Changes Which Have Occurred During the Post Liberation

Timeline
The post-liberation timeline in Mymensingh, Chor Khali Bari Moddho Para has been marked by

a range of social, economic, and political changes. Some of the most notable changes include:

Positive Changes
• Achievement in Education.

• Achievement in Health.

• Industry Revolution

• Digital Bangladesh Revolution

• Construction of roads and bridges

• New machineries in field

• Availability of electricity

• Introduction of Tube-well

• Increase in earnings

Negative Changes
• Dowry

• Drug Addiction

• Crime level increased

• Higher tax rate

• Increasing products price

• Higher lease

• More living expenses compared to income

• Inflation
• Per Head income is insufficient to run the family

Women Empowerment
The following shows the percentages in blue of the activities that women are generally allowed to do
generally.

Vote casting 100%

Shopping alone : 0%
 Visitng relatives: 50%

Watching Tv: 100%

VISITNG DOCTORS: 0%
Even if most women are not allowed to travel to cities and hospitals alone, mostly because of safety
reasons, they are allowed to use their personal cell, can visit relatives, have access to television, a little
more than half the population there can go shopping alone and most importantly, they are able to vote,
whereas, still now, in many rural places, women don’t have their National ID card.

Dowry
Dowry is a traditional practice in Bangladesh, including in the village of Mymensingh, Chor Khalibari.
Despite laws prohibiting the practice of dowry, it remains prevalent in many parts of the country and
continues to have negative impacts on women and families.

In recent years, there has been a shift in the language used to describe dowry. Many families now refer to
it as "gifts" rather than dowry, to circumvent the law. However, the practice remains the same, and
women are still expected to bring a significant amount of money or other gifts to their husbands' families
at the time of marriage. This expectation of dowry can have serious negative consequences for women
and their families.

For example, families may face financial hardship as they try to accumulate enough money and gifts to
satisfy the expectations of their son's future in-laws. This can lead to debt and other financial struggles.

Additionally, the expectation of dowry can put pressure on women to marry quickly, which can have
negative consequences for their education and career opportunities. Women may also face abuse and
violence if they are unable to meet the dowry expectations of their husbands' families.
There have been efforts to address the issue of dowry in Bangladesh, including through education
campaigns and legal action against those who demand dowry. However, the practice remains prevalent in
many parts of the country, including in Mymensingh, Chor Khalibari Moddhopara.

In summary, the practice of dowry remains a significant issue in the village of Mymensingh, Chor
Khalibari. Despite legal and social efforts to address the issue, women and families continue to face
negative consequences due to this traditional practice.

Demographic
Demographic refers to the statistical characteristics of human populations. It reflects basic
information like name, age, gender, and others. The first part of our questionnaire was
demographic status that included categories like name, age, sex, marital status, relationship with
household head, schooling, occupation. Due to the information included here, we are easily able
to recognize the household heads, how many members are available in each family, how many
males and females are present in the family – the primary information. Information regarding the
respondents, what each member of the family is currently doing and what level of academics a
member has accomplished is also stated.

Population
The population of the village Chor kalibari is increasing gradually. At present there are about
340 people living in the Para.
Gender Ratio

Genders

36%

Male
Female

64%

The pie chart shows the gender ratio of the para. Here we can see 64% male and 36% female in
this para.
Marital Status

Married Unmerried

80

70

60

50

40 72.72

30

20
27.27

10

0
Married Unmarried

In this village for the already married population, early marriage is prevalent, but they are getting more
concerned about education and child marriage, the new parents do not want to get their children married
early on. But still, a condition remains, that is depending on their economic condition. If they are unable
to carry the cost of educating their children, they will marry off their children early on, girls more so than
boys. Among the people surveyed, we found only one widowed female. The chart showcases a summary
of the marital status of the survey population.

Age Range
 Ages

12%

30%

18% 0-20 YEARS

21-40 YEARS
41-60 YEARS
61-80 YEARS

40%

The chart was drawn from the information collected in demographic status. The maximum age

ratio 21-40 is 40%, then 0-20 age ratio 30%, 41-60 age ratio 18% and minimum age ratio 61-80

is 12%.

Education
The residents of Bogar mor place great value on education and are making significant efforts to ensure
that their children receive it. Although there are more children than adults in the area, all school-age
children are attending school. Even new parents are sending both their sons and daughters to school,
unlike previous generations where education was limited to primary school or non-existent. The chart
provided summarizes the findings of the survey conducted on the population of bogar mor Para.
 Educati on char t
3

2.5

3 3
1.5

2
1

1 1 1
0.5

0
HSC SSC Class 6-8 Class 1-5 Madrasa No education

School/College/Madrasha:
There is only one Primary school, Chor Kalibari Primary School, but no college or

high school. There is one madrasha at the beginning of the Para. we found a village kinder garden which
is mange a girl. which name is SHIKHON KENRDO.
Minimum Age for Marriage
 Female Male

22 30
21 24

According to Bangladesh law, the minimum age for marriage for female is 18. Here the majority

choose 21-22 years for marriage.

Minimum Education for Marriage

Cultural Change
We attempted to ask the questionnaire to 15 distinct individuals from 8 different households in
order to study the cultural changes. The majority of them happily responded.

Analysis of the Surveyed People Information

Even though we polled 15 people across 8 different houses, only 10 of them responded in this part.
The other 5 people resisted answering the questions because of shyness or lack of interest. Five of
the ten respondents (5 men and 3 women) were female. Three of the ladies were between the ages
of 30 and 40, while the other two were between the ages of 50 and 60. They were all Muslims by
faith. Only one woman completed her primary education as well as the SSC examination, while
the other four had not even reached the level of completion of primary section. The other half of
the male respondents did not finish their primary education. One of them, though, was quite
knowledgeable despite not having received formal education.

Beliefs
It is an established fact that there is an intimate connection between people’s beliefs in cultural
facts and social changes. We asked several questions regarding the sky, earth, water, universe,
religion, life, sports and events like fair to understand their thoughts with beliefs. They rarely
beliefs in any kind of superstitions. As all of them were Muslims by faith, they had they believes
as Muslims should have according to Islam.

Values
As all of them were Muslims by faith, their values are also almost as per the Islamic Values.

Ideas
Sociologists and public officials refer to the way society is changing as "cultural change" to
describe this process. As a result, new social structures are developed in the community, along
with new cultural traits, behavioral patterns, and social standards. The ideas of people of the para
belongs to mostly modest and Islamic mind sets.

Sports & Fair

Through uniting people and communities, sport improves social and cultural life. Sports can aid in
bridging gaps and promoting conversation, among other things. A big group of people who
temporarily assemble at a time and location that is acceptable to their culture is known as a mela or
fair. For a variety of Indian rituals, performances, crafts, commercial, aesthetic, and culinary
traditions, it offers a perfectly appropriate venue. The people of the para are not that much engaged
in sports or fairs. There rarely occur any sports events such as cricket among young boys. Other
melas or fair like Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha melas, Durga puja Mela, Boishakhi Mela etc. occur
though not that much regular.

Religion
In the reasons for and outward signs of cultural expression, the relationship between culture and
religion is made clear. Religion is a basic way in which people perceive and comprehend the
world, in the same way that culture conveys this. As most of the people of the para are Muslim the
culture is as designed as Muslim culture mostly. There are a lot of impact on the culture of
religion.

Cultural Diffusion
The phrase "culture diffusion," sometimes known as "cultural diffusion" or "transcultural
diffusion," comes from the branch of anthropology known as cultural anthropology, which focuses
on the cultural diversity within the human population. The term "cultural diffusion" refers to the
spread of a particular culture's customs, values, and/or tangibles, such as tools, music, or food.

This transmission may take place between individuals from the same culture or between totally
unrelated civilizations worldwide. Because of cultural dissemination, many different civilizations
have a lot in common. The cultural diffusion of Bogar Mor is spreaded in other paras around the
Bogar Mor. Almost around 3 to 4 paras hold same culture as Bogar Mor.

Cultural Acculturation
When two cultures are balanced while being adapted to the dominant culture of the society, a
process of social, psychological, and cultural transformation called acculturation results.
Acculturation is the process through which a person adopts, acquires, and acclimates to a new
cultural setting as a result of being placed in a new culture or when another culture is introduced to
someone. Bogar Mor is also a acculturated para with other paras of the Chandpur Village.

Cultural Discovery
This innovative learner-centered method, known as Cultural Discovery, places an emphasis on
learning outcomes in both the cognitive and emotional domains while focusing on culture, aging,
and health. We found no particular important cultural discovery in Bogar Mor.

Technological Cultural Adaptation

The good effects of technology have made it possible for urbanization, industrialization,
modernization, and the development of transportation and communication systems. Also, it
promotes social cohesion and the networking of culture and tradition. Bogar Mor is a perfect
example of technological cultural adaptation.
Major Findings in Cultural Changes  No beliefs in any kind of
superstitions.  They don’t depend on sports that much for their
recreation.  The number of fair or like events are very less in that
particular area.
 They mostly depend on TV for their recreation.
 They are not influenced by any cultural
diffusion.

Analysis of the Major Findings of Cultural Changes

No beliefs in any kind of superstitions. They don’t depend on sports that much for their recreation.
The number of fair or like events are very less in that particular area. They mostly depend on TV
for their recreation. They are not influenced by any cultural diffusion.

Relation in Between Cultural Changes & Social Changes

From the above study we can conclude that there is a very important relationship in between social
and cultural changes. We can say that a society reflects the people who share a culture's ideas and
practices, whereas a culture is a group's set of beliefs and behaviors. Without the other, neither
culture nor civilization could exist.

Environmental change

The residents of Bogar Mor lack access to adequate medical facilities. The
paragraph contains no infrastructures related to health care. The nearest
medical facilities for the villagers, government Medical, are 1.7 kilometers
distant from Bogar Mor, it is preferred by the locals of the Para. Rarely do
field workers from NGO's visit the community to immunize the kids and
monitor the expectant mothers. Therefore, the women are constantly having
issues. The locations that the villagers traveled to for medical care are listed
below.
Table 10- PLACES VISITED BY THE FAMILY MEMBERS FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT.
Destinations Number of households Percentage

Public Health Care

2 25
Facilities
Local Public Health Worker
1 12.5
Local NGO Health
- -
Worker
Local Pharmacy 5 62.5

Local Priest (Hujur) - -

Homeopath - -

Herbal treatment 4 50

Others - -

Source: field survey, Group-05, Autumn-2023

In regards of the health issues discussed previously, the Bogar Mor folks
typically visit some specific locations. According to the aforementioned
chart, out of 8 homes, 62.5% turn to pharmacies as their first choice, 50%
choose for herbal remedies, 25% visit public health care facilities, and 12.5%
depend on neighborhood public health. It is clear that the majority of the
villagers rely on prescription drugs and herbal remedies to treat their
illnesses. A quarter of the people also go to public health care facilities.

Even though government hospitals offer free medical care, the villagers
provided some insightful feedback regarding the facilities of the hospitals,
which is included below through the following table.
Table - Problems related with the government health care facilities.
Problem Number of households Percentage
Not Close to the home - -

Transport facilities not are

- -
available
Timing of the is not
- -
suitable
Staff/Services are good not
1 12.5
Facility is not clean 2 25

Waiting hours are long too

5 62.5
Medicines are not
2 25
available
Medicine cost is high - -

Others - -

The majority of respondents to the questionnaire poll (62.5%) expressed

frustration with the length of waiting times, but some also highlighted
unclean facilities (25%), inconsistent access to medications (25%), and other
issues. The locals had no issues with time or transportation. However, the
long wait times discouraged them from receiving care because they were all
either store owners or transport workers, which prevented them from
standing in line for longer period of time. The lack of medicines is another
major problem; the locals complained about it, and it caused them much
suffering.

Vaccination of children

Children are protected by vaccinations from deadly diseases including polio,

which can paralyze victims, measles, which can result in brain enlargement
and blindness, and tetanus inducing severe muscular contractions and make it
difficult for infants to breathe and eat. The following table shows the
vaccination update of the number of households children. In our survey we
also asked about the covid-19 vaccine update.

Table - Vaccination of Children.

Name of the Disease Percentage

Polio 75

Diptheria 50

Whooping Cough 50

Measles 50

Tetanus 75

VACCINATION

NAME OF THETETANUS
DISEASES

WHOOPING COUGH

MEASLES

DIPTHERIA

POLIO

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

PERCENTAGE
Table - Covid-19 Vaccination

Children from every home were immunized during our survey on

vaccination. This gives us reason to believe that people living in Bogar
Mor are aware of the value of vaccinations. We also inquired about the
villagers' and their children's statuses about the most recent COVID-19
vaccine update. All of them had received their first and second doses of
the vaccination, but only 50% had received the third dose. As more than
80% of the children have been immunized by the 6 essential vaccines it
can be concluded that, people of Bogar Mor are quite aware of their
child’s health care.

Family planning

Family planning has become more widely used. Most households in our
given area have two children, sometimes even two girls, which is a good
indication that family planning is being practiced, as was discovered while
employing PRA methods to acquire information. This suggests that they are
aware of the hardships and poverty that would come with having a large
family. Additionally, it was discovered that the majority of the locals employ
various family planning techniques. The media is essential to the family
planning industry. The participant in our poll claimed that women use a
variety of medicines, including Femicon and condoms. The vast majority of
couples rely on medications. All of the aforementioned factors were
manmade, although certain environmental factors also affect Bogar Mor's
health and environment. Seasonality is one of these variables, and it is
detailed below.

Seasonality

The majority of rural Bangladeshis depend on agriculture for their

livelihoods, producing the country's staple rice, which is subject to seasonal
variations. Seasonality is fundamental to small-holder farmers' way of life. It
includes cyclical changes in marketing, employment, health, and production.
Crop yield can be positively or negatively impacted by even the smallest
change in the seasonal cycle. Farmers follow a crop cycle and rely on the
seasons as well as the availability of rainwater and sunlight. Crop production
also requires a specific amount of sunlight. The seasons influence agricultural
activity as well as diseases, storms, and drought.
During the dry season, the subsurface water table decreases.

Table 14- Seasonal calendar.

Legends: High - ;
Low - OO;
Moderate - ¨¨
 Factors
Seasons

Diseases Storm Drought Flood Temperature Rainfall

Baishak

Jaishto ¨¨
¨¨
Ashar ¨¨¨ ¨¨
¨¨¨ ¨¨
Sravan ¨¨¨
¨¨¨
(Diarrhea)
Bhadro ¨¨¨
¨¨¨
Arshin ¨¨¨ OO
¨¨¨ OO
(Cholera)
Kartik ¨¨¨
¨¨¨
Augrahain
Paush ¨¨¨
¨¨¨
(Fever)
Magh OO OO
OO OO
Falgun
Chaaitra

From the above-mentioned seasonal calendar, it is visible that, the maximum

temperatures and rates of evapo-transpiration are experienced during the
premonsoon season (March to May). Squalls (norwesters) that occasionally
occur bring torrential rain, severe winds, and rare tornadoes. Rainfall,
humidity, and cloud cover are all at their maximum during the monsoon
season (June to September). In this season, more than 80% of the yearly
precipitation typically falls. The post-monsoon season, which lasts from
October to November, is hot and muggy with sporadic downpours and rising
sunshine. With little and erratic rainfall, the dry season (December to
February) is comparatively chilly and sunny. During Chaitra, disease is
intensified because measles, dysentery, chicken pox occurs and during Ashar/
Srabon due to excessive rainfall, dysentery, diarrhea breaks out.

Food and nutrition

By addressing the root and immediate causes of malnutrition, food security and nutrition
interventions in rural scattered contexts seek to improve the immediate food security and
nutritional well-being of refugees. A person's environment, access to health services, food and
nutrition security and care, and shelter all have a significant impact on their nutritional state. There
is a higher chance of malnutrition where these are insufficient. Under the pressure of an expanding
population, Bangladesh faces a significant challenge in ensuring food and nutrition security. The
residents of Bogar Mor cultivate rice, vegetables, fruits, and some of the villagers’ own cows and
goats that supply them with milk. Alongside rice, potatoes are seen being harvested, giving them a
good source of carbohydrates. They occasionally consume fish and meat. In the village, which is
particularly rich in fiber, selenium, magnesium, and manganese, mustard is quickly gaining
popularity as a crop. The majority of Bogar Mor residents, as determined by our survey, have
decent eating habits and nutrition.

Sources of water

The COVID-19 epidemic has once again emphasized how important it is for public health to have
access to adequate and sufficient water, sanitation, and hygiene measures. To attain clean water
and sanitation for everybody, it is crucial to provide better water and sanitation facilities and
prohibit open defecation behaviors.

Table - SOURCES OF WATER FOR DOMESTIC USE (POSITIVE RESPONSES

ONLY)
Purpose Water Sources

Piped Water Tube well Pond

Percentage % % %

Drinking 100 50 -

Bathing 60 35 -

Washing 60 60 -

Cooking 60 50 -

Agriculture 30 100

Figure- Sources of water

Piped water and deep tube wells are the major water sources, both are 100%
used by the Bogar Mor people for their everyday needs. People use piped
water for drinking purposes, and deep tube wells are employed in agriculture.
The use of arsenic-free water by Bogar Mor people is the best finding of our
survey.

Arsenic
Arsenic (As) in drinking water and food crops is currently posing a severe threat to the health of
85 million people in Bangladesh. The worst groundwater As contamination issue in the world is in
Bangladesh. As surfacewater is poorly managed, 97% of the population of the nation uses
groundwater for drinking and domestic reasons. Bangladesh is experiencing widespread poisoning
due to high levels of As in the groundwater. The most important discovery mentioned in this Para
is that none of the tube-wells are arsenic or iron poisoned. Without any concerns, individuals use
water from tube wells for all uses. According to my perspective, the amount of arsenic in the water
may be much lower than the safe limit of 10 g recommended by the World Health Organization
(WHO). Another recommendation is that kids consume a lot of fresh, chemical-free vitamins,
minerals, and veggies.

Figure - Picture of a deep tube well.

Sanitation

Cholera, typhoid, rotavirus, hepatitis, and other worm infestations are diarrheal disorders that are
intimately associated with poor sanitation and a lack of sanitation. Because there aren't enough
toilets, people frequently conduct open defecation. It is essential to have access to hygienic
restroom facilities to stop the spread of infections. A basic sanitation service, according to
WHO/UNICEF JMP, entails a sanitation facility that hygienically separates human contact from
human excreta and is not shared with other homes.

TOILET FACILITIES

100%
90%
80%
PERCENTAGE
70%
60%
50% 50%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0% 0%
0%
Ring slab Septic tank Hanging latrine Others
MODE OF SANITATION

Figure- Toilet Facilities

The residents of Bogar Mor are informed and concerned about their hygiene. According to our
questionnaire, just two forms of sanitation procedures—ring slab and septic tank—share 50% of
each across the Para. The fact that they have been utilizing these ring slabs for the past 10 to 15
years is one of the most crucial results because it demonstrates that the people in this region are
concerned about their health and are less susceptible to water borne illnesses like diarrhea and
dysentery. The latrine's construction material differs depending on the income level. The NGOs do
not provide any financial assistance to the villages for the construction of latrines. Even when
some of the Bogar Mor villagers' economies are not doing well, they continue to use septic tanks
or ring slab latrines because they are aware of the benefits of doing so. People who don't have
latrines typically dump their waste next to water or in the open. Below are some of the detrimental
repercussions of poor sanitation on the environment and human health.
Effects on human health  Risk

of water borne diseases

v Transmission of intestinal worm infections, typhoid, cholera,
dysentery, polio, and other diarrheal illnesses.
v Outbreak of disease and infections

Effects on environment  Human waste being dumped in

public spaces leads to an unclean atmosphere.
v Poor sanitation tainted the groundwater.

Waste disposal

Waste is often disposed of through cremation, long-term storage in a secure facility, or dumping
(on land or into bodies of water). If wastes are inappropriately disposed of or stored, any of these
techniques can have a negative influence on the environment to varied degrees. Waste
management is a significant problem because when trash is deposited anyplace, it rots, has a foul
odor, and pollutes the land, water, and air. The environment and biodiversity are gravely harmed
by poor garbage management. Numerous habitats and species are significantly impacted by
improper waste management, which also adds to climate change, water, land, and air pollution.
According to the sources, the waste can be classified into two groups in the perspective of the
village which is Kitchen residue and Crop residue. Animal feed has always been made from crop
residues. During the winter, crop residues are also gathered, stored, and given to cattle. Animal
bedding is made from crop waste, typically straw from tiny grains.
 Figure - Waste Disposal

Figure - Waste are being scattered.

The residents of Bogar Mor are somewhat aware of the waste management
issue as we have seen scattering of waste on some parts of the Para and other
parts were clean. 25% of them dispose of their trash in a nearby ditch, and
50% do so together with a nearby ditch. The type of garbage dumped differs
depending on the individuals' various financial levels. Manure is produced by
farmers and applied to their soil as fertilizer. However, folks without access
to agricultural land merely need to distribute their garbage around their
homes rather than turning it into manure.

Positive impact

The positive impact on the environment that are found listed

below-  Cleans the landscape.  Reduces pest infestation.

v Improves community health.

v Keep the environment clean and hygienic.

Effects on human health

Effects of such improper waste disposal are highlighted below:

v The improper disposal of trash can cause environmental harm and, in

the end, harm to human health by promoting the growth of pests and
disease-carrying insects like rodents, flies, and mosquitoes.

v In addition to infectious diseases, incorrect waste disposal will cause

leachate and ground water contamination, which can poison bore
holes.
v Incorrectly dumped waste can lead to injuries as well, such as cuts
from shattered bottles, rusty metal objects, etc., and falls due to
 slippery components.  Improperly disposed of waste produces
methane gas, which is very combustible, it poses a fire risk.

Effects on the environment  Soil,

Air, Water contamination.

v Extreme Weather Caused by Climate Change.
v Plant life, aquatic life and animals suffered the most.

Use of fuel

Figure - A clay oven

In rural Bangladesh, around 92% of households cook and heat with solid
fuels including wood, coal, and animal dung. Millions of the countries
impoverished find these kinds of fuel sources appealing because they are
inexpensive or free. Utilizing these polluting fuels leads to indoor air
pollution, which in turn increases the risk of respiratory disease, heart
disease, and even mortality. Female or elderly heads of households use fewer
cleaner cooking agents. Cleaner cooking is used more frequently in
households with more young children than it is in larger households The
choice of cleaner cooking methods is positively correlated with household
affluence. Cow dung, leaves and twigs, straws, and other types of biomass
fuel are the main fuel types utilized by the people in the country for cooking
purposes. Variation also affects the use of biomass. The use of these fuels
frequently damages the environment by polluting the atmosphere. The uses
of different types of traditional fuel are showed below through a Pie diagram-

COOKING FUELS
0% 7%
13%
40% Kerosine
Firewood
Leaves and Twigs
27% Gas
Cow Dung
Straw
13%

Figure - Cooking Fuels

The utilization of various fuel kinds is influenced by the villagers' economic

situation as well as the seasonal cycle. Because dry leaves and straws are not
readily available during the rainy season, fuel wood is specifically used
during that time. Rich people, on the other hand, utilize wood for cooking,
while those in poverty rely on leaves and straw. According to our
questionnaire, the majority of the villagers utilize straw (75%) and gas (50%)
extensively.

Figure Cooking
- Place

The inhabitants' health is influenced by where the cooking takes place.

Women are the most vulnerable group, according to the poll, as they spend
more time in the kitchen. The locations of their kitchens also depend on each
individual's income because wealthy people have kitchens inside their homes
while others with lower incomes must cook outside.25% of locals cook
outside their homes, while 75% cook within their homes. Burning different
fuels produces different chemicals, such as carbon monoxide and carbon
dioxide from leaves and twigs, which have an impact on the environment and
human health.
Effects on human health – due to fuel

Figure - Health problems due to fuels emission.

We can observe from the graph above that eye irritation (20%), hypertension (25%) and
respiratory problems affect women more frequently than men. breathing issues develop after a
certain amount of time exposed to toxic fuels. Headache (3% of cases) is brought on by carbon
monoxide released as a result of incomplete burning of biomass. They could get various illnesses
including lung cancer, dizziness, loss of consciousness, etc. as a result of smoke generation, but
they are unaware of this issue.
Effects on the environment- due to fuel

v The mentioned cooking fuel emits nitrogen dioxide (NO2),

carbon monoxide (CO), and formaldehyde (HCHO), each of
which can exacerbate various respiratory and other health
ailments.

v Cooking this way not only releases greenhouse gases like carbon
dioxide (CO2), but also short-lived climate pollutants.
v Unsustainable harvesting of wood for fuel not only contributes
to forest and environmental degradation but is a major driver of
climate change.
v Smoke formation is responsible for ambient air pollution.