What a biodata is, and who reads it
A marriage biodata (বিয়ের বায়োডাটা, sometimes called a "marriage CV" in the UK) is a one- or two-page summary of who you are and where you come from. It is read by three audiences at once: the person you might marry, their parents, and often an aunt, uncle or family friend who passes it along.
That last point matters. A biodata is usually shared hand to hand or on WhatsApp, so assume it will travel further than you intend. Write it so you would be comfortable with a stranger reading it — that is what keeps you safe.
The sections families expect
Most Bengali families recognise the same nine sections. Keep them in this order and parents will find what they are looking for straight away.
| Section | What to include | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Basics | First name, age or year of birth, height, marital status, children (if any) | Your full name can wait until both sides are interested |
| Where you live | City and country; home district (zila) in Bangladesh; whether you would relocate | Give the upazila only if you are comfortable |
| Faith | Prayer, Quran reading, hijab or beard if relevant, halal diet; madhhab if it matters to you | Describe your practice honestly, not how you think you should |
| Education | Highest qualification, subject, where you studied | The institution is optional |
| Work | What you do; employer optional; income band only if your families expect it | Never round up an income |
| Family | Parents’ occupations, brothers and sisters and what they do, nuclear or joint family | Families read this section closely — be warm and factual |
| Lifestyle | Languages (Bangla, Sylheti, English …), smoking, where you would like to live after marriage | Say if you hope to live with or near parents |
| About me | A short paragraph in your own words | See the examples below |
| What I am looking for | A few lines about the person and family you hope for | Values, not a shopping list |
Writing the "about me" part
This is the only part of a biodata that sounds like you. Aim for 80 to 200 words. Be specific — "I volunteer at the food bank on Saturdays" says more than "I am caring". Write in the language the readers will use; many families keep an English and a Bangla version side by side.
Three examples (the people are invented)
- A pharmacist in London
- "I was born in London to parents from Moulvibazar and work as a pharmacist. I pray five times a day and I am slowly learning Arabic. At weekends I cook with my mum and play badminton with my brothers. I hope to marry someone kind and steady, who values family and wants to keep learning about the deen together."
- A bank officer in Sylhet
- "I work as an officer at a bank in Sylhet city and live with my parents and younger sister. I enjoy reading history and travelling to see relatives. I would be open to living abroad after marriage if it is right for both families."
- Divorced, with a child
- "I was married before and have a six-year-old son, who lives with me and is the centre of my world. I work as an accountant in Toronto. I am looking for someone patient and family-minded who would welcome my son as part of our life."
Photos: when, and what kind
- One recent, clear photo of you alone is enough. Group photos make it hard to know who is who.
- Many families send the photo only after the first sign of interest, not with the first biodata. That is a perfectly normal choice.
- Never include photos of children, nieces or nephews.
- If you share a photo on WhatsApp, add a small line such as "Shared with the Rahman family, October 2026" so it is harder to reuse.
What never to include
Some details turn a biodata into a gift for scammers and identity thieves. Leave these out of anything you share before you have met with your families:
- NID or passport numbers, dates of issue, or a photo of any ID card.
- Your home address or the exact building you work in.
- Your personal phone number on anything posted in a group. Give a parent’s or a guardian’s number instead, or share yours privately later.
- Skin colour or "complexion" ("fair", "wheatish"). It has no place in a biodata, and many families now refuse to read ones that include it.
- Money demands or dowry (joutuk) expectations. Asking for dowry is a crime in Bangladesh.
Honesty about income, marriage and children
Families do check. A rounded-up salary or a "never married" that turns out not to be true usually ends the conversation — and sometimes the friendship between families. If you prefer not to give a figure, write an income band, or say it can be discussed once both sides are interested. Be clear about any previous marriage and about children; in Bangladesh the kabin-nama records previous marriages anyway (see our kabin-nama guide).
Download the free template
KobulKabin biodata template
Two pages with the nine sections above and short prompts. Edit the Word file, or print the PDF and write by hand. No account needed, and the files contain no tracking.
Sharing it safely on WhatsApp
- Send a PDF, not an editable file, so nobody can change what you wrote.
- Share it with a family you know of, not in a public group with thousands of members.
- Add a line at the bottom saying who it was shared with and when.
- Ask for their biodata in return before you share photos or contact details.
- If something feels wrong — pressure to hurry, a request for money, a refusal to involve family — stop and read our guide to marriage scams.