SOCIAL CHANGES IN BANGLADESH

Introduction 

The issue of social change cannot be addressed without reflecting on the

Theoretical approaches of its analysis. Hence there is a need for a brief attention

To theoretical issues. In this paper the first part will consist of a brief discussion

On the theoretical and methodological issues relevant to the understanding of

Social change and the second part will deal with the major changes that may be

Considered positive evidences while the third part will document a few

Challenges in this regard. The last part will be conclusion of the paper. 

How Can We Interpret Social Change

There is a conceptual link between the notion of society and change. There are some theorists whose notion of social change presupposes understanding of their concepts of society. Marxian notion of social change is a relevant example. However, all approaches of social change do not necessarily derive from a concept of society. In order to focus on the uniqueness of each approach the following attempt for re-configuration is attempted.  i. Holistic-deterministic ii. Holistic-functionalistic-cybernetics iii. Selective-specific IV. Post modernistic   v. Change from resistance  Holistic-deterministic: In this respect the name of Marx and his approach would feature most prominently. Marx’s famous theses XI on Feuerbach “The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point, however, is to change it” (Marx 1976:65). Above remark reminds us how much emphasis was put on the need for change by Marx.

 

Evidence of Positive Changes

 In this section attention is paid to a set of changes that may be considered as positive. These are related to class structure, attitudes as well as disadvantaged groups.  Emerging entrepreneurship and economic drive: Capitalistic mode of production is the premise of economic activity since long time ago. In the early 1970’s several rural studies focused attention on the expansion of capitalist mode of production in rural areas. It was concluded that the process of Green Revolution has stepped up the expansion of capitalism in rural Bangladesh. A class of rich peasantry was emerging was the conclusion although the claim was qualified that it is not comparable with the capitalist farmers of other countries. It was also debated whether the agricultural working class could be considered

Social Changes in Contemporary Bangladesh

as a proletariat class. What was the type of capitalism is not the main issue in my opinion, what is more important is the emergence of strong entrepreneurship in both rural and urban areas. A peasant society is gradually becoming a capitalist one is the important issue here. Such change has got important implication: if a subsistence oriented society changes into a market oriented society changes at different levels follow. For example, modern agricultural technology (mechanical irrigation-HYV crops-fertilizer) has fast expanded, market production of crops, vegetable, poultry and fish is the predominant form. On the other hand exchange relationship between enterprising class and workers have also fast proceeded.   In urban areas industrial entrepreneurs are also emerging along with the market economy. The emergence of urban entrepreneur class is visible in the readymade garment, pharmaceuticals, ship breaking and other sectors. With the emergence of industrial entrepreneur class capitalistic relations of production has sharpened in the country and a new form of class contradiction has emerged particularly in the readymade garment sector. We are not elaborating the form of social violence that has emerged in the labour relation of readymade garment sector.  Economic drive has strongly motivated the young workers of rural areas to seek job abroad. There are a few villages in Bangladesh without family(s)’ young member(s) not migrated abroad as workers. Widely acknowledged is the effect of remittance earned by the migrant workers in economy particularly in the payment of import bills. There has been feminization of migration also. Economic mobility is an effect of such migration although there are cases where indebtedness of the migrant families is also reported. Migration brings additional status in the village but for the migrant women workers it is not always the case.  Changing gender relation & women’s empowerment:  Patriarchal norms still shape the gender relations of the country to a significant extent. However, it has encountered challenges both in urban and rural areas. It may be said that in the post-independence Bangladesh the change in patriarchy based gender relation or creating a balance in the gender relation is a remarkable achievement of the society. The importance of such achievement can be understood further if we take into consideration half of the population are women. Reducing patriarchal influence in gender relation implies at least two consequences: social justice has been achieved, empowered women are contributing to national reconstruction.

How it has been possible and how could we identify it? In the last four decades NGOs have become important development catalyst in the country particularly in the rural areas. In different programs of the NGOs particularly micro-credit, social awareness and skill training the women have been integrated. It has created new opportunities for the women. For example, when micro-credit program first started in the country in early 1980’s men were the recipients but gradually women were preferred because of their better credit worthiness. While in many cases the women themselves undertook income generating activities (particularly the widows and abandoned), they also shared the money with their husbands or adult sons. Then it became a household activity in which the women participated in different ways (e.g., planning a business, management of portfolio). Such participation allowed women to come out of the traditional role of exclusively housekeeping or child raising. Different commentators observed that NGO program increased the spatial mobility of the women and increased their capacity for decision making at the level of household (Kabeer 2001).   Another catalyst for women’s empowerment is the employment of women in the RMG sector. Such employment changed the notion of women’s conventional role. We know that about 4 million are RMG workers of which 80 percent are women. Leaving villages behind the RMG women workers have lived in the urban areas, sometimes with their families and sometimes independently. They acquired control over money, decision making role as well as spatial mobility. These women have got transformed from covert to overt being, if we notice their role in the protest movement against the RMG employers on different issues.  

Social Changes in Contemporary Bangladesh

such migration and subsequent work the women have become active in the places thousands miles away from their remote villages. It is also different from the migration within the country, it requires adjustment with a new culture, learning the skill to ensure own security and others. Many of migrant women also come back to own villages with some saving and contribution to the family’s well-being. However some studies have reported that still the migrant image of the women is not positive in the villages, unlike men’s foreign migration which enhances their social status. But many of the migrant women who have come back have tried to build network among themselves and fight back the so called social exclusion. In is observed by a relevant observer, “Thus female migrants who have returned have begun regionally to distribute information and loans to women who wish to migrate, and the first locally embedded networks of women are emerging. They are also buying land in their own name.  They are also questioning the criticism made against them because of migration “ (Dannecker 2011). 

Challenges

 Social inequality and slum development in urban areas: Inequality has increased in urban areas. The average room numbers among the poorest were found 1.24 which was 3.40 among the richest (World Bank 2007:6). Average expenditure among the poor was found less than TK700, it was more than TK3000 among the rich. Most poor live in slums which are extremely deprived in terms of utility services. The urban poor are the victims of regular toll taken by the musclemen, besides the victims of drug and alcohol consumption. Illegal arms business, gambling, violence against women and children, murder and kidnapping also take place regularly in the slums. 35% crimes in the slums take place within the household. With the increase of slum child labour has increased in different hazardous job. These children are quickly getting exposed to risky behavior such as intravenous drug (World Bank 2007).  Increasing divorce: Industrial society are characterized by liquid relationship (Blackshaw 2007), which means normative basis of social relationships become fluid. Adherence also becomes loose.