Last Change:

05/09/2025

The Dowry Prohibition Act

Year: 2018

Type: Domestic law

Rights Category: Social protection, Family life

Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/2018/en/148275
Description

The primary purpose of the Act is to end the custom whereby the bride’s family makes a financial payment to the groom’s family upon a marriage. 

Selected provisions
Definitions

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,
(a) “Party” means, for the purposes of this Act, the bride or the bridegroom of the marriage or the parent of the bride or bridegroom or, in the absence of the parent of the bride or the bridegroom, the legal guardian thereof or any other person directly involved in the marriage from the side of the bride or the bridegroom; and

(b) “Dowry” means money or any other asset demanded, directly or indirectly, or given or agreed to be given by one party to a marriage to the other party to the marriage, as the consideration for the marriage at the time of, or before, the marriage or during the existence of marital relationship as the precondition of marriage, or on condition of continuing the marriage, but does not include dower or mehr in the case of persons to whom the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) applies or the presentation given to the either party to a marriage at the time of the marriage by the relatives, friends or well-wishers of the parties to the marriage.

Penalty for demanding dowry

If any party to a marriage demands, directly or indirectly, dowry from other party to the marriage, it shall be an offence under this Act and for that reason, he shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 (five) years, but not less than 1 (one) year, or with fine not exceeding 50,000 (fifty thousand) Taka, or with both.

Penalty for giving or taking dowry, etc.

If any party to a marriage gives or accepts dowry, or abets to give or take dowry, or makes agreement for giving or taking dowry, such act shall be an offence and for that reason, he shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 (five) years, but not less than 1 (one) year, or with fine not exceeding 50,000 (fifty thousand) Taka, or with both.

Agreement on dowry to be void

For carrying out the purposes of this Act any agreement for giving or taking of dowry shall be void.

Penalty for filing false case, etc.

If any person, with intent to affect another person, files or causes to file a case or makes or causes to make a complaint against the person knowing that there is no just or legal ground for filing a case or making a complaint, he shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 (five) years, or with fine not exceeding 50,000 (fifty thousand) Taka, or with both.

Offences to be cognizable, non-bailable, etc.

The offenses committed under this Act shall be cognizable, non-bailable, and compoundable.