Dowry
Although a family with many children can also expect to receive
dowry, the statistically higher birthrate of girls and coincidence, which may
“bless” a family with more boys and “dam” others with daughters, lead to severe
financial burdens for many families. These burdens will even become more
unequally distributed if the population actually sticks to family planning and
limits the number of their children. Even an extreme poor family must calculate
around 5000Tk dowry for one daughter. This is probably more than a three
months’ income. In the Netrakona District, dowry is still a must for the far
majority of the families, when it comes to the marriage of their daughters.
Except for some NGO staff, who have the awareness and the strength to avoid
dowry payments, most parents are caught in the trap of tradition and pressure
of the village society. The women groups of Sabalamby are well aware of the
problematic, but some also claim that it is just not(yet) possible to avoid
money and costly gifts such as furniture if they want to find a husband for
their daughters. However, they are willing to try at least which creates hope
for the future. The innumerable incidents of violence against women who cannot
procure additional dowry even after marriage alone cry for total abolition of
this custom.
Gambling
Just like alcohol, gambling is one of the un-Islamic behaviors,
but nevertheless it is a serious problem that concerns the men.
Frustrated by unemployment and lack of perspectives, many of them squander
their money and time at the expenses of their family. The sufferers are once
again the women, not uncommonly facing additional dowry demands to finance the
addiction of their husbands. On Fridays, one can often observe men
playing cards in the open, claiming that they don’t compete for money.
Drug addiction
In a Daily Star article from 29th February 2004 it was mentioned,
that probably 30 per cent of the youths were addicted to drugs such as
phensidyl, hemp, country made wine, Indian wine and heroin. This number is
probably exaggerated but one cannot deny that drug use is very common,
particularly among youths and students. Many drug-addicted people are later
influenced and paid by the political parties to conduct anti-social activities.
According to that article, the drugs are smuggled in from India almost openly
through numerous border points in Kalmakanda and Durgapur Upazilas. The trading
spots in Netrakona town, where young addicts and peddlers go to just
after sunset, include Garuhatta, the old court building premises at Muktapara,
Baro-Pukurar Par at New Town and the BADC building premises at North Satpai.
Furthermore, it is alleged, that a section of both the border guards and the
police are involved in the trade.
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