Socio-Cultural Transformation of a Village Community in the 21st Century: A Case of Bangladesh

Abstract

For a very long period, both the Indian subcontinent and Bangladesh's rural societies remained unchanging and stagnant. However, these societies have undergone significant transformation since the mid-20th century. Since the 1990s, this process of change has quickened. The media, internet, education, electrification, technology, and other factors have accelerated the changes in rural communities. Ownership of land, patterns of agriculture, enrollment in school, social mobility, sources of entertainment, use of contraceptives, lifestyle, etc. have been transformed over the previous 20 years. To identify the real scenery of transformation, the researcher has compared his present (2023) data with another survey conducted in 2001. 153 households were interviewed with a semi-structured questionnaire in July and August of 2023. At the same time, 4 FGDs and 5 case studies were also conducted in the community. In 2001, 116 households were interviewed, and 5 case studies were conducted. The study found significant transformations in the community over the past two decades. Although the ownership of homesteads has increased, however, cropland has been captured by a limited community owner. Diversified agriculture has amplified. The rate and level of education, especially women’s education have increased. People’s lifestyles, habits of entertainment, interest in the use of contraceptive items, etc. have changed significantly. Households’ socioeconomic mobility and the size of the middle class of the community have also been transformed during the mentioned time. There is a reflection of the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) model developed by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) (formerly DFID).