BIGD conducted an ethnographic study in 2023 to understand the transformations taking place in rural communities of Bangladesh. Based on that experience, we realized that the various social, economic, cultural, and political characteristics once considered intrinsic to rural identity—particularly in studies on rural Bangladesh from the 1970s and 1980s—have undergone significant changes in different dimensions and directions.
The perspective of viewing villages as isolated from cities or the global context has changed (Partha, 2024); we now live in an era of market economy and globalization. This paper looks into the changes that have occurred in Bangladesh over the past 25 years, with emphasis on migration, culture, local institutional and social stratification, financial inclusion, environment and climate change, built environment, and agriculture.
Authors: Shatil, Tanvir; Zaman, Shahaduz
Type: Working Paper
Year: 2025