Social mobilisation a must to prevent dowry

"The government initiative alone is not enough to prevent dowry. It needs united efforts of all citizens including members of the local government, NGOs and civil society," she said while inaugurating the workshop.

The minister said the government is trying to combat the dowry through empowerment of women at grassroots level by providing education and technical skill.

The workshop on 'Dowry-related issues' was organised by UNFPA and the women and children affairs ministry at a city hotel.

Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, principal secretary to the prime minister, said despite adequate laws and religious prohibition, dowry-related violence is on the rise in the country.

He stressed the need for strict enforcement of laws and vigorous campaign by public and religious leaders including teachers and mass media to build up anti-dowry opinion among the parents and other family members including young generation.

"It is unfortunate that many parents think that they are buying happiness and security for their daughters in exchange of money or other things demanded by the bridegroom's family," Dr Siddiqui said.

Britt Hagstrom, Swedish ambassador in Dhaka, said dowry is a deep-rooted cultural, political and economic issue which is to be addressed with the involvement of many sectors.

Wolfgang Vollmann, Unesco representative, said some religious laws and social customs are behind the discrimination against women which encourages dowry.

Suneeta Mukherjee, UNFPA representative, said though Islam doesn't permit dowry, the rate of dowry- related violence is on the rise in the country.

Deepak Gupta of UNFPA, in a keynote paper, suggested policy dialogue, ensuring gender sensitive legislative environment and enforcing existing laws to help prevent dowry.

At the workshop, two dowry victims Nazma Begum, 20, and Bakul Mandal, 35, narrated in emotion-choked voice the repression on them for dowry.

They urged the government to set a timeframe to dispose off the dowry-related cases.

A K M Shamsuddin, secretary to women and children affairs ministry, chaired the workshop.