By Jahangir Alam

DHAKA, Sept 6, 2026 (BSS) - Dowry is not a social entitlement-it is a criminal offence. A deep-rooted social scourge, dowry has been at the heart of countless family disputes, acts of abuse and in the worst cases, reason for loss of life.

To combat the menace, the country has enacted the Dowry Prohibition Act, 2018, making the demand, giving and taking of dowry punishable offences. Under the law, anyone convicted of accepting dowry may face imprisonment ranging from one to five years, a fine of up to Taka 50,000, or both. In cases where dowry-related abuse results in death, the law provides for punishment ranging from life imprisonment to the death penalty.
    
What is dowry?

Section 2(b) of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 2018 defines dowry as any money, goods or other property demanded, directly or indirectly, by one party to a marriage from the other as a precondition for entering into the marriage, at the time of marriage or before it, or during the subsistence of the marriage as a condition for continuing the marital relationship. It also covers money, goods or other assets given, or agreed to be given, by one party to the other as consideration for the marriage.

However, the definition excludes dower or mahr in cases where Muslim personal law (Shariah) applies. It also excludes gifts presented at the time of marriage by relatives, friends or well-wishers of either party.

Punishment for demanding dowry

Section 3 of the act, stated that if either party to a marriage directly or indirectly demands dowry from the other, it constitutes an offence under the law.

A person convicted of the offence may be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than one year and not more than five years, or fined up to Taka 50,000, or both.

Punishment for dowry

Under section 4 of the Act, giving or taking dowry, assisting in its giving or taking, or entering into an agreement for that purpose are all punishable offences.

A person found guilty may face one to five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Taka 50,000, or both.

Penalty for filing a false case

The law also contains provisions against misuse of the legislation.

According to section 6 of the Act, anyone who files or causes to be filed a case or complaint under the Act against another person, knowing that there is no reasonable or lawful ground for doing so and intending to cause harm to that person, may be punished with up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Taka 50,000, or both.

When dowry leads to abuse 

The legal consequences can become far more severe when dowry-related demands lead to physical abuse, serious injury or death.

In such cases, proceedings may be brought under section 11 of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000, in addition to the Dowry Prohibition Act.

Under the law, causing a woman’s death through dowry-related abuse can result in life imprisonment or the death penalty.

An attempt to cause death is punishable by life imprisonment with hard labour or imprisonment for up to 12 years.

For causing grievous injury, the punishment may be life imprisonment with hard labour or imprisonment with hard labour for between five and 12 years. For causing ordinary injury, the punishment ranges from two to five years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Talking to BSS, Ershad Alam George, a public prosecutor at a Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, said that a person demanding dowry can face punishment under the Dowry Prohibition Act.

“If the offence is proved, the court may impose a sentence of one to five years’ imprisonment,” he said.

Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Khalid Hossain told BSS that section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, clearly established the taking of dowry as a criminal offence.

“Many people believe that only demanding dowry constitutes an offence. In fact, even without making a demand, a person can be punished if they accept the dowry, assist in its collection or enter into an agreement for it,” he said.

Such offences carry a sentence of one to five years’ imprisonment, he added, noting that the law does not provide for settlement or compromise in such cases.

He further said that when dowry leads to assault, grievous injury or death, a case can be filed under section 11 of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000, where the penalties are considerably more severe.

“In such cases, the law provides for punishment ranging from life imprisonment to the death penalty,” he said.