One of the reason for the growing trend of dowry is that the middle class people consider it a gift from the bride's family, said the report of the survey conducted under a project titled 'Gender, Knowledge, Networking and Human Rights Intervention in Bangladesh'.

The survey highlighted the issues of marriage and dowry, violence against women, legal awareness, social values and women's rights.

A total of 3,600 men and women at 120 villages in 12 districts were interviewed during the survey conducted in 2003.

Eighty percent of male respondents said they think that the main concerns of women are her basic needs while 16 percent male respondents identified repression as the main problem facing the women.

These respondents even do not consider dowry a menace while 17 percent of female respondents said dowry is totally responsible for the violence against the women.

Around 42 percent of women respondents are in favour of Shalish or village arbitration, whereas 20 percent women said the Shalish system could not provide justice. Most of the women said the rapists almost go unpunished.

Team leader of the Blast project Mirza M Hasan presented the survey report at a programme at Biam auditorium in the city yesterday.

Executive Director of Blast Dr Shamsul Bari moderated the programme.

Vice-President of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad Dr Rowshan Jahan, Dr Meghna Guha Thakurata of Dhaka University, Hamida Hossain of Ain o Shalish Kendra, Coordinator of the project Uma Chowdhury were also present.

The scenario of repression of women has not changed much since 1980's although awareness about women's rights has been raised through education and different social activities, said Dr Rowshan Jahan.

Traditional patriarchal mentality is mainly responsible for such situation, she added.