reportedly arose when the bride’s family did not arrange a whole goat as part of the food prepared for the groom. An argument followed between Junaid and members of the bride’s family.

The disagreement quickly escalated. The bride’s relatives subsequently refused to proceed with the marriage and sent the groom’s family away with the gifts and other items they had brought for the occasion. The incident attracted considerable attention locally and on social media because the wedding was called off at the last moment over what appeared to be a dispute concerning the feast.

Junaid’s subsequent marriage was to Jannatul Ferdous Akter, daughter of Jaher Mia of Nurpur village in Akhaura. She is a first-year undergraduate student at Saydabad Government College in Kasba. Her maternal uncle, Tajul Islam Sarker, lives in the same village as Junaid, which reportedly helped facilitate contact between the two families.

According to Junaid’s younger brother, Parvez Rana, the new bride’s family contacted their family about the marriage. After discussions between both sides, the wedding arrangements were completed at the bride’s maternal uncle’s residence on Tuesday night. The marriage was conducted with a dowry-free? No — a denmohor of Tk600,000 was agreed upon.

Junaid is currently in Bangladesh on leave from his work in Japan. His leave is scheduled to continue until 30 August, although his family said he plans to extend it so that he can spend more time with his newly married wife.

At around 1am on Wednesday, Junaid posted another photograph with his bride on social media. In his message, he expressed gratitude to God and asked people to pray for a peaceful and happy married life for the newlyweds.

A video circulating after the wedding also showed an apparent effort by the new bride’s family to address the issue that had become the centre of attention during Junaid’s previous wedding. The meal served to the groom and his relatives included a whole goat. Junaid and the other guests were seen eating the food in a cheerful atmosphere.

The development has given an unexpected turn to a wedding story that initially ended in controversy. What began with an argument over a traditional feast has now culminated in Junaid’s marriage to another bride, with both families apparently proceeding after mutual discussions and agreement.