If the young woman you want to get engaged to is of age (18 or older) then no, you do not need the permission of the parents. However, it is kudos for the young man to talk to the father about marrying his daughter (an old custom) as fathers are losing a daughter and the thought you would ask his permission for his daughter's hand in marriage would please him and make it less painful when he gives his daughter's hand away to you at the wedding ceremony.
