Welcome...

Mohsin Mia
Assistant Professor, Sociology
Sociology of Bangladesh: Culture
What is culture?
What is culture?

R.T. Schaefer
“Culture is the totality of learned socially
transmitted customs, knowledge, material objects
and behavior”.
(Sociology, p.53 2009)
E.B Tylor
Culture is “that complex whole which includes
knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any
other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a
member if a society.”
(cited in: C. N. Shankar Rao, Sociology, p.190,
2007)
Culture of Bangladesh
Culture of Bangladesh
The cultures of Bangladesh composite over
the centuries have assimilated influences
of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism,
and Christianity.
It is manifested in various forms, including
music, dance, drama;
art craft; folklore folktale; languages literatu
re; philosophy
religion; festivals celebrations; as well as in
a distinct cuisine culinary tradition.
Culture of Bangladesh
The culture of Bangladesh is deeply intertwined
with the culture of the Bengal region of the Indian
subcontinent.
It has evolved over the centuries and encompasses the
cultural diversity of several social groups of
Bangladesh.
The Bengal Renaissance of the 18th early 19th
centuries, noted
Bengali writers, saints, authors, scientists,
researchers, thinkers, music composers,
painters, film-makers have played a significant role in
the development of Bengali culture.
Basically Bengali culture refers to the culture of
Bangladesh.
Culture of Bangladesh
Languages in Bangladesh
 The official language is Bangla, also known as Bengali
 Bangla is the first language of more than 98 percent of the population.
 It is written in its own script, derived from that of Sanskrit.
 Ethnic groups have their own language.
 Some people in Bangladesh mostly Bihari can also speak Urdu.
 Bangla vocabulary shows many influences. These include a strong
Islamic influence seen in the greetings of "Salaam aleykum" (Peace be
unto you) and "Khoda hafez" (God Bless you) and nouns from the Arab
world such as "dokan" (shop), "tarikh"(date), "kolom"(pen) and
"bonduk" (gun).
 In West Bengal, the Hindu influence is greater with the use of the Hindu
greeting "Namashkar".
 English has also had an influence on Bangla. During the days of the Raj
many words of English origin such as "tebil" (table), "tiffin" (archaic in
modern day English meaning snack box) entered Bangla.
 However, unlike India, there has never been the need for English as a
lingua franca and thus Bangla is the state language of Bangladesh.
Culture of Bangladesh
Festivals:
 A series of festivals varying from race to race are observed
here.
 Some of the Muslim rites are Eid-e-Miladunnabi, Eid-ul-Fitr,
Eid-ul-Azha, Muharram etc.
 Hindus observe Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja, Kali Puja and
many other pujas.
 Christmas ( popularly called Baradin in Bangla ) is observed
by Christians.
 Also there are some common festivities, which are observed
countrywide by people irrespective of races. Pahela Baishakh
(the first day of Bangla year) is such a festival.
 National festivals are Independence Day (26th March), 21st
February (the National Mourning Day and World Mother
Language Day), The Victory Day (16th December), Rabindra
& Nazrul Jayanti etc.
Culture of Bangladesh
Literature:
 Bangalees have a rich literary heritage.
 The earliest available specimen of Bengali literature is
about a thousand years old.
 During the mediaeval period Bengali Literature developed
considerably with the patronage of Muslim rulers.
 Chandi Das, Daulat Kazi and Alaol are some of the
famous poets of the period.
 The era of modern Bengali Literature began in the late
nineteenth century Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel
Laureate is a vital part of Bangalee culture.
 Kazi Nazrul Islam, Michael Madhusudan Datta. Sarat
Chandra Chattopadhaya, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhaya,
Mir Mosharraf Hossain and Kazi Ahdul Wadud are the
pioneers of modern Bengali Literature.
Culture of Bangladesh
Music:
 The traditional music in Bangladesh shares the perspectives of that of the Indian
sub-continent. Music in Bangladesh can be divided into three distinct categories -
classical, folk and modern.
 Ustad Alauddin Khan and Ustad Ayet Ali Khan are two names in classical
instrumental music who are internationally known.
 The store of folk song abounds in spiritual lyrics of Lalan Shah, Hasan Raja,
Romesh Shill and many anonymous lyricists.
 Bangla music arena is enriched with Jari, Shari, Bhatiali, Murshidi and other
types of folk songs.
 Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul Sangeet are Bangalees’ precious heritage.
 Modern music is also practiced widely. Contemporary patterns have more
inclinations to west. Pop song and band groups are also coming up mainly in
Dhaka City.
 Bangladesh has a good number of musical instruments originally of her own.
Originally country musical instruments include, Banshi (bamboo flute), Dhole
(wooden drums), Ektara (a single stringed instrument), Dotara (a four stringed
instrument), Mandira (a pair of metal bawls used as rhythm instrument),
Khanjani, Sharinda etc.
 Now-a-days western instruments such as Guitar, Drums, Saxophone, Synthesizer
etc. are being used alongside country instruments.
Culture of Bangladesh
Arts:
 There is a rich tradition of modern painting which was pioneered by Zainul
Abedin, Kamrul Hassan, Anwarul Haque, Shafiuddin Ahmed and S. M.
Sultan.
 Zainul Abedin earned international fame for his sketches on famine of 1943
in Bangladesh. Other famous artists of Bangladesh are Abdur Razzak,
Qayyum Chowdhury, Murtaza Baseer, Aminul Islam, Debdas Chakraborty,
Kazi Abdul Baset, Syed Jahangir, and Mohammad Kibria .
 Zainul Abedin's painting called 'The Rebel Cow‘

Drama:
 Drama in Bangladesh has an old tradition and is very popular. In Dhaka more
than a dozen theater groups have been regularly staging locally written plays
as well as those adopted from famous writers, mainly of European origin.
 Popular theatre groups are Dhaka Theatre, Nagarik Nattya Sampraday and
Theatre. In Dhaka, Baily Road area is known as ‘Natak Para’ where drama
shows are regularly held.
 Public Library Auditorium and Museum Auditorium are famous for holding
cultural shows. Dhaka University area is a pivotal part of cultural activities.
Culture of Bangladesh
Folk Dance:
 Classical forms of the sub-continent predominate in Bangladeshi dance.
The folk, tribal and Middle Eastern traits are also common.
 Among the tribal dances, particularly popular are Monipuri and Santal.
 Rural girls are in the habit of dancing that does not require any grammar or
regulations.
 Bangla songs like jari and shari are presented accompanied with dance of
both male and female performers.

Jatra:
 Jatra(Folk Drama) is another vital chapter of Bangalee culture. It depicts
mythological episodes of love and tragedy. Legendary plays of heroism are
also popular, particularly in the rural areas.
 In near past jatra was the biggest entertainment means for the rural
Bangalees and in that sense for 80% of the population since the same
percentage of the population lived in rural Bangladesh.
 Now-a-days jatra has been placed in the back seat in the entertainment era.
Gradually western culture is occupying the place of traditional culture like
jatra.
Culture of Bangladesh
Traditional Transport:
 There are some transportation means that are parts of
culture of Bangladesh. In rural areas bullock carts, buffalo
carts and tomtoms (horse carts) are commonly used.
 In old Dhaka once tomtom was a common vehicle and still
it is found, though rare.
 Bicycles are used both in rural and urban areas. Palki (a
box-like vehicle carried on shoulders by six men) is a
wedding transportation means. Brides are carried to the
bridegrooms’ places by Palki.
 Being a land crisscrossed by rivers, Bangladesh has a
wide-ranged tradition of ferry transport. Wooden boat
popularly called nawka is a vital means of rural
communication.
 Rickshaw is a very common vehicle to Bangladeshis.
Culture of Bangladesh
Clothing:
 Bangladeshi women habitually wear Sarees. Jamdani was once
world famous for it’s most artistic and expensive ornamental fabric.
Moslin, a fine and artistic type of cloth was well-known worldwide.
 Naksi Kantha, embroidered quilted patchwork cloth produced by
the village women, is still familiar in villages and towns
simultaneously.
 A common hairstyle is Beni (twisted bun) that Bangalee women are
fond of.
 Traditionally males wear Panjabis, Fatuas and Pajamas. Hindus
wear Dhuty for religious purposes. Now-a-days common dresses of
males are shirts and pants.
 Government and non-government organizations like Bangla
Academy, Nazrul Institute, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Fine
arts Institute, Chhayanat etc. play significant role to flourish
Bangladeshi art and culture providing encouragement in music,
drama, dance, recitation, art etc.
Culture of Bangladesh
Hierarchy
 Bangladesh is a hierarchical society.
 People are respected because of their age and position.
 Older people are naturally viewed as wise and are granted
respect.
 Bangladeshis expect the most senior male, by age or position,
to make decisions that are in the best interest of the group.

Religion
 Religion shapes many areas of Bangladeshi culture and, many
Bangladeshis prioritise their religious identity over their
national identity.
However, it’s also important to note that Bangladeshis practice
a tolerant form of Islam and are generally very accepting of
non Muslims.
Culture of Bangladesh

Gift Giving Etiquette

 Gifts are mainly given between family members at religious holidays,
especially after Ramadan and Hajj.
 In cities, it is becoming more common for gifts to be given on birthdays.
 In Bangladesh the importance of gifts is in the thought rather than the
value. Part of the reason lies in the fact that gifts should be generally
reciprocated and it would be considered rude to offer someone a gift that
is difficult to reciprocate.
 Ensure that you are mindful of religion when giving gifts to Muslims.
Don’t give anything that contains alcohol, non-halal meat products or
that contains inappropriate imagery.
 If giving gifts to Hindus in Bangladesh, then avoid giving them anything
that contains leather as cows have a special veneration in the Hindu
religion. Fruit, nuts, pastries, sweets, good quality chocolates or
souvenirs, from one’s home country, make good gifts.
 When presenting your gift, use either two hands or your right hand as
the left hand is not considered clean in the Islamic religion.
 It is customary in Bangladesh to open gifts in private.
Culture of Bangladesh
Meeting & Greeting Etiquette
 Greetings usually take place between members of the same sex.
 The hand shake is common although they may feel rather limp.
 If you are meeting with a member of the opposite sex, then wait to see if
they will offer you their hand before venturing to offer your own.
 The traditional greeting for Muslims is Asalamu alaikum to which the
response is wa alaikum salam.
 Naming conventions are very much based on the hierarchical nature of
Bangladeshi society. Bangladeshis will append a suffix to a person's
name to denote respect and the level of closeness between the two
people.
 It is common for people to use kinship titles within their community,
regardless of whether there is a formal blood tie. If someone interacts
with someone slightly older than them, then they may refer to them as
big sister, or, big brother. If someone is a generation older, then they may
be referred to as aunty or uncle.
 In general, age dictates how people are addressed. If people are of the
same age, they use first names.
 Culture of Bangladesh
Dining Etiquette
 If meeting with people for dinner here are some basic rules on etiquette
and protocol:
 If invited to a meal and you are unable to make it, then it is rude to flatly
turn the invitation down. One should always use less direct language to
suggest that it may be difficult such as "I will try." or "I will have to see".
 Meals both inside the house and outside will usually be segregated along
gender lines. As such, if you attend a meal as a couple, then the female
will eat with other females and the male will eat with other males.
 Many people eat with their hands and it may be that you share food from
a common dish.
 Guests are generally served first then the oldest, continuing in order of
seniority.
 Do not start eating until the oldest person at the table begins.
 You will constantly be urged to take more food. Simply saying "I'm full"
will be taken as a polite gesture and not accepted at face value.
 The left hand is considered unclean so only eat, pass dishes or drink with
the right hand.
Culture of Bangladesh

Cultural Globalization and recent trend of

cultural change in Bangladesh
Definition of social structure
R.T. Schaefer
“Social structure refers to the way in which a society
is organized into predictable relationships.”
(Sociology, p-113, 2009)

Radcliffe Brown
“ an arrangement of persons in institutionally
controlled or defined relationships (such as the
relationship of king and subject, or that of husband
and wife)”.
(cited in;: Shankar Rao, Sociology, p-141, 2007)
Elements of Social structure
According to H, M Johnson, the main
elements of social structure are as
follows: Sub-groups of
various types

Social Roles of
Cultural values structure various types

Regulative
norms
governing sub-
groups and roles
Elements of Social structure cont…

Other elements-
-Status
-Social institutions
-Social networks
-Technology
Economic Structure of Bangladesh:
from historical perspective
 East Bengal was also economically backward
region
 Agriculture was the main occupation and it still
continues to be so(over 85%)
 First phase of the British rule, the economy of
Bengal suffered serious reverses which affected the
Muslims more than the Hindus
 The root cause of the economic backwardness of
the was they were essentially an agriculturist
community
 The Permanent (1793) Settlement brought into
existence a class of new zamindars
Zamandari system and rise of new classes
Zamindars

Talukder Jotder (land holders who

(owner of large used to take land from
taluk) zamnders )

Mahajan(know
n as money Ryots(Peasant)
lenders)

Bargadar(shared croppers
who agreed proportion of
crops )
 Social structure of Bangladesh in modern era

Characteristics/Dynamics
 The sudden rise of a new managerial class and the
expansion of the civil and military bureaucracy upset the
balance in both the urban and the rural sectors.
 Party affiliation, political contacts, and documented
revolutionary service became the main prerequisites
 The established middle class and its values played lesser
roles.
 In the countryside, new elites with links to the villages
bought property to establish their sociopolitical control.
 Taking advantage of the situation, the rural political elite
amassed fortunes in land and rural-based enterprises.
 The result was the growth of a new, land-based, rural elite
that replaced many formerly entrenched wealthy peasants
Social structure of Bangladesh in modern era contd…

The basic social unit in a village is the family

(poribar or gushti)
generally consisting of a complete or incomplete
patrilineal extended household (chula) and
residing in a homestead (bari)
A significant unit larger than that of close kin is
the voluntary religious and mutual benefit
association known as "the society" (shomaj or
milat).
An informal council of shomaj elders
(matabdars or shordars) settles village disputes
Social structure of Bangladesh in modern era contd…

 Groups of homes in a village are called Paras, and

each para has its own name
 Several paras constitute a mauza, the basic revenue
and census survey unit.
 Although farming has traditionally ranked among the
most desirable occupations, villagers in the 1980s
began to encourage their children to leave the
increasingly overcrowded countryside to seek more
secure employment in the towns.
 Traditional sources of prestige, such as landholding,
distinguished lineage, and religious piety were
beginning to be replaced by modern education,
higher income, and steadier work
 Social structure of Bangladesh in modern era contd…
Urban society
 In 1988 about 18 percent of the population lived in urban areas,
most of which were villages or trade centers in rural areas.
 Urban centers grew in number and population during the 1980s as a
result of an administrative decentralization program
 Most of the urban population merely congregated in ramshackle
structures with poor sanitation and an almost total lack of modern
amenities.
 Towns were populated mostly by government functionaries,
merchants, and other business personnel.
 Most dwellings contained nuclear families and some extended
family lodgers.
 Most towns had social and sporting clubs and libraries. Unlike in
the rural areas, kinship ties among the town population were limited
and fragile.
 Social structure of Bangladesh in modern era contd…
Family, household, and kinship
 Family and kinship are the core of social life in Bangladesh.
 A family group residing in a bari (in contrast to chula in rural area)
functions as the basic unit of economic endeavor, landholding, and social
identity.
 Patrilineal ties dominate the ideology of family life, but in practice
matrilineal ties are almost as important.
 A woman begins to gain respect and security in her husband's or father-
in-law's household only after giving birth to a son.
Marriage
 Marriage is a civil contract rather than a religious sacrament in Islam
 the parties to the contract represent the interests of families rather than
the direct personal interests of the prospective spouses.
 parents ordinarily select spouses for their children, although men
frequently exercise some influence over the choice of their spouses.
 Dowry, bride-price(Mohorana) are some of the traditions of the society
Social structure of Bangladesh in modern era contd…

 The practice of purdah (the traditional seclusion of

women) varied widely according to social milieu.
 The health, nutrition, education, and economic
performance indicated that in the 1980s the status of
women in Bangladesh remained considerably
inferior to that of men.
 Women, in custom and practice, remained subordinate
to men in almost all aspects of their lives
 Most women's lives remained centered on their
traditional roles, and they had limited access to
markets, productive services, education, health care,
and local government.
Social structure of Bangladesh in modern era contd…

Concluding remarks
 Has a long history
 Multiculturalism
 Traditional social structure
 Transformation of society

Recent trends of social structure(Urban+

Rural)
THA
NK
YOU

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