The Parliament has passed the new anti-dowry law stipulating punishment for falsely charging individuals.
According to the the Dowry Prohibition Act 2018, a person may face up to five years of imprisonment or Tk 500,000 fines or both for pressing false dowry charges.
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki moved the bill in the House, which was passed unanimously by voice votes with Deputy Speaker Fazley Rabbi Mia in the chair.
Piloting the bill, the state minister said the proposed bill will replace the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1980 and amend the three subsequent ordinances promulgated on 1982, 1984 and 1986.
On Jul 25, the bill was forwarded to the parliamentary standing committee for its report.
In the old law, the punishment for demanding, giving or receiving dowry was minimum one year prison term and maximum five years in jail or up to Tk 5,000 fines or both.
The new law raised the fine to Tk 50,000.