family system or in order to prevent the breakdown of the joint Hindu family system. But in fact the conservative male counterparts of the society have done this for their own interest considering the females as the worst class of society. Theoretically only five classes of women inherit according to Dayabhaga School of Hindu law. They are according to preference: wife, daughter, mother, father's mother, and father's father's mother. I have already mentioned that women are excluded from inheritance and here I am presenting that they are also entitled to inheritance. The former is correct in the sense that they have only limited rights to the property. Here for the purpose of discussion I want to refer two kinds of property that a Hindu woman may possess: Adoption: Adoption is permitted under the Hindu law in Bangladesh. An adopted son is considered to occupy for all purposes the same position as a natural son (Anath Bandhu Guha vs. Sudhangsu Sekh.ar Dey 31 DLR 1979 312). The aim of adoption under the Shastric Hindu law that applies in Bangladesh is two-fold. The first is religious, that is, to obtain a son able to take part in the funeral ceremonies of the father and the second is secular, that is, to carry on the family name. Under the Shastric Hindu law as applied in Bangladesh, only a male can be adopted and he must belong to the same caste as his adoptive parents and his mother must not be within the prohibited degrees to his adoptive father. that is he must not be a boy whose mother his adoptive father could'not have married. Besides, he should not suffer from any physical infirmity or be an orphan. Under the law only a man can adopt unilaterally. A wife can't adopt without the consent of her husband if he is alive and able to give such consent. A widow under the Davabaglia School may adopt if her husband gives implied or express consent before he died. Besides that. under this law a maiden can't adopt. Though the above Shastric uncodified Hindu law relating to adoption still remains in force in Bangladesh. but in India several changes to the law regarding adoption have been made. Under the "Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956" (applicable only in India) the aim of adoption only is secular and this Act gives a woman rights almost -equal to that of a man. A married Hindu male can • adopt without the consent of his wife. A Hindu woman, unmarried. widow or divorcee