Department of Sociology

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A Sociological Study on Depression Among the Students of Dhaka University
(© University of Dhaka, 2026-03-03) Mehjabin, Sadia
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person’s thoughts, behavior, feeling and sense of wellbeing. Rates of depression among the students of University of Dhaka are expected to rise rapidly, requiring the collection of research-based data. The purpose of this research is to present a picture of depression related issues faced by students of University of Dhaka. 14 focus group discussions were being held. Data were being collected from 89 participants (age range = 19 to 25) by using exploratory, qualitative approach. Two main analytical themes and related sub-themes were being discovered. The first subject focuses on perception of participants of their mental health status and second one is about coping with depression. Risk group of depression among the students are students who are in first year, students who are facing poverty, students who are married. And this leads to excessive rates of committing suicide and being addicted to drugs. Proper counseling and treatment should be managed for curing depression.
A sociological study on gender based violence in an urban area of Bangladesh
(University of Dhaka, 2015-03-02) Islam, Towhida
The widespread nature of violence against women is a highly issue of contemporary urbanized world. The purpose of this research study is to assess the relationship between gender violence and socio-economic status of urban women. It also focuses on the reason and process of the dimension of gender violence against women in urban area of Bangladesh and revel the nature of violence toward women. To explore this correlation there have selected the respondent in non- probability sampling on quantitative analysis and purposive sampling on qualitative analysis. By mixed method of data collection,present and analysis by core findings on this study has been conducted. Finally, by reviewing a set of recommendations to prevent gender violence have been suggested.
A Sociological Study on Women, Veil and Empowerment in Urban and Rural Bangladesh
(University of Dhaka, 2014-03-16) Shayma, Tasnim Ara
This study is conducted to examine whether there is any relationship between veil and women empowerment in the context of rural and urban Bangladesh. In this study the reasons for wearing veil, the reflection of empowerment indicators like participation in politics, decision making, participation in extra-curricular activities, property inheritance, educational attainment and control over personal income in the lives of veiled women, their perception on gendered division of labour, and their sense of aesthetics and expressionism have been investigated. Then this study explains whether the practice of wearing veil empowers or disempowers women in the context of Bangladesh. Several theoretical insights on gender socialization and gender relation have been adopted. In this study, qualitative method is employed to offer an elaborate description of the life experiences and the perception of the veiled women on women empowerment in the light of wearing veil. The responses of the female veiled students studying at different types of educational institutions like medical college, university and madrasa who come from both urban and rural areas are collected and the responses of some employed veiled women i.e., teacher, doctor and banker are collected by using case study method and then analyzed to uncover the problem of the veiling practice to the path of women empowerment in Bangladesh. The extent of occupational segregation in relation to their practice of wearing veil is substantial in the context of Bangladesh that more or less limits their chance of being empowered.
A Study on Labor Welfare Center and Its Implications for Labor Welfare in Selected Areas of Dhaka
(University of Dhaka, 2014-03-09) Rana, Md. Juwel
The principal objective of this study is to understand the implications of Labor Welfare Center (LWC) for workers. This research congregates and proficiently deals with legislated functions such as playground for indoor & outdoor games, night schooling, skill development and awareness training/workshops, newspaper reading, library etc. as well as the health services including prescription, medicines, first aid, elementary disease treatment even anti-biotic services of both Tejgaon and Tongi Labor Welfare Centers (LWCs) for different types of workers like factory, mills, industry and garments workers. The mainstays of this thesis are to examine the welfare services including health care services of these Labor Welfare Centers (LWCs) for workers. Drawing predominantly on Keynes theory of national welfare state and Marshall’s doctrine of social rights, this study enunciates the integration of legislated welfare services or provisions and implementation of these provisions through state or statutory agent like LWC. Findings of this study delineate that the implications of Labor Welfare Center is not at satisfactory level or so poor. The prolonged absence of doctor, medicines, recreational facilities, and effective trainings, proper health treatment even legislated welfare services divulge the vulnerability of LWC. Due to the lack of proper health treatments and other facilities, the frequency of going to outside of LWC such as govt. hospitals, LMF, quack, pharmacy sometimes private clinic for treatment is quite high which also denotes the poor implications of LWCs. Though workers are not able to bear the expanses of their health treatment but they are bound. They are also not satisfied with the existing health treatments of LWC for their specific disease and illness like cold & cough, urine infection, skin diseases, anemia, stomach pain or vomiting etc. This study also focuses the attitudes of workers towards its welfare services including health services while most of them showed negative attitude towards LWC’s welfare services for workers. It has also emphasized on some critical issues for LWC’s poor implications as well as recommendations for further improvement. Thus, this research pivotally focuses on the implications of LWC for workers through examining the functioning as well as health services of both Tejgaon and Tongi Labor Welfare Centers.
A study on the effect of social safety net programme on livelihood pattern and income generation in Comilla
(University of Dhaka, 2015-03-31) Akter, Tanzina
The constitution of Bangladesh has recognized that the people having insecurity have the rights to get necessary assistance from the state. Social Safety Net Programmes regarded as such initiatives of government which give assistance to that unsecured segments including unemployed, old age, widowhood, people with physical and mental disability. This paper presents the effects of SSNPs on the livelihood pattern of those insecure, distressed, ‘at risk’ population. It has been stated that a person’s livelihood pattern includes meeting a basic necessities such as food security, health, shelter, education, clothing etc. This paper attempts to assess the role of Social Safety Net Programmes on income generation and food consumption of poor people. This study also shows gaps and irregularities of SSNPs which impede the contribution of SSNPs on livelihood pattern of the poor. The study made use of both quantitative and qualitative methods.
A Study on Women and Child Trafficking in Bangladesh: The Case of Repatriated Victims
(© University of Dhaka, 2025-11-05) Ali, Md. Liakat
Women and child trafficking is a gross violation of human rights. Women and children of Bangladesh are being trafficked in many ways. After repatriation of trafficking survivors are facing numerous challenges. This study aims to focus on the existing challenges in our legal mechanisms to convict the traffickers. In doing so, this study tries to explore the experiences of the survivors in the process of being trafficked, their life aboard and returning to Bangladesh. This study also made an effort to explore the obstacles in our socio-economic system in rehabilitation process of trafficking victims in their families and communities. In addition, this research has made a category-wise analysis of the victims based on the reports published in different newspapers. The research has extensively analyzed the in detailed interviews of ten trafficking survivors, seven key informants’ interviews and reports of four national daily newspapers. The interviews were conducted with the assistance of Shatkhira branch of a national NGO, named as CWCS, and HELP Coxsbazar. Besides, interviews were taken from some NGOs, INGOs, staff lawyers and counselors who are working in this field. The findings of the study show the shortcomings of the existing rehabilitation process and other government initiatives. It also shows inadequacy of the initiative taken by the NGOs and INGOs along with the challenges faced by them due to lack of funding and other external factors. Finally, the study offers number of recommendations such as to ensure justice of criminals’, increase of income that will stop the source of trafficking. The study also suggests that Government, donor agencies and other NGOs should collaborate with each other to strengthen the anti-trafficking program and facilitate the rehabilitation of victims.
Absentee Husband and Their Wives: A Sociological Study on Problems of Migrants’ Wife in Chandpur, Bangladesh
(University of Dhaka, 2014-03-24) Morshed, Marjana
Migration is a global phenomenon, deeply affecting the lives of the 200 million migrants around the globe but also the lives of those connected to them, in particular those left behind in the countries of origin especially the wives of migrants. Migration is a multi-facetted experiences that encompasses opportunities for personal, social and economic development but also include risks of violence, abuse and exploitation for the wives who are left behind in the home country. To investigate the violence of wives in absence of their husband sample has been collected from Chandpur district. It has found that 69 percent wives have faced violence in in-laws house, in which 50 percent have been suffering from psychological violence and 16 percent suffering from physical violence in in-laws house. In this research it has also explored that 70 percent remittances are sent in wives name and for this remittance wives also faced violence in in-laws house. All the respondents in this research reported that after their husband migration their workload has increased. Sometime wives faced social violence like they experienced restriction on their movement after husband migration. It has also found that in absence of husband wives engaged in extra marital relationship with their male friends. 19 percent wives engaged in this type of relationship. In absence of husband 62 percent wives need permission from their in-laws to spent the money which her husband sent from abroad. Most of the wives can not share their pain with others only 8 percent share their pain. This research study analyze the vulnerable condition of the wives after their husband migration in in-laws house and personal problem also recommended some steps for the welfare of the migrants’ wives.
Agrarian Class Structure and Mode o f Production in a Bangladesh Village
(© University of Dhaka, 2025-01-12) Khatun, Moshfeka
Agrarian social structure and class elations in Comilla district (Bangladesh)-a comparative study of subsistance and commercial settings
(© University of Dhaka, 2025-01-12) Alam, Md. Khurshed
Arsenic contamination in ground water: assessment on mitigation approaches in Bangladesh
(© University of Dhaka, 2025-01-06) Gosh, Sheshir
Changing power structure in rural Bangladesh: a study of two villages in rajshahi division
(© University of Dhaka, 2025-01-12) Costa, Thomas
Changing urban culture: A study of the old city in Dhaka
(University of Dhaka, 2015-03-31) Sonia, Ashma Akhter
The historic root of Dhaka, usually called ‘Old Dhaka’, retains the traditional features it has inherited from a long history of urbanization influenced by various cultural phases. In order to understand the changing urban culture of old city in Dhaka, it is essential to understand the patterns of urban culture in the old city of Dhaka that makes it vibrant and impulsive even at present and the processes and context of its transformation. Therefore, The study tries to figure out how much it retains its traditional socio-cultural life and how much changes occurdue to modernization and globalization and the generational changes with regards to values and ideas within this area of old city of Dhaka. The theories of cultural globalization are explained to analyze the cultural changes in this old city. Also the modernization theories and urbanization theories have been used for analyzing the current situation of urban life in a traditional city. The research method is qualitative with interview and observation in the area of old city in Dhaka and quantitative with field survey. The number of interviews in this research was sixteen and also one hundred and four surveys have been conducted by the researcher during two months of fieldwork in the area of study. The result shows that the culture of old Dhaka is becoming Westernized or McDonaldized and glocalized, or in other word hybrid and the most important elements which has brought changes within the tradition and culture of old city is modernization, cultural globalization and particularly media and the people who are more affected are young generation. The study found that more than 91 percent of younger respondentsvisit Chinese and Western restaurant whereas more than 71 percent of the elderly respondents never visit these restaurants. It has also been found that the older areas of Dhaka city still retain much of its traditional cultural practices and life styles as all of the respondents in this study like to take their traditional old Dhaka’s food. Most of the cultural practices including social and religious rituals and festivals are still celebrated in traditional style. They still maintain strong kinship and neighborhood relationship as well as other social organizations. This study also shows that the ideas and values of elderly and younger generation differ mostly. In the study half of the younger respondents (50 percent) are influencing from watching Indian and Western films and TV programs whereas elderly group still bears traditions and cultures of old city of Dhaka.
Child Trafficking in the Border Area of Joypurhat District with a Focus on Counter Measures: A Sociological Study
(©University of Dhaka, 2023-11-16) Hossain, Md. Robiwl
The Trafficking of children is a national as well as global issue. Child trafficking in the border area has become a major issues of concern and its intensity is growing day by day in Bangladesh. Very little work has been done to understand the local dynamics of the problem meaningfully. This thesis was undertaken to produce a comprehensive summary of available information concerning trafficking of children in the border area of Bangladesh. Information on the magnitude of the problem, underlying factors that foster trafficking, modes of trafficking, major trafficking routes and consequences of trafficking has been compiled. Trafficking in human beings is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people for the purpose of exploitation. The equivalent of the word trafficking is Pachar which is a serious problem and is considered violation of human rights. This thesis is intended to explain how children are usually fallen victims of trafficking in the border area of Joypurhat district by various methods. For this reason I have selected the crucial topics of socio-economic challenges and vulnerability of traffic affected family in the Joypurhat district. The main research question was child trafficking its consequences on victims and affected family. I have selected 28 sample size to conduct research through mixed method with quantitative research method and qualitative research methods. Trafficking of children in Joypurhat district is in alarming situation. Because it is a border connected district and the most known trafficking zone of Bangladesh Hili is very nearest to this area. It is an agricultural based area and the population is very poor. Employment opportunity is insufficient here. Besides, this district has a good communication facilities by road and rail from other part of Bangladesh. For this reason it is an attractive point for traffickers. The study found that majority of trafficker are brokers (67%) and the rest of the (33%) is agent, the most significant factor alluring proposal is better quality of life (96%) and behind accepting the alluring proposal is motivational proposal (82%) and lack of consciousness (71%). It has also found that existing social structure, economic system, cultural condition and geographical setting of Joypurhat district affects child trafficking. For the convenience of the study, I propose to discuss the relevant laws. In this thesis, an attempt has been made to show how the children of border area of Bangladesh suffer for trafficking and tries to give some preventive measures to overcome the situation. This dissertation describes socio-economic conditions of traffic affected family of Joypurhat district and also prescribes some strategy to combat child trafficking as well as to reintegrate the trafficked victims with the main stream of our society.
City, Culture and Consumption: A Study on Youth in Dhaka City from 1990 – 2015
(University of Dhaka, 2019-10-10) Zaman, Aklima
Fundamental changes in various aspects of the world have been noticed in the last two decades, where technology and the mass media play an important role in the appearance of such changes. They are modifying all aspects of the life of cities, political, economic and cultural. Globalization which resulted from the use of ICTs affected the cities of the world; it has sharpened the basic conflict between the old and the new. In main stream sociology, consumption is an important concept which has a great influence on making changes in different aspect of society as well as it is also being influenced by various facts that make it a result of change .In the last 25 years Bangladesh is going under a lot of changes among these the change in consumption is a recognized one. It is said that youths are the change makers and they accept any kind of change with open arms. So , in order to analyze the consumption culture of youth in Dhaka city of last 25 years this study has been conducted under the title of “ City, Culture and Consumption: A Study on Youth in Dhaka City from 1990 – 2015”. The main objective of the study is to find out whether any kind of change took place in the consumption pattern of youth in Dhaka during last 25 years and if any kind of change has taken place than what is the reason behind this kind of change. Another concern of the study was that whether Globalization had any kind of impact on the consumption pattern of youth. To find out these issues a mixed method research had been conducted where sample size was 250 including 10 in - depth interview. The respondents were divided in to three clusters .From 1990 – 1996 has been made as the period before internet age, from 1997 – 2006 as 2nd cluster which is made as VSAT base data circuit was commissioned for the first time in the country and the launching of three giant mobile companies suac as Grameen, Aktel and Banglalink and finally 2007 – 2015 cluster had been made as Bangladesh got connected to the SEA-ME-WE 4 Submarine cable in 2006.In the study three main areas have been chosen to analyze the changes in consumption pattern among youth such as food habit, entertainment and lifestyle & fashion. As consumption is a vast area and only one theory is not enough for explain this concept different theories have been analyzed to explain the changes among youths in the last 25 years regarding consumption culture such as Harvey’s theory of Time Space Compression, Baudrillard’s theory of consumption and Hyperreality, Ritzer,s theory of Macdonalization, Peter Corigan’s theory of Consumption and finally the theories of cultural globalization. Through the analysis of survey data and interviews along with the consideration of the mentioned theories it can be concluded that food habit of the youths has been changed in the last 25 years and the respondents of all the three cluster agreed that effects of western culture is the reason behind this kind of change. It is also found that Going to first food restaurant as well as frequency of going there is higher among the 2nd and 3rd cluster compare to 1st cluster. Regarding the entertainment it is found that favorite forms of entertainment as well as favorite type of movie, music, channel is taken place by Hoolywood and Bollywood items and all of these are result of different kinds of technological innovation as well as Globalization. Findings in the sector of fashion and clothing is much more interesting. It is found from the study that the youths of 2nd and 3rd cluster had started to like foreign products, shop in the branded store, wear accessories etc. Again the youths have become more conscious about their physique, figure and beauty. Going to parlor and gym has increased sharply in among the youths of 2nd and 3rd cluster in comparison with 1st . So it can be concluded that consumption pattern of youths during the last 25 years has changed remarkably and this change is caused by different aspect of globalization such as cultural, technological, economic etc.
Class and changing urban life styles in Narayanganj: A sociological study
(University of Dhaka, 2015-04-13) Saha, Amit Kumar
This thesis aims at finding out the relationships between urban classes and life style patterns and the impact of modernization and globalization on the urban life style patterns of the people in Narayanganj, and find out a new pattern of consumption. The society of Bangladesh has seen major cultural changes due to the influence of various processes namely, modernization, urbanization and globalization. Narayanganj, a major city of Bangladesh is also currently going through the process of cultural change. The life style pattern of high income groups or the upper class is quite different from the life style pattern of lower income groups or the lower class. The middle income group of Narayanganj also leads a different way of life. The changing process involves the food habits, media habits, dress patterns and family structure. There is a growing tendency of fast food culture among the upper and middle class people in Narayanganj city though the lower class is less comfortable to this culture. Moreover, a large number of brand shops are situated in Narayanganj city and they are rapidly increasing due to the growing preferences of the upper and middle class people on brand clothes. In addition, Indian hindi and bangla channels are becoming more popular among the residents of Narayanganj city. The modernization and globalization process have a crucial effect in the life style patterns of the people in Narayanganj city though the social stratification factors holds a significant position in this explication of change.
Climate Variability & Rural Livelihoods The Vulnerability & Adaptation Strategy of Coastal zone Farming Community
(University of Dhaka, 2014-03-25) Wazed, Salina
The concept of social phenomenon encompasses the meaning of ‘Occasion’ rather than ‘event’. The idea social occasion draws analogy from analysis of many sociologists which implies that disasters provide multi-possibilities for human action for development rather than involving one liner path to an end result which implies an event. Sometimes these disasters best be seen as social crisis occasion (Quarantelli: 1986) .Human experiences of coping with disasters are best exemplified in the way the poor people cope with vulnerability. Though vulnerability is not the same as poverty but the poor people are more prone to vulnerability due to external shocks like disaster. Here we can say that climate is the primary important factor for agriculture based country as well as her famer’s socio –economic condition. But climate variability effect itself also varies within the same country. As a result, coastal area people are more vulnerable than the people live in highland. In Bangladesh poverty is the overriding issue which depicts the relationship between disasters and socio-economic factors. Its highlights social phenomenon and individual– collective behaviour in mitigating effects of disasters on poor. This study reviews the impacts of climate variability on agriculture sector. As a sociological study, the main interests are findings the socio-economic vulnerability of farmers along with the potential agricultural adaptation due to climate variability in Bangladesh.
Computer professional’s health hazard: a study in Dhaka city
(University of Dhaka, 2015-04-05) Parveen, Sunjida
The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector is an emerging industrial sector in Bangladesh. According to Ministry of Finance 2013, the size of the IT industry is estimates to be approximately around US$ 120 million per year (including export). But computer professionals are among the most unnoticed working groups in Bangladesh who are exposed to various occupational health hazards due to their work postures and long working hour on computer. This study aims to assess the prevalence and pattern of computer related health hazards among the computer professionals in Dhaka city. It also seeks to examine the attitudes of the professionals towards health hazards, the association between the computer professionals’ health hazard and their working environment and interventions by government, employers and employees. With the Dhaka Metropolitan Area as a study site, a descriptive cross-sectional survey of 105 computer professionals (79% males and 21% females) between ages 20 through 45 and made up of Software programmers, Designers, Business analysts, Developers and Network engineers was conducted. The participants in the present study were recruited from 12 different software companies in Dhaka city. Results indicated that musculoskeletal disorders were common among the computer professionals. The highest (56.2%) respondents suffered from upper back trouble and (43.8%) suffered from lower back trouble. However, (41.9%) of the respondents suffered from wrists trouble and (41.0%) suffered neck pain. Shoulder trouble was found among (24.8%) of the respondents and (25.7%) of the respondents suffered eye restrain. Due to these troubles and discomforts, (20.0%) respondents were prevented from work and (40%) of the respondents consulted with the doctors or physio-therapists. Smoking habit was found among the (58.1%) of the respondents and a relation between long work hour and smoking habit was also analyzed. Accessing the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, large number of respondents (38.0%) was found moderately depressed. Statistical significant association was found between the long work hour and the level of depression. These findings underscore that the computer professionals are prone to these occupational hazards so computer service sector should be emphasized as a field of concern in occupational health hazards. Application of ergonomics and better technology along with proper lighting; cushioned chair and soft keypads in the office settings are required. There is also a need for enforcing suitable preventive measures to combat these occupational health hazards along with establishing OSH policy and legislations.
Crime and Delinquency among Slum Children of Dhaka City: A Sociological Study
(University of Dhaka, 2014-03-11) Islam, Atikul
Bangladesh has experienced one of the highest urban population growth rates (around 7% per year) over the past three decades. Dhaka, the capital city, attracts approximately 320,000 migrants from rural areas every year. The city is unable to provide shelter, food, education, healthcare, and employment for its rapidly-expanding population. An estimated 3.4 million people live in the overcrowded slums of Dhaka, and many more live in public spaces lacking the most basic shelter. Overall condition of the slum of Dhaka city is the worst with minimum access to basic human rights. The society has to grapple with numerous social problems. Crime and delinquency among slum children is the societal problems experienced in the contemporary scenario. This refers to the phenomenon of slum children being active in criminal activities. This is a unique challenge since the individuals are below the stipulated age of adulthood. My study found various types of crimes and delinquencies among children of Rayer Bazar slum such as violence, theft, robbery, mugging, trafficking, drug addicting, drug dealing, sexual harassment etc. and they are also used by outsiders drug dealing, mugging, robbery etc. They involve to these crimes and delinquencies for various reasons such as social condition, poor parenting, delinquent peer, economic insecurity, lack of education, labeling delinquent self image etc.
Determinants of child mortality A comparative study between rural and urban bangladesh
(© University of Dhaka, 2025-01-05) Akter, Selina
Development programmes and its impact on womens status in rural Bangladesh
(© University of Dhaka, 2025-01-05) Begum, Shamim Ara