http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/294 2026-11-10T22:11:05Z http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/4916 Human Rights Practiced and Community Development Approaches for Stranded Biharis in Bangladesh: A Study in Dhaka City Hasano, Khandakar Nahid (Background)The Urdu-speaking Bihari community in Bangladesh emerged from forced migration during the 1947 Partition and subsequent displacement after the 1971 Liberation War. Although this is partly legalized, they still suffer socio-economic marginalization, stateless-like status, and restricted rights access, especially in the city of Dhaka in urban camp settlements. (Objectives) This study aims to examine the status of human rights practices and evaluate the effectiveness of community development approaches among stranded Biharis in Dhaka. It examines the socio-economic conditions, presents the main human rights issues, evaluates the existence of already implemented interventions and suggests the policy recommendations to improve the outcomes of inclusion, guaranteeing of human rights and sustainable development. (Methodology) The study adopts a qualitative exploratory case study design focusing on Geneva Camp and Kalshi Camp in Dhaka. Using purposive and snowball sampling, data were gathered via case studies (12), Focus Group Discussions (04) and Key Informant Interviews (06). NVivo was employed to analyze the data based on thematic analysis to document lived experiences and trends in issues related to rights and development. (Findings)The findings reveal that the stranded Bihari community continues to face multidimensional deprivation shaped by historical marginalization and structural exclusion. In socio-demographic terms the population represents a gradual shift in generations with younger generations being more occupied in education and livelihoods but limited by poverty, early marriage, and high dependency rates. Livelihoods are still economically stable with livelihoods centering around low-paid livelihoods, which are informal and lack an upward mobility ladder. In terms of human rights, partial progress XI 8 is evident in citizenship recognition and access to identity documentation, especially among younger individuals. Nevertheless, there are still gaps in accessing education, medical care, shelter, and social protection services because of the monetary constraints, bureaucracy, and societal prejudices. Poor health and environmental risks are further enhanced by overpopulated dwellings, poor facilities and insecure tenure. The major problems involve low access to the formal jobs, the institutions which lack efficiency and effectiveness, social stigma and poor political representation. Community development programs such as skills training, microfinance, and education programs are not sufficiently effective because they lack coverage, poor coordination and structural constraints. Although there are improvements, especially in regards to awareness and access to services, these interventions have not produced sustainable and large-scale transformation in the community. (Conclusion)The study concludes that despite incremental progress, significant gaps remain between legal recognition and actual rights realization for the Bihari community. To counter these issues, there is need to integrate the inclusive, rights-based policies, service delivery and coordination of development to achieve sustainable integration, social equity and the promotion of improved well-being among this poor urban group This thesis is submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy. 2026-10-19T00:00:00Z http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/4915 Changing Dynamics and Responsibilities of Elderly Care in Urban Families of Dhaka City ., Subikunnahar This study explores the evolving nature of elderly care within urban families in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in the context of rapid demographic ageing, urbanization, and socioeconomic transformation. Traditionally, elderly care in Bangladesh has been familybased, rooted in cultural, moral, and religious expectations where adult children— particularly sons and daughters-in-law—assume primary responsibility for supporting ageing parents. However, this long-standing system is increasingly under strain due to changing family structures, economic pressures, and shifting social norms. The research identifies that urbanization, migration, the rise of nuclear families, and increased female participation in the workforce has significantly reduced the capacity of families to provide consistent and quality care. Although elderly individuals still largely depend on family members, the quality, intensity, and emotional aspects of care are declining due to time constraints, work pressures, and changing attitudes among younger generations. The study also highlights the gendered dimension of caregiving, where women continue to bear the primary burden of elderly care despite their growing involvement in paid employment. This creates a “double burden” and contributes to stress and imbalance within households. At the same time, elderly individuals face increasing challenges such as chronic illness, financial insecurity, social isolation, and limited access to healthcare and institutional support systems. Methodology applied for this qualitative study is limited to urban households in selected areas of Dhaka city, aiming to capture the lived experiences of older adults and their caregivers within this specific context. The study area selected for this research is some urban areas under the Dhaka North and South City Corporations. As the population of this study area is numerous, thus sampling method applied while collecting data. A total of 30 households selected based on Purposive sampling and three popular methods are applied namely In-depth Interviews (IDI), Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and Observation. vi Collected data analysis done based on thematic analysis coding and categorization of recurring patterns ethical considerations, informed consent confidentiality respect for participants are considered during analysis. A major finding of the research is the gap between strong cultural expectations of filial responsibility and the declining practical ability of families to fulfill these roles. While policies such as the National Policy on Older Persons exist, formal care services— including residential facilities and home-based care—remain inadequate, fragmented, and inaccessible to most urban residents. The study aims to examine the socio-economic conditions and health needs of the elderly, analyses changing caregiving roles and responsibilities, and assess the availability of support from both family and institutional sources. It also seeks to understand how caregiving responsibilities are negotiated within households and influenced by gender, class, and urban living conditions. Overall, the research argues that the traditional family-based care model is no longer sufficient on its own. It calls for the development of integrated, culturally sensitive, and sustainable elderly care systems that combine family support with state, community, and market-based interventions. Such approaches are essential to ensure dignified ageing, social inclusion, and improved quality of life for the growing elderly population in urban Bangladesh. Study found that the family remains the primary source of elderly care, despite significant structural and social changes. Most elderly individuals continue to rely on their children—particularly sons—and other close family members for financial, physical, and emotional support. Cultural and moral expectations rooted in societal norms still strongly influence caregiving practices, and many respondents expressed a sense of duty and obligation toward their ageing parents. However, this reliance on family support is increasingly strained due to changing living arrangements and economic pressures. This thesis is submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy. 2026-10-19T00:00:00Z http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/4886 A Study on Labour Rights for Women in Readymade Garment Industries of Bangladesh Razzaque, Naimul The RMG sector in Bangladesh is a critical contributor to the national economy; it represents about 11% of the country‘s GDP and encompasses about 84% of the revenues from exports. This industry employs approximately four million workers, out of which 60-65% are women. Though these women drive this success story, they are burdened with innumerable challenges regarding labour rights, including wage disparity, unsafe working conditions, and GBV. This research assesses the labour rights of women workers in Bangladesh's RMG sector, specifically their working conditions, wages, safety, and access to legal protection. In this study, the labour rights problems faced by women in the RMG sector were investigated using mixed-methods research, in which both quantitative and qualitative techniques were combined to give a comprehensive view. Conducted between November 2024 and February 2025, data from a total of 375 female workers were collected using structured questionnaires, which gathered information on working conditions, wages, safety, and job satisfaction across five RMG factories in Savar and Gazipur, two major industrial hubs in Bangladesh. Qualitative insights complemented the quantitative data obtained from 20 in-depth interviews and 4 FGDs with key stakeholders such as female workers, factory managers, union representatives, and labour rights activists. The integration of these methods allowed the study to capture not only the statistical trends but also the personal experiences of the workers, better understanding the challenges they face. The study is intended to unravel the nexus between economic empowerment and labour rights, as well as identify the impediments facing women workers in realizing their full labour rights in the workplace. One of the key findings from this study reveals that there is still a persistent gender pay gap issue in the RMG sector. While women comprise the majority of the workforce, 78% of female workers receive wages below a living wage. Further, there is a 20% gender pay gap at the managerial level of employment, where men have higher-paying jobs in management, while women hold lower-paid manual labour positions like sewing machine operator and helper. The existing wage gaps prove there is discrimination against women, who get paid less for the same work than men. Another urgent issue is workplace safety. In spite of the regulations concerning fire drills and the implementation of other safety measures, 65% of the probed factories did not hold fire drills as legally demanded, leaving workers vi particularly vulnerable in case of an emergency. Secondly, 85% of women workers reported feeling unsafe in their workplace due to poor safety features such as bad fire exits, poor ventilation, and an absence of protection gear. These conditions have continued to raise great concern, especially following the devastating fall of Rana Plaza in 2013, exposing failures in the safety legislation in this industry. Union representation is weak, with only 5% of workers unionized, and fewer than 10% of the leadership positions are held by women. The consequence of such underrepresentation greatly reduces the extent to which female workers are able to assert their rights for better wages, improved safety conditions, and freedom from discrimination. The study found that significant cultural and institutional barriers exist for women joining unions, with many fearing retaliations by factory management or dismissal from their jobs. The RMG sector is filled with various cases of gender-based violence. In the study, it was reported that 90% of the female workers had faced some kind of harassment, which included verbal, physical, or sexual harassment. However, the same percentage, 82%, never received a solution because of the weak grievance mechanisms and fear of retaliation. The inefficiency in policies and mechanisms for addressing harassment issues in workplaces has led to the persistence of such violations, making the environment inappropriate and insecure for females. Although the Bangladesh Labour Act guarantees maternity benefits, many of the women workers are not receiving any such benefits despite legal protections granted within the amended version of 2006, revised in 2018. The study revealed large numbers of women either being refused maternity leave or forced into resignation during pregnancy, which leaves many workers bereft of income and job security during this very critical period. On top of this, the absence of childcare facilities at the workplace exacerbates women's challenges in balancing work and family responsibilities. It also investigated the awareness of labour rights among women workers. Most women had very little knowledge of their rights as stated in the national laws on labour and international conventions. Some workers had general information about their rights, though a significant proportion did not have substantial details about certain provisions, such as about wages, hours of work, and even maternity leave. Indeed, this lack of awareness is what further exacerbates their inability to claim these rights and access legal remedies when violations occur. The study has put forward a number of recommendations to enhance the labour rights for women workers in Bangladesh's RMG sector: The government should develop more vii comprehensive strategies for enforcement of existing labour legislation, including wages, workplace safety, and gender-based violence. Implementation of the Bangladesh Labour Act should go hand in hand with accountability for non-compliance at factories. Effective implementation needs to be matched with strengthening regular inspections through the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, in order to ensure that not only are safety standards upheld, but workers' rights are better protected as well. The study advocates for gender-sensitive workplace policies regarding paid menstrual leaves, maternity benefits, and increasing childcare support. It would make work more accommodating and help women balance work and family responsibilities. Affordable childcare and paid menstrual leaves would reduce the stigma associated with reproductive health and enable women to be more active participants in the workforce. Improvement in labor rights therefore requires increased women's participation in unions and their leadership. The study suggests that the unions actively involve women, conduct labor rights training, and union leadership training. This would equip the female workers with the capacity to advance their rights. The research study requires safety measures to be put in place, including compulsory fire drills and adequate emergency exits. Training workers on safety procedures and enforcing minimum standards of safety in factories will reduce the frequency of accidents and promote a more favorable working environment. The government should allocate adequate resources to increase factory inspections and prosecute non-complying industries. There is an urgent need to spread awareness on labour rights among the women workers. The NGOs, trade unions, and civil society organizations should actively inform the workers about their rights under the Bangladesh Labour Act and international conventions and enable them to seek justice when necessary. The international buyers must take increasing responsibility for ensuring that their suppliers in Bangladesh maintain ethical standards in labor practices. Imposing strict codes of conduct can be useful for global brands in making factories follow labor laws regarding gender equality, safety, and fair wages. This needs cooperation with local stakeholders for long-term improvement in the industry. This research evidences the critical role that women workers play in Bangladesh's RMG sector and points out a range of barriers to securing their labour rights. While the sector has opened economic opportunities for women, these gains are being eroded by systemic exploitation, poor working conditions, and weak enforcement of labour laws. For truly sustainable and inclusive growth, strong labour regulations with viii strict enforcement, better safety standards, union leadership by women, and gender equity at workplaces will have to be ensured in the Bangladesh RMG sector. By taking on these challenges, the industry will engender a more just and equitable environment for the millions of women who contribute to its success. This thesis is submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy. 2026-08-09T00:00:00Z http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/4885 Livelihood Strategy and Vulnerability of Brass and Bell Metal Artisans in Bangladesh Mahmud, Hossain Brass and bell metal craftsmanship in Bangladesh is a living tradition reflecting the region’s deep cultural and historical heritage. Metallurgical practices in Bengal date back to the Chalcolithic Age (c. 1500 BC), with widespread use of iron emerging around 1000 BC. Copper, its alloys, and iron were the most important materials to be employed in metal work, with silver and gold being utilized on a more limited basis. This craft not only reflects the technological capabilities of the region but also embodies within itself its rich culture. The thesis examines artisans’ livelihood strategies and multidimensional vulnerabilities in three historically significant craft clusters: Islampur (Jamalpur), Kagmari (Tangail), and Dhamrai (Dhaka). The aim of the study is to examine how these artisans’ communities surmount socio-economic challenges without discarding century-long traditions, and identify key gaps between policy design and practice at the ground level that threaten the longevity of craft. A mixed-methods method employed to study collected data from 210 craftspeople (70 per site) between November 2022 and February 2023 through structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation. The research objectives included the assessment of demographic profiles, livelihood strategies, assets bases, vulnerability contexts, coping xiv mechanisms, and policy effectiveness. The argument of the thesis posits that although there are progressive policies, policy implementation failures beget policy-practice gaps and thus economically marginalize artisans while they continue to be culturally cherished. The findings of the study revel the vulnerabilities: 82% reflect lack of access to capital, 95.7%-90% are men everywhere, and religious composition reflects 79.1%-61.4% Hindu participation consistent with historic patterns of patronage. Income insecurity is felt by 95.71% of Islampur artisans with psychological stress, and educational attainment ranges from 37.1% illiteracy in rural Islampur to 47.1% primary school education in peri-urban Dhamrai, reflecting geographical variation. Occupational hazards still remain untackled, 77.1% without safety equipment and only 2% undergoing safety training. Women remain significantly excluded, and their valuable contribution in polishing and finishing is yet to be recognized and appreciated. In spite of these difficulties, the producers demonstrate adaptive resilience through the development of digital interaction (18.57% application of online marketing in Dhamrai), product diversification (27.14% in Dhamrei), and skill upgradation (14.76% in Kagmari). That only 50.1% of people learn skills through family tradition shows that intergenerational transmission is under threat. Policies are suggested by the study, such as better interministerial coordination, gender-responsive training duties, digital literacy modules, clustering of crafts, facilitated access to financing (at a 5% interest rate as requested by the craftsmen), and environmental sustainability. The study can contribute to longitudinal designs for the measurement of socio-economic transitions, extend geographical scope to other centers of craft (Bogura, Chapainawabganj, Munshiganj etc.), examine women’s invisible labour inputs, and examine digital marketplace effects towards protecting traditional craftsmanship. This thesis is submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy. 2026-08-09T00:00:00Z