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Dowry: an unbeatable social disease

For the last few decades, we are starving to get rid from the curse of a social disease named dowry. It is a matter of great regret that we frequently saw the news of the effectiveness of dowry on daily newspapers. Most of the victims of these published news are the poor or from the working Class Peoples. Does this news prove that the middle and upper class people are now free from this curse? Before answering this question I would like to write two cases studies-
Case study-1: Rekha’s (anonym) maternal uncle brought a good bridegroom proposal for her in 1994. Her engagement was accomplished as there were no demands from groom’s family. But after the engagement, groom’s elder brother demanded a motor bike to ensure self-esteem of groom. Rekha’s father rejected that demand. Then groom’s brother asked him to give the bike instead of some furniture and it would save their dignity! At last Rekha’s father forcedly gifted a motor bike along with other utensils so that the bridegroom would not be dispossessed and handed over his daughter for the sake of saving social dignity and the pressure from his relatives as well. But, how much difficult their hunger is! He is feeling their rogue to the backbone till now.
Case study-2: A good groom, having an M S degree from a reputed public university, sent a proposal to marry Raboti (anonym). Knowing the good results, possibility of obtaining foreign degree and thinking the bright future of the groom, Raboti’s father became overwhelmed. Groom’s father demanded Tk. 1million from bride’s father as dowry. Raboti’s father any how managed this amount and completed the pledge to buy this educated (!) groom for his daughter. But Raboti could not find any relief from this relationship. She always thinks how her father will manage the similar amount of dowry to make marry her younger sisters. It became a regular matter of her obsession.