Anthropology is a subject in Bangladesh with which most people remain unfamiliar, and there are some key factors contributing to its relatively low visibility in public and academic discourses. It has immense potential for the study of cultural dynamics, social development, and public health; however, as an academic discipline, anthropology remains slow and marginalized, always overshadowed by the disciplines that have traditionally promised more direct career paths. This article addresses why anthropology has not gained much recognition in Bangladeshi society as of yet, centering on educational structures, cultural expectations, and professional outcomes as three important components.
Anthropology's formal entry into Bangladesh's academic landscape occurred only in the latter part of the 20th century, primarily through the University of Dhaka. Though the discipline has ancient roots worldwide, it became a formal field in Bangladesh as part of the broader post-colonial movement to study cultural and social systems within local contexts. The academic departments of universities started adopting anthropology in their curricula since about the 1970s, but the subject never picked up much pace like the usual courses in engineering, medicine, and business administration that Bangladeshi society has conventionally held in high stature.
It is despite the efforts of a few pioneering academics that the broader population remains exposed to very little anthropology, often considered less applicable to tangible economic outcomes. This academic history shows one overarching challenge: the trajectory of anthropology in Bangladesh has not kept pace with public and private sector demands, thus rendering it a niche field within higher education with limited pathways for direct career application.
One of the primary reasons that anthropology remains unfamiliar to many in Bangladesh is because it evokes a perception of its unreliability to produce marketable job opportunities and economic returns. In a country whose socio-economic challenges are more likely to frame career decisions, fields that promise stable job markets—like medicine, engineering, and business—are going to attract more students. These disciplines are seen as directly getting one to financial security in a highly dense, populous country with a constrained economy. Consequently, anthropology is seen as a more theoretical or research-oriented discipline and therefore less attractive to students and parents who wish to favor financially lucrative careers.
Moreover, social norms in Bangladesh often determine career choices through community prestige and market demand, where STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and business studies are the most preferred fields. The idea of studying human societies, cultures, and behaviors may not agree with the idea of immediate career prospects, even though anthropologists worldwide contribute much in the fields of public health, urban planning, and development policy. In Bangladesh, however, the absence of structured career opportunities within anthropology, combined with minimal state and institutional support, constrains the visibility and perceived value of the discipline.
The promotion of any academic subject requires institutional support, which, in the case of anthropology in Bangladesh, is lacking. Universities and other educational institutions, which can advocate most fittingly for the subject, have tended to give a relatively less important emphasis to anthropology. This dearth of institutional support not only limits student enrollment but also affects the general public's perception of the role and importance of anthropology. Moreover, the extremely low availability of research funding for anthropological projects discourages students and researchers, as it involves a lot of fieldwork and close community engagement that can cost many resources.
Public engagement with anthropology is minimal in Bangladesh; there are few platforms that discuss how anthropological perspectives might address the local issues ranging from health crises to community development. While anthropologists in other countries take active part in policy research and advise on social programs, the field is often viewed here as something esoteric and reserved for academic purposes only. Such a narrow view only seeks to perpetuate the idea that anthropology is irrelevant to day-to-day life, rather than a discipline that can provide insights into social cohesion, public health, and cultural preservation.
Deeper socio-cultural and educational barriers also contribute to the marginalization of anthropology in Bangladesh. There is a cultural leaning toward subjects that have clearer, more traditional career paths in line with the societal emphasis on economic success and upward mobility. Parents and students perceive disciplines like engineering or law as being more rigorous or professional. Anthropology is abstract and light in the eyes of many. This cultural perception trickles down to educational priorities, where career counseling often sidelines subjects without straightforward vocational applications.
The education system in Bangladesh is designed more toward rote learning and competitive examinations rather than toward independent exploration and analysis, which are hallmarks of anthropology. Indeed, very rarely does the standard school curriculum include courses designed to encourage critical thought about human behavior and social structures—the hallmark of anthropological studies. By the time students get to university, they may not have any basic awareness or interest in anthropology and are therefore unlikely to take it as a major or even an elective course.
Despite such barriers, anthropology has a profound relevance in addressing various societal challenges in Bangladesh. The discipline offers singular insights into community health, family dynamics, labor migration, and disaster management—all issues highly relevant to Bangladeshi society. Anthropologists can play a pivotal role in studying and interpreting how cultural beliefs and social practices are impacting areas like healthcare delivery, disaster response, and rural development. For example, local norms are basic to public health campaigns, especially in rural areas where traditional beliefs may influence attitudes toward modern health care.
Anthropologists have also contributed significantly to development projects and policy research by working with government and non-governmental organizations, providing them with insights into social behavior that guides effective intervention strategies. While the potential of the discipline for societal impact is huge, it remains underutilized in Bangladesh due to limited government recognition and the lack of collaborative structures between academia and the public sector.
The institutional and cultural changes that need to accompany increasing anthropology's familiarity in Bangladesh include expansion of the subject by universities, offering courses that demonstrate the practical applications of the discipline. More research funding and scholarships on anthropological studies will encourage both students to take up this career and support broad-based research. Moreover, interdisciplinary initiatives in which anthropology is brought into association with health, development, and education sectors will show the relevance of the discipline to important social problems.
Public awareness campaigns will also be needed in reorienting perceptions of anthropology. Universities, in collaboration with media outlets, can carry out workshops, publish accessible research findings, and organize community outreach programs to highlight the contributions of the field. It would be more effective to get students introduced to the subject early, perhaps through school-level exposure to anthropology as part of social studies, familiarizing future generations with the scope and applications of the discipline.
Finally, governmental and non-governmental organizations should realize the role that anthropology can play in policy formulation and development efforts. Active participation of anthropologists in projects related to social development would set an example of how anthropology can directly be used to help improve welfare indicators in society.
This relative unfamiliarity of anthropology in Bangladesh is rooted in historical, economic, and cultural contingencies that have influenced academic priorities and career choices. However, it has immense potential to contribute to social policies, health programs, and development strategies. Institutional efforts should therefore center around expanding the discipline within academia and increasing its applicability in various sectors by fostering public awareness. By such efforts, anthropology may become a very important discipline in dealing with the social and cultural intricacy of present-day Bangladeshi society.
Sheikh Mehzabin Chitra is a University Correspondent of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Bangladesh Post, and a final year honours student of the Anthropology Department of the institution.
