12:57pm UK, Tuesday August 17, 2004

Two Bangladeshi lovers found themselves frogmarched down the aisle by police after pretending to be married when they checked into a hotel.    

Acting on a tip-off, officers raided the hotel and arrested Mominur Rahman Chouwdury and his girlfriend Shefali Khatun Shelley, Banglasdeshi newspaper the Independent Daily said.

180 engagement wedding ring marriage

Police gave no choice but to say 'I do'

The pair, who were not engaged, were taken to a police station where the officer in charge told Chowdhury to marry Shelley or face a rape charge.   

Chowdhury finally agreed and with the consent of both couples' parents the wedding was solemnised at Boalia police station in the northwest city of Rajshahi, 131 miles from the capital Dhaka, the report said.    

Mixed-sex couples are expected to be married when checking into hotels in conservative Bangladesh.    

The majority of couples in the Muslim-majority country have arranged marriages.    

Before marrying they are usually chaperoned by family members and spend little time alone together.