They said campaign against dowry has to be initiated from the grassroots level to create a social awareness against the system.

The participants also called for inclusion of negative implications of dowry in the academic curriculum with a view to create awareness about its harmful effects.

They were taking part in a discussion on 'Action agenda for a dowry-free Bangladesh', organised by the Platform to Resist Violence Against Women, in the city.

Speaking as chief guest, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Moudud Ahmed said unless unemployment issues are resolved in rural areas, poverty would persist allowing dowry in the society.

"The government will try to include negative impact of dowry in school and college curriculum from the next year after discussing the matter with the education ministry," he added.

Moudud said along side the enforcement of law, a massive awareness at the grassroots level is a must to stop this malpractice.

Women and Children Affairs Minister Khurshid Zahan Haque said lack of awareness about dowry persists not only among the rural people but also among the urban people of the country.

"The form of dowry is different at various level of the society and most of the parents don't know that they are giving dowry at their daughter's marriage in the name of gifts," she noted.

World Bank Country Director Christine Wallich said 75 percent of the total marriage require dowry in Bangladesh.

"Had the amount of dowry, exchanged during the marriage every year, been invested in the country's economy, then it could contribute enormously to the development of the society," she observed.

Dr Dina Siddique of Columbia University said, "We need an in depth understanding of the cultural phenomenon of the country in order to find out the solution as dowry cannot be seen as separate thing from the society."

She also emphasised the need for more research on the male attitude towards dowry.

Presided over by Rowshan Ara Rahman, the discussion was also participated by Begum Rowshan Ershad MP and Maleka Begum.

Hasna Moudud moderated the discussion.