Complexities of Social Change in Bangladesh

Connecting historical aspiration with contemporary reality, this book examines post-independence Bangladesh from a sociological perspective, discussing the structural and cultural factors that threaten its achievements, and how it might overcome existing hurdles to ensure continuity and long-term stability in its social transformation.

Structured around three broad phases of transformation – post-liberation reconstruction (1972–1990), globalization and digitalization (1991–2010), and contemporary transformations (2010–2025) – the book traces continuity, rupture, and reconfiguration across the evolving sociopolitical landscape of Bangladesh. Chapters chart key developments in Bangladesh’s history such as July Uprising of 2024, the evolution of religious and cultural politics since 2012, and the rapid expansion of the service and digital sectors in recent years. The book also examines the transformative impact of digitalization, social media, and technology on kinship, marriage, youth culture, and everyday life.

Ultimately developing an integrated analytical framework for understanding Bangladesh’s societal dynamics, the book will be of interest to scholars, researchers and postgraduate students in the fields of sociology, political science, and South Asian studies.

Monirul I. Khan, PhD, is Adjunct Professor at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB). He is a sociologist and academic with extensive experience in teaching and research on a wide range of socio-economic issues, including agrarian structure, health, poverty, child labour, and women’s empowerment. He served as a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Dhaka, where he taught courses on peasant society, poverty, social statistics, social change, and sociological theory until his retirement in 2024. In addition to his academic career, he has worked as a consultant for several international development organizations, including ILO, the World Bank, UNDP, CARE, and BRAC. He is the author of two books and has published more than fifty articles, working papers, and book chapters in national and international journals.

Kazi Mahmudur Rahman, PhD, is Professor and former Head of the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB). His research focuses on labour markets, the political economy of the ready-made garments industry, poverty, inequality, trade, and global governance. He has conducted numerous projects in collaboration with international institutions, including the London School of Economics, University of New South Wales, Freie University Berlin, and University of Gothenburg, and has consulted for organizations such as ILO, USAID, ADB, UNDP, Oxfam Australia, BRAC, and UN Women. Professor Rahman has taught at IUB, ULAB, East West University, University of Southern Queensland, and University of Queensland, and was a visiting fellow at BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD). He has published widely in leading journals and book chapters.

Sharmeen Ahmed is Senior Lecturer, Department of Social Sciences and Humanities at the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB). She received Master of Arts in Sociology from the Department of Sociology, Boston University, USA. Earlier she served as the acting head of the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities and Associate Director at the Centre for Social Science Research at Independent University, Bangladesh. She actively supervised several undergraduate theses and actively involved in various committees set by the university. Ahmed’s research interests include migration, environment, gender stratification and globalization, and she has published various journal articles and book chapters.

Jannatul Ferdous is Associate Professor at the Department of Public Administration, Comilla University, Bangladesh. She has a diverse academic background and extensive research contributions. Ferdous holds a Master’s degree, an M.Phil. in Public Administration, and a Ph.D. in Development Studies from Dhaka University. Her research interests include population migration, governance, trust, gender, public policy, climate change, and development.