Dowry needs to be fought in all fronts
The inhuman practice of dowry still persists in both rural and urban settings despite the fact there is a stringent law, the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1980, against it. This law was put in place more than three decades ago, but since the law has hardly been implemented and social consciousness against the practice is at the same precarious level, the prevalence of dowry still continues menacingly as a result of which poor women are often subjected to violence that often leads to even murder and suicide. One after another innocent women, especially in the rural areas, are becoming victims of unlawful demands of their husbands or in-laws.
According to an estimate, a staggering number of over 2,000 women were killed in dowry disputes in the country over the past decade. The parents of marriageable daughters could not think of their daughters marriage without spending money in dowry. This is one of the main reasons why many poor rural families are not being able to come out of their poverty cycle as this cause a big drain on their earnings or assets.
There are a very few marriages --- both in the rural or urban areas together --- that take place without dowry. It has become such an established unwritten custom for many that they give handsome dowry even when the party of bridegroom does not ask for it. Many guardians giving their daughters off to marriage cover the practice with more fashionable way of presenting marriage gifts to the bridegroom. While there is no legal bar --- and there should not be ideally any --- against giving presents to either of the marriage party by the other, it must be said this practice of giving gifts also keeps the practice alive .
But we must launch a very hard fight to eliminate dowry from our society. At a recent Rajshahi seminar entitled Family Law and Human Rights, the speakers rightly pointed out that government alone cannot remove this curse and concerted efforts are necessary. While various socially important people or organisations---such as imams, teachers as well as social welfare-oriented organisations---have a great role to raise the awareness of the people, the relevant law must be applied unfailingly in every case when dowry is demanded, whether forcibly or not.
