Thesis (Bachelor of Social Sciences in Anthropology)

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    The negotiating patterns of female vendors: a case from Dhaka city
    (BRAC University, 2024-02) Kabir, Taharima; Tamanna, Meheri
    Street vending is one of the most important informal occupations in Bangladesh. Due to its easy availability and minimal skills requirement, this occupation became very popular with the urban poor. The country’s economic growth after the 90’s expanded the informal sector which resulted in a massive influx of migrants. As a result, many urban poor women started to join the garment industries and others joined in the informal sector like vending. Though males and females are working as vendors in Dhaka public space, this study observed a gender difference. In the same public space males and females are perceived and treated differently because of the patriarchal norms. As a result, the negotiation patterns of males and females are different. This study analyzes that women vendors in Dhaka city use different strategies to negotiate their livelihoods in public spaces. Using in-depth interviews with over 10 respondents in Dhaka city this study identified the challenges and explored the factors behind different negotiating patterns of stationary women vendors in urban space.
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    The forbidden arts: family, faith, and cultural capital in Muslim middle class Dhaka
    (BRAC University, 2025-06) Ahmed, Proteeti; Rahman, Shahidur
    South Asian culture is colourful, vibrant, and rich with a centuries old history of art and music, language and literature, food and festivals. The iconography for this region is distinct in its portrayal of both the mortal and the divine. But what does it look like when not taken out of context and aggrandized for an audience? The stereotypical portrayal of a young hopeful eager to take taleem from a guru in exchange for serving his household is no longer applicable. So then who is carrying on the proverbial torch and what does that look like in the 21st century? The purpose of this paper is to explore how traditional music, art, and culture are being practised today, and by whom. To that end, data has been collected first hand in the form of interviews, and then thematic analysis has been performed on the resultant information. This includes testimonies from fifteen individuals with middle-class muslim backgrounds in Dhaka, which were then dissected to observe the relationships between their participation in different cultural practices (which include performing and fine arts), and themes of faith, family, and finances. The subsequent findings highlight the mesh that is created from the interconnected strings of those relationships. The main goal here was to observe the impact of said themes as factors through a lens separate from one of stereotypical perceptions and Western ostracization, rather one of real representation and pragmatic scope instead. The final fact of the matter is that it is this grass root level participation and cultural propagation that keeps these traditions alive, and it is imperative that we study them so that preservation efforts can be maintained.
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    Between safety and solidarity: international students' perspectives on the July revolution in Bangladesh
    (BRAC University, 2024-03) Bhandari, Chura Moni; Chowdhury, Moiyen Zalal
    This research examines the understanding of participation and obstacles that international students in Bangladesh faced during the youth uprising of 2024 known as the July Revolution. Through interviews and qualitative research methods, the study investigates the relationship between cultural background legal obstacles, and online activism which affected their connection to the movement. Those students who come from politically restricted countries like Bhutan and Tanzania focused on staying safe while maintaining their academic achievements but the students from activist countries such as Nigeria and Uganda showed solidarity yet took safety precautions. The media platform’s role was focused on delivering immediate news and misleading information simultaneously which compelled students to create critical verification systems to assess information truthfulness. This research shows that Hofstede’s cultural dimensions specifically power distance and uncertainty avoidance determine how individuals perceive risk and participate in it. Some students overcame obstacles to participate in transnational solidarity programs through digital activism resulting in global protests being spread internationally. International student activism abroad results from the convergence of personal identity with structural restrictions along with the process of political education. The study makes valuable contributions to scholarly research about youth activism together with online engagement and cross-border connection during times of educational globalization. I recommend developing inclusion-based policies that protect foreign students from political disturbances yet promote active participation. The July Revolution demonstrates how transnational activism can potentially link activists but also demonstrates restrictions that require attention to media literacy and protected dissident areas.
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    Exploring the Urs as a socio-spiritual practice in Sufism
    (BRAC University, 2025-05) Sara, Simran Shahriar; Chowdhury, Moiyen Zalal
    The Sufi beliefs have heavily influenced Bangladesh's religious and cultural environment and people’s faith ultimately taking position in the political and economic domains. Though there is extensive research on Sufism, little is known about its major rite, the Urs. Unanswered questions include who organizes the events, arranges the ceremony, why it is held, and what its current significance is. In order to fill that gap, this study conducted Seven key informant interviews (KII) and thirteen in-person interviews. Moreover, the social spiritual, and political implications of Urs were analyzed through this interview. Also, Texas Lottery of the six-day description honoring Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, which is observed every year. At Dhaka the study was conducted. The result showcases how state participation in the Mazar administration challenges the structures of the establishment, and its legitimacy and spiritual authority are challenged by traditional beliefs. Talal Asad, Michel Foucault, Saba Mahmood, and Clifford Geertz applied theory are this study. Mahmood's concept of embodied piety emphasizes women's devotional roles; Foucault's idea of heterotopia shows how the shrine becomes a sacred space distinct from everyday norms; Asad's theory of discursive tradition explores the contestation of power and religious authority; and Geertz lends insight into the symbolic meaning of ritual acts.
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    From rebellion to revolution: the interplay of social media and government repression in the July Revolution 2024
    (BRAC University, 2025-04) Kona, Sadia Zaman; Chowdhury, Moiyen Zalal
    The Quota Reform Movement of 2024, also known as the July Revolution, marked a significant chapter in Bangladesh's long-standing debate over the controversial quota system in government employment. Originally designed to address historical inequalities, the quota system had become a source of widespread dissatisfaction, particularly among the nation’s youth, who felt it impeded merit-based recruitment. This thesis explores the role of social media in the mobilization and coordination of protests against the reinstatement of the quota system by the High Court, as well as how government repression influenced the trajectory of the movement. The research employs a qualitative approach, combining both primary and secondary data including semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, the research gathers insights from protest coordinators and participants across both public and private universities. This study examines the complex dynamics of protest organization, the strategies employed to overcome government-imposed restrictions, and the ways in which government repression shaped resistance efforts. Social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram played a critical role in circumventing traditional media control and state surveillance, allowing activists to unite, share information, and amplify their voices. Despite efforts by the government to suppress the movement through internet shutdowns, physical violence, and political rhetoric, the protests evolved from a demand for quota reform into a broader struggle for political accountability and social justice. The findings suggest that social media not only acted as a tool for organizing protests, but also as a means of countering state narratives, thus sustaining momentum amid intense government crackdowns. Furthermore, government actions, including violent repression and the dismissal of protesters’ demands, were found to amplify collective anger, escalating the protests into a larger movement for political change. Ultimately, the 2024 Quota Reform Movement underscored the power of digital activism in reshaping protest dynamics and highlighted the enduring public dissatisfaction with entrenched political systems in Bangladesh.
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    Changing food culture: an exploration of food vlogging in Bangladesh
    (BRAC University, 2025-04) Abedin, Kazi Simran; Chowdhury, Moiyen Zalal
    In recent years, Bangladesh has witnessed rapid shifts in media consumption, digital connectivity, and cultural expression, particularly among younger generations. Within this context, this thesis explores the evolving landscape of Bengali food culture through the rise of food vlogging in Bangladesh. Drawing on interviews with food vloggers across diverse regions, including Dhaka, Bogra, Chittagong, Barisal, Rajshahi, Cox’s Bazar, and the Bangladeshi diaspora in Malaysia, this study investigates how digital platforms are reshaping traditional culinary narratives, influencing patterns of food appreciation and consumption, and introducing global food trends. Employing a multidisciplinary framework grounded in the works of Sidney Mintz, Arjun Appadurai, and Fabio Parasecoli, alongside theories of representation, taste, and media by Stuart Hall, Pierre Bourdieu, and Marshall McLuhan, the research highlights how food vlogging serves as a site for the reinterpretation and recontextualization of traditional cuisine. The findings reveal that vloggers play a key role in negotiating between local food traditions and global culinary influences, contributing to an emerging hybrid food culture. Moreover, the study emphasizes how digital media facilitates new forms of culinary storytelling and identity-making in contemporary Bangladesh.
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    Return migration of highly skilled professionals in Bangladesh: a study on private sector professionals returning home
    (BRAC University, 2025-04) Khan, Masuma Warda; Rahman, Shahidur
    In the early 1970s, Bangladesh used its population to its advantage as a major migrant labour force. There have been numerous studies conducted on lesser skilled migrant workers which concern topics related to their departure through formal government institutions, livelihood conditions in their host countries and the lifestyle conditions of their family back home. Unfortunately, studies on return migration in Bangladesh have been a topic outside of mainstream migration discourse. Most of the available reports on return migration have shed light on the lesser skilled due to their massive population. This resulted in a profound limit to comprehensive studies on the highly skilled migrant counterparts. Although existing papers have covered the return of academic professionals and provided an overview of highly skilled migrants; these papers do not reflect the portion of returnees (i.e. private sector professionals) who may simply return and seek employment opportunities unless they belong to a particular social network. In this context, this thesis focuses on the return of private sector professionals and their overall social position as senior returnees in Bangladesh. Due to the evident lack of sufficient research in the field of return migration, particularly of highly skilled professionals, this paper took an exploratory and qualitative approach by referring to primary data collected from local migratory research units along with international migratory and global labour organizations. This study obtained its primary objectives through the narrative analysis of twelve in-person interviews followed by one Key Informant Interview (KII) with a local migratory expert. The findings of this research indicate that most private sector professionals return due to factors such as updated national policies which seek to advantage locals of the country of employment, unforeseen circumstances such as the corona virus pandemic and lastly, a rare but personal desire to retire. To analyse the aforementioned findings, theories of George Gmelch and Jean-Pierre Cassarino on return migration have been employed for the conceptual understanding of a migrant’s decision to return home. As a result, the following thesis contributes to not only the existing return migration discourse but also creates an intellectual scope surrounding the highly skilled professional migrants of Bangladesh, followed by the potential for new reintegration policies to generate positive attraction towards homecoming, which will facilitate a continuous migratory cycle in Bangladesh.
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    Access to education for Rohingya refugee children in Bangladesh
    (BRAC University, 2024-10) Khan, Ahmed; Rahman, Shahidur
    The thesis examines the nature of education that Rohingya refugee children accessed in Bangladesh with emphasis on the challenges the children come across in a seemingly endless humanitarian crisis. The purpose of the study was to examine the intervention by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as agents of change towards increase access to education especially with a focus on Friendship NGO. The data collection methods included the following: Three focus group discussions that were conducted in the Ukhia region and an interview focused on a key informant from the Friendship NGO. Although the data collection process was supposed to be conducted on site various factors such as security threats and bureaucratic procedures restricted the process, and as a result key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted remotely. To understand the cultural background of the study community, primary data was collected through focus group discussion (FGDs) conducted by Friendship NGO staff with the parents of Rohingya children and secondary data collection for contemporaneous background information. The findings reveal that socio cultural, language and environmental characteristics of the Learners negatively affect educational interventions in the form of Curriculum developed from Myanmar based, language disparities and home schooling environment respectively. However NGOs’ intervention has remained challenging by structural factors like insufficient utilization of internet, politically instable environment, infrastructure and economic crunch which hinders realization of education for the Rohingya children. This research promotes culturally relevant programs that may address obstacles in education and identity formation among the Rohingya children, who have a bleak future ahead of them, in order to enhance the possibility of a better future for these children.
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    Perception of university students towards circular economy in Bangladesh
    (BRAC University, 2024-10) Wangmo, Kezang; Rahman, Shahidur
    The circular economy, a sustainable approach to production and consumption, has been gaining traction globally, yet remains underexplored within the educational sector, particularly in Bangladesh. This study aims to assess BRAC University students' perceptions of circular economy principles and evaluate university policies aligned with sustainability. The main argument of the study is that regardless of BRAC University's efforts to engage in circular economy practices, a significant gap appears in the level of awareness and involvement of its students. Through a quantitative survey of 307 students, the research analyzes their awareness and engagement with circular economy practices. The research revealed that even though students practice sustainable behavior by recycling and reusing materials, they often lack any formal knowledge of the concepts guiding the circular economy. The study contributes to the understanding of student engagement with sustainability initiatives, highlighting a gap in awareness and formal educational opportunities on the topic. It is also emphasized that the circular economy principles need to be implemented with much greater thoroughness at higher education institutions to provoke a positive cultural transition toward sustainability.
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    Non-economic loss and damage in climate migration: the case of Korail slum in Dhaka, Bangladesh
    (BRAC University, 2024-10) Dawa, Tashi; Rahman, Shahidur
    This thesis explores the non-economic loss and damage of climate induced migration in Korali Slum in Dhaka, Bangladesh. With climate change on a horizon, vulnerable communities in Bangladesh are increasingly displaced especially by various environmental factors, especially natural disasters like the erosion of riverbanks, flooding, and the intrusion of saline waters. While much of the discourse on climate change is on the economic loss and damage, this research emphasizes the often-over-looked non-economic loss and impact of climate change. This includes displacement, loss of cultural identity, traditional knowledge, inter-generational impact and psychological impact of the climate migrants. By utilizing the secondary data analysis approach, the study synthesizes academic literature, governmental reports, NGOs and media publications to document the non-economic impact of climate experienced by climate migrants in Korali. The thesis highlights the loss of traditional livelihood and fragmentation of the society, resulting in a state of disorientation and loss amongst the migrants. The findings further demonstrate how non-economic losses, though clearly visible, are largely neglected by policy makers especially when it comes to climate justice of the vulnerable communities. Grounded by the principle of climate justice, the thesis calls for the incorporation of NELD in both national and international policy frameworks. By presenting Korail Slum as a case study, the current research contributes to the growing body of discourse advocating for understanding and recognizing of NELD so that all spectrums of climate impacts are fully addressed to fight against climate change and justice is ensured.