Dowry system in Bangladesh

2. Group Members
NAME ID
Setu, Tarik Adnan 16-32840-3
Mahadi, Masud 16-32774-3
Rowshad, Rakib 16-32791-3

3. Introduction
Bangladesh is a development country. In this country there are
many kinds of unpleasant customs. Dowry is the most common
unpleasant custom of those. It creates many problems. It is
against the success of our country. It is a much unexpected
situation for the bride’s family members. They are to collect a
huge amount of money for their daughters or sisters marriage.
Sometime they are to take loan, sell their lands, furniture,
ornaments and even their own house to collect the money.
They are to lose many things and face many problems for this
dowry system.

4. What is Dowry?
Dowry system is one of the worst evil cultures in this
society. A dowry is a gift of money or valuables given
by the bride’s family to the groom and the newly
formed household at the time of their marriage. It is
essentially in the nature of a payment in cash or some
kind of gifts given to the bridegroom's family along
with the bride and includes cash, jewelry, electrical
appliances, furniture, bedding, crockery, utensils and
other household items that help the newlyweds set up
their home.

5. Dowry Stands For
D – Donkeys
O – Of The First Order
W – Who Can’t Stand On Their Own Feet
R – Rely On Their Wives Riches
Y – Yet Shame Less

6. Nature of Problem
Every year many young women commit suicide or face
physical torture after marriage because their parents cannot
afford to give dowry. Dowry is a serious and growing
problem in Bangladesh. Between 0.6 to 2.8 brides per year
100,000 women are reported to die because of dowry-
related violence.
A recent report2 stated that 165 women were killed in one
year, 77 had acid thrown on them, one was divorced and 11
committed suicide over dowry demands.
Expenditure on marriage is considered as expenditure on
prestige. Marriage is not private affair but a social program.

7. Causes Of Dowry
 Poverty is the main causes behind dowry because most of the people in Bangladeshi are poor.
They often take dowry to reduce their Poverty.
 Because of the Illiteracy, most the people are unaware of effect of dowry.
 Narrow mentality behind the dowry system
 Negative attitude towards the women
 Lack of women’s Education in Families is the reason for giving dowry
 Lack of decision making power of women’s in family because in Bangladesh families are ruled by
father .Because of that the position of woman in a family is much disagreed.
 Women are less independent then men .In Bangladesh; most of the women are housewives and
have less economic power to control the family. Because of dependency women become a burden
in a family.

8. Causes Of Dowry
 Some time bridegroom wants money to do business or want to make his life settle with that
money.
 In a town, people think that giving dowry in a marriage creating more status in society
 Women spend a good life in husband’s house if dowry paid in marriage.
 In a village, most of the people think Dowry is their legal right which has to pay the daughter
family in a marriage
 In the village if brides are not beautiful to look at or if they get married then they are to give a
lot of money as dowry to the bridegroom
 The giving of a dower seems to be an established Bangladeshi cultural institution. The wife is
expected to bring suitable gifts (monetary or otherwise) with her to her new home
 Dependence on husband and living on their income are the main causes of dowry.

9. Effects Of Dowry
Initiates gender imbalance: When we speak of gender inequality in the nation,
dowry system can be considered the catalyst for this issue. According to the social
infrastructure of the nation, it is a common perception that a woman is a liability and is
be married off someday, with a dowry debt at disposal. Well, for the masses, the birth of
girl is an inception to long-term plans to pay off the dowry along with the child.
Seemingly, this saving venture hampers the future of the girl and restricts her of equal
opportunities for the mail child. The very future planning for a better marriage proposal
ruins the prospects of a merrier life for the child. Well, dowry system can be accounted
atrocities on the masses. The plight of the girl child is initiated with her birth due to this
particular infrastructure and continues to hamper her peace of mind and tranquility.
According to the latest 2011 census stats, the number of females per 1000 males stands
a meager count of 943. Hence, this impacts the building blocks of the society and
the growth of the nation.

10. Effects Of Dowry
 Social Effects: Society owes its origins to masses and when we speak of the constituent evils of the segment in
our subcontinent, dowry system is one of the most leveraged one. Being widely practiced across the nation,
other family faces the brunt of it. If a demand is not met by the bride’s family, she suffers at the hands of her
groom’s family leading to social imbalance and emotional breakdown. Seventy % of our population resides in
villages and this practice still holds its stance midst the economy and the society as a whole. The society
seemingly judges the worth of a person on the basis of dowry accepted or received and this framework can be
attributed to the detrimental status of woman in the society.
 Decrements status of women: When a girl is born, for particular individuals, the societal framework is dismayed.
She is no longer a happiness and her birth is no more an occasion. She is deprived of basic rights to education,
freedom and speech. However, owing to the basic structure, and the dowry ideology, her ordeal doesn’t end
marriage. For a female individual, with little or no self economic support, she exists at the assistance of her
groom. Hence, when his demands aren’t met, it leads to the breakdown of the empathetic relation between the
two entities leading to disparity. After a period, this ordeal doesn’t come to conclusion, rather, it leads to
domestic violence and poses a serious threat to the future of the family. The girl loses on her freedom once she
married and it yet again, comes at the cost of a dowry debt.

11. Effects Of Dowry
 Promotes domestic violence and crime: Dowry system initiates the act of violence in the society.
When demands are not met by the bride’s family, the atrocities elevate proportionately. At times,
extreme steps are undertaken to shell out financial grants or material benefits from the bride’s
family. Well, yet again these steps can be attributed to the much debated domestic violence.
crimes against women take a surge owing to this structure of extortion.
 Economic effects: Economy is not just the financial stockpile of the nation. Rather, it is a deep-
vested, mass effort to bring the platter for every individual. Dowry system, though it seems a
minor social evil can affect the nation and it’s individuals alike. Owing to this setup, women
granted equal rights and opportunities, leading to loss of economic workforce from the
Women are active participants in the development of the nation, and if their rights are
at the domestic level, it affects our economic build-up significantly. We lose the consistent
workforce at the hands of a social evil and hamper the growth of our own home and the society.

12. Effects Of Dowry
 Deteriorating financial status of bride’s family: Dowry doesn’t affect the bride alone. Rather, its
ordeal extends to bride’s parents and they have to bear the financial demands of their
to ensure well-being of their child. With regular demands from the groom’s family, reports of
suicides are yet again common in the country. Needless to say, this social evil should necessarily
eradicated for the society and the nation.
 Loss of self-esteem among the women: The demands being met for the welfare of the bride
comes at a cost. Out of concern for her parents, she loses on self-esteem by believing she is a
burden on her family. It costs her peace of mind, and her right to a better life. Dowry system has
imposed an invisible chain upon the freedom and self-respect of women and continues to haunt
them since time eternal. Observing the problem closely, the greed of an individual ruins the peace
a beautiful brain

13. Laws Against Dowry System in
Bangladesh
 Dowry Prohibition Act 1980 (‘The Act’) : The Act is the primary law dealing with dowry in
Bangladesh. It makes dowry a criminal offence, originally punishable by a maximum penalty of one
year’s imprisonment or a fine of BDT500 (approximately USD 6.25) or both. The Act criminalizes the
taking and giving dowry, and governs associated investigation and trial proceedings. In attempts to
redress deficiencies, it was amended on a number of occasions. For example, its 1986 amendment
increased the penalty for claiming dowry and made dowry a non-cognisable and non-bailable
offence (Ordinance 36 of 1986). Dowry-violence is also subject to other laws such as the WCR Act.
Nevertheless, the evidence (below) demonstrates that legislative enactment has proved largely
ineffective.
 Penalty for giving or taking dowry : If any person, after the commencement of this Act, gives or
takes or abets the giving or taking of dowry, he shall be punishable with imprisonment which may
extend to [ five years and shall not be less than one year, or with fine, or with both].

14. Laws Against Dowry System in
Bangladesh
 Penalty for demanding dowry : If any person, after
the commencement of this Act, demands, directly or
indirectly, from the parents or guardian of a bride or
bridegroom, as the case may be, any dowry, he shall
be punishable with imprisonment which may extend
to [ five years and shall not be less than one year, or
with fine, or with both].

15. Dowry in Islam
 The Practice of giving dowry (jahez) is not part of Islam, but Islam doesn’t not stop
a father from giving his daughter gifts, money and property, or arranging for a
wedding fest but should not demanding and exploitation from the brides father.
 The Prophet (P.B.U.H) himself saw to the marriage of his four daughters. He gave
his daughter Hazrat Fatimah (R.A) various gift when she married Hazrat Ali (R.A),
but there is no record of his having given anything to his other daughters on the
occasion of their marriages.

16. Dowry in Islam
 The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) set an example for the Muslims when when he gave
the hand of his daughter Hazrat Fatima (R.A) to Hazrat Ali (R.A) who arranged for
the marriage expenses after disposing of his famous sword, the most covered
article.
 The Prophet’s daughter was seen off with a few utensils, a pallet and the simple
bridal dress
 The Mehr (Marriage bond money) was only 25 dinars.

17. Solution of Dowry
 Education: Education is the primary catalyst of growth in any nation. If we have to reach
out across the nation and make sure the mainstream community is at par with the
prospects, education is a necessity. Lack of education leads to irresponsible decisions
leading to financial exploitation from a marriage relation. Dowry system is a social evil
owes its origination to ignorance and illiteracy. Eradicating this evil is not possible without
educating the society. The legislation aren’t enough to bring a revolution. Rather, the
masses are the ones who hold the concentrate to eliminate the dowry system.
 Making women self-dependent: The female sect of our society is an active contributor in
the development of the home, the society and the nation as a whole. To churn out
productivity, and ride upon the reins of development, women empowerment is a
However, owing to the dowry system, they are exploited both emotionally and verbally. It
hampers their development and thought process. In the long run, legislations will turn
to be effective, if crimes are reported, and a well educated society inclusive of self-
dependent women will ensure robust reporting of dowry related crimes

18. Solution of Dowry
 Gender Equality: The primary reason behind dowry system is the existence of a patriarchal
society. Owing to such a social infrastructure, the dowry system still finds its takers and
propagators. To ensure removal of dowry system from the nerves of our system, gender equality
the second step. Educating children about the drawbacks of dowry system, and making sure that
they inculcate the spirit to boycott it, is the long-term solution to the issue.
 Initiating Mass Media Campaigning: Media is the propagator of knowledge and the janitor of
information interchange. Well, almost every single revolution owes its origins to media
Yet again, the dowry system asks for a revolution. The legislation have been in the stock for the
few decades, but they have been ineffective to deal with the case. However, media holds the
potential to remove dowry system from the mainstream Indian society. By publishing related
and making the authorities aware of any reported case of dowry related crime, they can keep an
effective check upon the prospects. Enhancing information interchange is the first step to a well-
aware community and media is the perfect medium for the task.

19. Solution of Dowry
 Government Initiatives: Government is the body which holds the key to
development of a nation. It is the formulator of laws and executes them to make
sure people follow them for the betterment of the society. Dowry system has
a part of the society since time eternal. The government has made legislation to
limit the dowry exchange. However, it has turned out to be ineffective. Well, to
ensure the people follow the laws, proper implementation should be carried out.
should monitor the sentiments of the community and ensure that no dowry
exchange exercises are carried out.

20. Dowry in short
 Dowry is a social evil for a society also for a nation. Dowry is one of the
barrier for our country development also for our women's
empowerment. Dowry is a curse for those who value a relationship
more than money and for whom marriage is a sacred knot. For all
practical purpose, dowry has spoiled the social fabric and slackened
the sacrosanct word “marriage‟. Now what requires is, mobilizing the
social consciousness to ban effectively the vicious survival of the social
evil “The Dowry ‟.

21. SAY NO TO DOWRY
From today we should promise that we will say
“NO TO DOWRY”

23. ANY QUESTION ?