Abstract
This paper focuses on socio-cultural context of dowry practice in Sylhet city of Bangladesh. By using qualitative methods twenty one dowry victims were selected purposively from three prominent organizations working with victims of dowry. In-depth interview schedule was used as a tool of data collection. Dowry is one of the most common forms of gender based discrimination in Bangladesh. Every year thousands of women used to face serious social, psychological and physical torture due to dowry related dispute. Even though they become the victim of acid violence; sometime some are killed by their husband and their in-laws. But practice of dowry is not similar in all the region of the country due to social, economic and cultural conditions. People are very likely to see it as a custom rather than an offence. Due to fear of losing social status, ignorance, improper or no idea about legal procedure and conservative social attitude they are less interested in seeking legal steps against their husbands and in-laws. wide range of impact over the society, especially brutal to women. It is something unethical and unsocial that people use as a weapon against other family when they get agreed to be related. It is estimated that one-third of the population live below the poverty line and unable to manage two meals per day. This poverty-ridden portion is almost rootless, live in slums or in the open air, have no strong family bondage or responsibility. Society is still dominated by the male, and women are less empowered to take decision in case of marriage, divorce, property maintain etc. Weakness in marriage registration process, early marriage and polygamy is comparatively easy that is one of the root causes of dowry in Bangladesh. Marriage among Muslim is civil and contractual, whereas it is sacramental and eternal for Hindus. The custom of dowry as prevalent in Bangladesh presents a typical dilemma for the 'universalism and cultural relativism' debate. Dowry is considered to be an ancient practice associated with the institution of marriage in Bangladesh, which in very broad terms involves the giving of gifts from the bride's side to the groom's side at the time of marriage.
Highlights
Bangladesh is a country of geographical and cultural diversity where different groups of people including nearly 50 sub-nations have been living together maintaining their own tradition and culture along with religious practices
Many social problems are closely linked to gender based discrimination, like dowry
All married women with dowry victims living in the Sylhet City were regarded as the population of the study and from them twenty one (21) cases were selected purposively from three prominent organizations working for prevention of women oppression in Sylhet City namely Women Supports Program, BLAST and National Women Lawyers Association
Summary
Bangladesh is a country of geographical and cultural diversity where different groups of people including nearly 50 sub-nations have been living together maintaining their own tradition and culture along with religious practices. Like many societies of the world, in Bangladesh various social, cultural and economic problems often disharmonize national development, and destroy personal life. Dowry is seen one of the most crucial social problems in Bangladesh which has wide range of impact over the society, especially brutal to women. It is estimated that one-third of the population live below the poverty line and unable to manage two meals per day. This poverty-ridden portion is almost rootless, live in slums or in the open air, have no strong family bondage or responsibility. Weakness in marriage registration process, early marriage and polygamy is comparatively easy that is one of the root causes of dowry in Bangladesh
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