Academics and a senior bureaucratic on Monday underscored the need for creating public awareness to stop dowry.
They also urged the government to give incentive to the families having one child to check the population boom in the country.
They made the call at an award ceremony organised by Save the Rural Development Assistance at Dhaka University senate building.
Acting as chief guest, the university vice-chancellor, AAMS Arefin Siddique, terming the prevailing dowry practice in society a social disease, stressed social awareness to stop it.
Speaking on the programme as a special guest, former director general of press Institute of Bangladesh Abdul Hi Siddique said the government should step up social awareness to check the present trend of population growth which is very alarming.
He also urged the government to impose a ban on tobacco cultivation, conducting social awareness raising programmes along side giving incentive to families having only one child.
Sarda also awarded five personalities, including the vice-chancellor, for having one child.
A short documentary on anti-smoking campaign was also screened.
Sarda executive director Murad Bhuiya presided over the programme, also attended by other distinguished guests.
