THE Bangladesh market is rapidly expanding with new products and the sales of old products is increasing. The sheer number of consumers makes it hugely profitable and the rise of rural consumption has created a lucrative consumer base. As a result, marketing companies are running psycho-social research of the people and using Facebook comments as a way of learning about public response.
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An uncertain society?
THE results that are coming in are both positive and some disconcerting. While not always helpful in developing advertising campaigns, they are profiling people who seem a bit uncertain and unsure about themselves. There appears to be a lack of collective confidence and people are unsure of who they are although they are much better off than before.
It also is obvious that Bangladeshis are not a monolithic society and the internal variations are many. Thus, a single-fit Bangladeshi may not exist although the dominant narrative imagines one Bengali and Bangladeshi, etc. However, the surprising finding is that most are suspicious of each other and class has an important role to play as an influencing factor in social behaviour.
Initial studies also find that intolerance is far more common and just about everyone dislikes the other. While society is diverse and may be a factor in causing this, urban and rural behaviours have certain differences as well.
While in rural areas, there is a great focus on self-development, particularly economic, the urban situation is limited economically. That has led to some variations although rural abuse/hate is around the control of power in villages. A new import of power is politics and political networks have emerged as the new haters/intolerant. Politics is universally constructed around negative appeals. It is possible that such equations have self-preservation issues are the cause, at least significantly.
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Some major findings
THE survey is at a preliminary stage but based on current findings. The results show a profile of a people who are getting economically well off but also socially insecure. There is considerable contradiction about their own self-perception as well as of a people.
Most people think 鈥楤engalis鈥� are some of the best people in the world. When asked to give examples, they could not provide any concrete examples, but it was a general belief across the board. They also considered Arabs as the highest people in the world as Islam came to them. This applied, of course, only to Muslims who were the major consumer base.
When asked about some of the examples of the 鈥榖est鈥� people, the respondents did not provide any strong evidence to back the statement either. They were vague and referred to a few examples of isolated charitable acts by some individuals in their local area. A few mentioned the warriors of 1971 in case of supporters of the ruling party.
When asked about some of the 鈥榳orst鈥� people in the world, they provided many examples, including their own family conflicts, village conflicts, etc. Interestingly, migrant workers鈥� families were positive about the employers, but migrant workers themselves had many negative stories about how they were treated. When asked about their being the 鈥榖est鈥� people and the contradictory behaviour they cited, the respondents did not provide any clear answer. Clearly, one was a culturally held idea and the other was an existential fact.
Most people have a weak idea about 鈥榙esh鈥�. Most considered the home/village and desh as the same. They have a symbolic understanding of the state of Bangladesh, but the identity with it is not firm. They have a stronger and clear bias towards faith rather than any 鈥榗onstitutional鈥� notion or institution of any kind.
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Of hate and love
VILLAGERS have a strong idea about family, clan and relatives but are hostile towards outsiders. However, what unites them is employment as many need networks to gain employment at home or abroad. New networks have emerged and the biggest facilitator is the smartphone and social media. Villagers are less interested in national media but more into social media including 鈥榲iral鈥� products.
Despite the fact that many are quite abusive about their contestants, individual and collective, they are also ready to go for mediation when it comes to social and sexual misdemeanour. However, they are more keen on conflict when it comes to property and material resources.
That does not, however, mean that they have confidence in the standard constitutional judiciary or even local government institutions. The traditional systems continue to dominate although they are sharing the conflict by-product space. Since mediation is useful, less expensive and prevents escalation of violence that cannot be controlled and political elements get involved, shalish remains the preferred system of conflict management. It is one reason the traditional mediation instruments such as shalish are still active.
Where most agree is on economic growth and which is why it is driving social behaviour including completion and conflict.
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Afsan Chowdhury is a researcher and journalist.
