'Wage tougher movement to root out dowry'

An action plan is needed to intensify the movement against dowry, she said in her keynote paper on 'Dowry culture and Bengali women' presented at a seminar at Jadavpur University in Kolkata on Monday.

The Women's Studies Centre of the university and Bangiya Sahitya Parishad jointly organised the seminar.

Women of Bangladesh and West Bengal have established their rights through strong movement, but they still fall victim to disparity in the male-dominated society, said Maleka Begum.

"Women of both the countries have to intensify their movement to eliminate discrimination, especially repression of women in the name of dowry," she added.

Prof Jashodhara Bagchi, chairperson of West Bengal Commission for Women, chaired the seminar while forensic expert Nirmal Bag discussed the keynote paper.

Prof Jashodhara Bagchi also unveiled a book titled 'Nirbachita Begum: Ardho Shatabdir Samajchitra' edited by Maleka Begum. The social status of women and their role during the period from 1947 to 2000 have been depicted in this three-volume book.

Maleka Begum also attended another seminar organised by Bangiya Sahitya Parishad at its auditorium on March 25 where she presented a keynote paper.