This book examines the interrelationship between law, culture, patriarchy and religion in the context of contemporary Bangladesh. Taking a socio-legal approach, it analyses the changing nature of the dowry practice and its relation to women's increasing paid labour force activity. Despite anti-dowry legislation, it is argued here that the dowry system continues in the form of the appropriation of wives' income. The work calls for legal recognition of this action and the amendment of the Dowry Prohibition Act as a result of the changing social realities that are taking place in the lives of Bangladeshi women.