Md Abdullah Al Mamun

An Ethnographic Investigation on Land and Life of Santal Community in Barind Tract, Bangladesh

Type: Research Articles

This paper is an investigation of life style of Santal community, one of the largest tribal communities in Bangladesh. Participatory rural appraisal (PRA), participant observation, focus group discussions (FGD), and informal and semi-structured interviews were used to collect information. Santals are the descendants of Austric-speaking Proto-Australoid race, and worship the supernatural powers. Village as a territorial unit, a collection of some homesteads form an administrative unit where they also tightly bond to a kinship. Even they are very sincere in abiding the rules and regulations of their own society, social problems i.e., poverty, inequality, resource scarcity, illiteracy, maladjustment are more severe. Respecting the national constitution, Bangladesh should generate a multi-ethnic leadership to bring glory and protect Santal from all sorts of hazards and discrimination.

ISSN:Print: 2381-7712, Online: 2381-7720

Forest, trees and agroforestry: Better livelihoods and ecosystem services from multifunctional landscapes

Type: Research Articles

Scientific community is concerned to address contemporary issues of food production and conserve tropical forests that support the livelihoods of millions of people. A review of the literature on deforestation, forest utilization, and landscape management for ecosystem services was conducted to investigate the effect on peoples’ livelihoods and the sustainability of forests in Bangladesh as a case. Results reveal that the current rate of deforestation is at 0.3% per annum meaning that, with current trends, in two decades little or no forest cover will exist in Bangladesh making the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on forest resources extremely vulnerable. We ask; can better implementation of forest policies and landscape management contribute to curb the current level of deforestation? Agroforestry systems in particular are a promising strategy to sustainably deliver food, nutritional and income security, ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation across the landscape. However, for agroforestry to become a viable livelihood venture that simultaneously delivers all these benefits, a mixture of economic and institutional support from the state is needed instead of market driven approaches or project based interventions.

ISSN:
 2186-8662

Oitihyobahee Lokoshilpo Nakshi Chhad O Bansh Karigor: Sthan-Kaal-Paatro-Porivesh Prosongo Bichar

Type: Book Chapter

The folkloric glory and traditions are rich in Bangladesh, through this way the ornamented ceiling of bamboo is a familiar as the traditional folk craft Nakshi Chhad to the Bengal nation. However, the decorated bamboo ceiling mainly ornamented by the bamboo as a cheap material as like as other folk art of Bangladesh, and the art is meeting up our demand and compatibility of daily life in harmony with the aesthetic values. Also, this bamboo ceiling art has been continuing and using since the ancient period in the Indian subcontinent, especially in Bengal. Thereafter, this folk art goes beyond folk community and become favorable as symbols of luxury and attraction of tradition to the middle class people, i.e. solvent. But, mechanical civilization side by side with globalization, modernism and free trade economy is degrading the attraction of tradition of folk artisan.

For this reason, failing to meet up the demand of life and livelihood the age-old folk art and folk artisans are facing in existential crisis. In fine, the research work has found the matter of anxiety is that the folk artisans may totally give up their traditional occupation and the traditional folk art might be lost due to the lack of folk artisans. In addition, the study has identified the texts with the contexts of their food and food habit, family structure, social stratification, costume, make-up, impressions and curiosity of the artisan and their folk psychology, emotion and thoughts.

Cultivated Plants in the Diversified Homegardens of Local Communities in Ganges Valley, Bangladesh

Type: Research Articles

Homestead agroforestry, in the form of home gardens, has a long tradition in many developing countries. These systems are an intimate mix of diversified agricultural crops and multipurpose trees planted, maintained by members of the household. This paper aims to explore the species composition commonly found in the homestead agroforestry systems in the Ganges valley of northern Bangladesh and their contribution to local livelihoods. Three villages i.e., ‘Capasia’, ‘Chak Capasia’ and ‘Baduria’ were selected as the primary study area. Data were collected by (1) rapid rural appraisal, (2) direct observation, (3) informal and structured interviews with a purposive sample of 90 households. A total of 53 plant species under 32 families were identified from the study area and it was found that the relative density were highest for Areca catechu (areca palm), Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit) and Mangifera indica (mango). Financial analysis showed that homestead agroforestry net benefit increases with the increasing landholding classes. However, no significant difference was found between the numbers of species in different farm sizes, contrasting other studies that accused this relationship. The comparison of Shannon-Wiener index between agroforestry systems and natural forest showed no statistical difference, reinforcing the role of homegardens in biological conservation in Bangladesh. Therefore, increasing agroforestry practices in homesteads, should be the strategy for enhancing tree cover in order to meet basic needs of the local people and for environmental sustainability.

ISSN: 2276-8572

Dheerghosthayee Unnayane Bangla Chharar Samaj Oviggatamulok Adhyoyon (The Social Empirical Study of Bengali Rhyme to Sustainable Development)

Type: Book Chapter

Rhyme is very ancient among all the parts of folklore as a medium of utter refreshment amid mass folks. However, both the performer and the participant get pleasure by reciting and hearing rhyme. Thereafter, this satisfaction is beneficial, but there is a purpose to deliver a different message to the common populaces. In fact, the scenario of social life, historical events and background, economic and everyday life are put out in rhyme forming prosody which make a bridge not only in the past rather from past to present and present to future. Moreover, the rhymed verses whichever refer to the unavoidable presence of the obstacles on the way of human life, achievement, proper and scholastic instruction. In this research, it is true that by the application of whole participatory observation and interview method, there are a number of using if rhyme to bring out different types of socioeconomic problems, backwardness and sustainable development as well. For instance, the rhyme plays a vital role to circulate and increase education, to growth health awareness, to save the friendly environment and eco-friendly agriculture and even to demand by slogan in politics. However, the motto as well purpose can be adverse to human beings in the new era in question to the development and making a decision but the purpose of the study is to make emerging steps permanent and friendly to the people by using rhyme and the knowledge of the local people.

Uchchoshiksa Protisthane Samaj-Manobvidya Hisebe Lokosanskriti Adhyoyon (The Study of Folklore as Socio-Humanities in Higher Educational Institute)

Type: Conference Papers

In December 1998 for the first time in Bangladesh, the academic study and research activities started in any higher education institute through the launching of the Department of Folklore at Rajshahi University. Nevertheless, the study of folklore is known as a new academic discipline in our country but in the first world people has been studying and researching it in various dimensions of the traditional culture of integrated folk community. Afterwards, since the beginning period, the folklore discipline has been practiced as a part of humanities issues in many universities of the world, or eventually as area of the arts; but, in recent years, through the contemporary research output folklorists have raised their voice that folklore should go along with the social science or social-humanities approach. This warming wave of findings is touching the folklorist all over the world as well as those of Bangladesh. Although, the ideas and ideology of folklorist are constantly in conflict, the study presents the assessment in the entrance and establishment of the folklore as the simultaneous rising of a unique combination of social and humanities as an academic discipline in higher educational institutions.

Quantifying Recreational Value and the Functional Relationship between Travel Cost and Visiting National Park

Type: Research Articles

Estimation of recreational benefits is an important tool for both biodiversity conservation and ecotourism development in national parks and sanctuaries. The design of this work is to estimate the recreational value and to establish functional relationship between travel cost and visitation of Lawachara National Park (LNP) in Bangladesh. This study employed zonal approach of the travel cost method. The work is grounded on a sample of 422 visitors of the LNP. Results showed that the total value of environmental assets of the LNP is 55,694,173 Taka/Year. Moreover, our suggestion based on visitors' willingness to pay is that the park entrance fee of 25 Tk per person should be introduced that could generate revenue approximate 2.3 million Taka/ year, beneficial for the park management and conservation of biodiversity

ISSN:Print: 2381-7240, Online: 2381-7259

Climate Change Adaptation Strategies through Indigenous Knowledge System

Type: Research Articles

This study explores the climate change adaptation strategies for agro crop production and assesses the financial suitability through indigenous knowledge in flood prone areas of Bangladesh. However, for this purpose two types of experiments have conducted with selected eight agro crop species. Firstly, the seven treatments have been experimented in a Tub (an earthen pot). In this case, Tomato (Lycoperscion esculeatum) is more beneficial among these seven treatments and average benefit-cost ratio of this treatment was 3.54. Thereafter, the seven treatments also have been experimenting in Tukri (a bamboo basket). Likewise, Tomato (Lycoperscion esculeatum) is more beneficial in the second experiment and average benefit-cost ratio in this treatment is 3.52 because the soil and the cow dung mixture have been used as a potting medium. On the contrary, Long coriander (Eryngium foetidum) is more beneficial and average benefit-cost ratio in this treatment is 4.74 after using the soil and water hyacinth mixture as a potting medium. According to indigenous knowledge, these results could be developed from different climate change adaptation strategies in farming system for production of common agro crops as well as their financial suitability by the flood affected people of Bangladesh to harness the effect of climate change.

ISSN: Online ISSN: 2224-4433, Print ISSN: 2304-1455

Economic evaluation of floating gardening as a means of adapting to climate change in Bangladesh

Type: Research Articles

This paper offers an economic evaluation of the floating garden as a means of adapting to climate change in Bangladesh. The study showed that the monthly income of some farmers using such gardens increased from US$12.02 to US$48.08. These folk farmers lacked alternative work especially during the monsoon period. The floating garden uses available natural resources, adjusts to wet conditions and helps the flood-prone people to earn a living, and can be an adaptive response to frequent disaster events in Bangladesh.

ISSN:0020-7233 (Print) 1029-0400 (Online)

Minimization Of Health And Environmental Hazards Of Tobacco Among The Folk Community In Rural Bangladesh.

Type: Research Articles

The research basically deals with evaluation of the negative impacts of tobacco on health and the environment with a view to minimize tobacco cultivation among the folk peasants in rural Bangladesh. Therefore, the study has been conducted through the survey method with the easy to understand structured questionnaire through which the data are collected by interview and personal observation. However, this study reveals the information about the duration of cultivation of tobacco as well as identified its effects on health from the tobacco processing place. Moreover, it focuses on the consciousness building in the local farmers and adaptation of the cautions during the tobacco cultivation. The study concludes that the various government and non-government organizations, institutions and media could play important roles to create the awareness in the folk community for minimizing the tobacco cultivation and reducing its negative impact on health and the environment

Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for the Folk Community: An Approach to Vegetable Production in Flood Prone Areas

Type: Research Articles

In Bangladesh, impacts on agriculture from extreme climate are increasingly vulnerable. On the other hand, folk communities are intensely depending on agriculture for their livelihoods. Climate change has already negatively affected the vegetable production by annual recurrent flood in Bangladesh. This study is an assessment of the new vegetable production system that could adopt in a changing climatic condition. With the popular eight vegetable species, the field experiment consisted of four treatments which were conducted in the bags. However, treatment (TD) which consisted of Coriander (Coriander sativum), Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), Bitter melon (Momordica charantea), Tomato (Lycopersicon esculeatum), Cowpea (Vigna sinensis) is more beneficial than our other treatments. The average benefit ratio of this treatment is 9.75 followed by 6.52 (TA), 5.45 (TB) and 5.17 (TC). Moreover, the findings of this study might be helpful for the flood affected folk communities produce vegetables for their own consumption and income. Likewise,   new   experiments   with   altered   technique   and   vegetable   species   are recommended to conclusively develop climate change adaptation strategies for flood prone area

ISSN: 2051-1914

Ganomadhyome Lokosanskritir Prochar O Proyog (The Publicity and Practice of Folklore in Mass Media)

Type: Research Articles

The media can rapidly send any information or message at the door of countless people. On the other hand, traditional folklore is the artistic communication or vibration of life of the mass people. In recent years, an interrelation has been built between the mass media and the folklore. However, the media have reached the platform of both time and space through the application and practices of folklore, i.e. native culture. As a result, the broadcasting of integrated and creative folklore creates a deep impact on national life in any country like Bangladesh. Likewise, extensive development can be brought to the mass people by using the folkloric heritage in the mass media with their immediate motivation and response. By the way, a collective creation of folk people does not introduce only for collection and conservation, but it has the great potentialities to build a nation by its performance capabilities.  In this study, adequate study and research have been extended through the empirical perspective and plenty of potentialities of folklore studies. It has shown how the practice and application can bring about the development of the country as well as the nation.

Folklore Charchar Viswa Porikroma: Samanwoymulok Samiksa (The Critical Survey of Folklore Studies in World: A Harmonization Study)

Type: Research Articles

In the Athenaeum journal of England, antiquities based on its previous tradition has been coined as Folklore as an Anglo Saxon term by William John Thoms on August 1846. Subsequently, through the efforts of many scholars and institutions in Germany, Hungary, Finland, Denmark, Norway, the United States and Russia et cetera, and the Indian subcontinent, the bright light of folklore is spreading with its harmony and glow as well as its potentiality to all over the world. Day by day, however, Folklore Studies is well-known to universities in the world as the most popular academic discipline. Likewise, as an interdisciplinary complement of simultaneously social sciences and humanities researchers have created a wide range of theoretical and empirical strategies. So, the study has evaluated and harmonized the findings of those to explore the perspective of folklore as a potential and a new scientific study, and to present it for teaching and research purposes as the emerging issues in the higher educational institutions in the whole world.

Bangladesher Oitihyobahi Lokoshilpo Shatranji: Ekti Artho-Samajik Vislesion (The Traditional Folk Art ‘Satranji’ of Bangladesh: An Analysis on Socioeconomic Perspective)

Type: Research Articles

One of the branches of material folklore is the folk art. However, without institutional education, the traditional folk art Sataranji is unanimously borne by the post tribe integrated folk community through meeting up the demand and the compatibility of the respective society at Rangpur district of Bangladesh. It is a hope that, after a long-term immobility Sataranji art has reflected a new prospect today. Nonetheless, the tradition of forefathers has become unattractive to the new generation because of low benefit, lack of capital, lack of raw materials, transport problem, attraction to alternative occupation and substandard economic life pattern. Moreover, their sub socioeconomic condition has remained unchanged for the longest time due to their insufficient income, sub status and substandard of life. Thereafter, the socioeconomic standard of the artisans can uplift if we can ensure necessary financial help, technical advantage, easy export processing and proper marketing policy adoption and implementation for this folk art Satranji. Therefore, the study aims at assessing the immense significance of the production and expansion of folk art Satranji in the developing country like Bangladesh.

Oitihyobahi Lokojo Mritshilpo O Shilpisamaj: Matir Batna (The Traditional Folk Pottery and Potter: An Approach to Earthen Batna (Grind Plate of Clay)

Type: Research Articles

The traditional folk pottery had started since ancient period and continuing year after year, decade after decade as well as creating impact on social, cultural and religious life. It has added value on day-to-day life along with the artistic touch of decoration among potters, i.e. folk community. Moreover, pottery has been considered as a sign of artistic tradition in Bengali life. However, the people behind the art who called Potter unfortunately failed to uplift their standard of living lack of insufficient income and conducive environment. With hunger, they are struggling to sustain their traditional art through the generations. For this reason, potter community can no longer keep their patience with only their art as a medium of livelihood. Most of the potter still sticks to their profession in consideration of forefather's traditions. Due to all these limitations their life became substandard and also compelled to lead a life below the line of poverty. Nevertheless, they have their own joys and sorrows, unique lifestyle and their cultural phenomena, are surrounded with these pottery. The aim of this research is to evaluate the traditional folk pottery and potters of Bangladesh with their rich history, production technique, usage et cetera. Besides, trying to explore the life pattern and cultural context of potter's community as richness of folk traditions in Bangladesh.

Rangpur Oncholer Lokoshilpo Bansher Chhad: Upadan, Nirman O Byabohar

Type: Research Articles

The folk art Bansher Chhad in Rangpur district in Bangladesh is a popular folk art to the solvent folk people, as it is an expensive craft. However, Rangpur region is known as a land of pleasure for their life pattern, folk psychology, and sense of life of the intuitive folk people. In Rangpur region, the folk craft Basher Chhad has also a familiar and local name as Nakshi Chhad, which is the result of tradition handed down from generation after generation by observation and imitation. The study gives the message about the existing materials, formation technique, and utility of the folk artisans in Rangpur, Bangladesh.

Bangladesher Lokoshilpo O Shilpisamaj Jugopot Sankotapanno

Type: Opinion in Newspaper

Bangladesher Lokoshilpo O Shilpisamaj Jugopot Sankotapanno (The folk Art and Artisan of Bangladesh are simultaneous imperiled)

Ganomanuser Navobarso (New Year of Mass People)

Type: Opinion in Newspaper

Ganomanuser Navobarso (New Year of Mass People)”, 13 April 2012, The Daily Ittefaq (Daily Newspaper), Dhaka.

A tropical case study on tree diversity and productivity relationship of mixed species plantations in protected areas

Type: Working Papers

A tropical case study on tree diversity and productivity relationship of mixed species plantations in protected areas

An empirical analysis of the economic structures and livelihood strategies of folk people in char shiva deva area of Bangladesh

Type: Working Papers

An empirical analysis of the economic structures and livelihood strategies of folk people in char shiva deva area of Bangladesh

Quantify the socioeconomic viability of eco-friendly biogas as an alternative energy source in folksy Bangladesh

Type: Working Papers

Quantify the socioeconomic viability of eco-friendly biogas as an alternative energy source in folksy Bangladesh

Ongoing Research Projects

Type: Research Projects

1. The Impact of Aid and Public Investment Volatility on Economic Growth in Middle Income Countries.
2. Quantify the socioeconomic viability of eco-friendly biogas as an alternative energy source in folksy Bangladesh

Completed Research Projects

Type: Research Projects

1. 2011-2012 Submitted the project report on the Development of Folklore in Bangladesh to the Bangla Academy, Dhaka as a Chief Coordinator of the respective project.

2. The Folk Art of Rangpur District: A Study on Socioeconomic Perspective (MA Research in Folklore Studies) 

Rangpur is a northern district of Bangladesh in the Asian continent. It is rich in cultural heritage. The name Rangpur literally means the land of pleasure. The district consists of eight Upazilas (a small administrative unit) with the land area of 2307.78 square kilometers. The district of Rangpur has sustained its rich cultural tradition through various obstacles in the course of time. General people's sense of life, occupational support, regional land structure, coexistence and co-operation contribute to their heritage. In the folk world of the Rangpur District folk foods, costumes, ornaments, houses & household goods, art & technology, medication, music, games, dance, beliefs, rituals, festivals, economics, literature have made a unique lifestyle.

At large folklore is a token of recognition of the experience of the folk people. It is basically related to traditional integrated community's collective effort at sense of life, bio-ritual & function, routine life and creativity. Folklore is mainly divided into four parts that is a. Formalized folklore, b. Materialized folklore, c. Ritual & functional folklore, d. Performing folklore. An important part of materialized folklore is folk art. The folk artisans without institutional education with hands down the knowledge of their forefathers carry on the community characteristics of the integrated community. Traditionally created visual with applied art and craft in view of folk people's demand and utility are called folk art. The various ingredients of folk art reflect the colorful life of traditional Bengal. In folk art we not only get folk society appearance & tradition, we also get an expression of social values. Available ingredients are exposed to the Bengal's folk art such as, clay, worn out clothes, fiber, bamboo, cane, jute, straw, animal bone, gold, silver, brass etc.

The folk artisans with hunger are struggling to sustain their traditional art through the generations. The repetition of the efforts we observe in the folk life of traditional Bengal or especially in Rangpur. These artisans can no longer keep their patience with only their art as a medium of livelihood. Only this profession cannot bear minimum money to live. As a result they are reluctant to make their posterity skilled at those arts. The particular soul environment these artisans breathed in is replaced by a modern trend. Against this canvas this research aims at providing suggestion and recommendations to familiarize the materials, structure and usage and to improve the artisan's socioeconomic life.

Contexts of Folklore

Type: Book Chapter

Several obstacles in the twentieth century have stymied more quantitative macro-­analysis among folklorists: the challenge of finding sufficient comparable, representative statistical data; the reluctance of humanistic folklorists to quantify or objectify expressive cultural material; and the difficulty of assessing economic factors as part of a broader sociocultural context. Yet the availability in the twenty-­first century of electronically accessible “big data” has revived interest in quantitative analysis, although the ability to code oral expression remains a thorny issue (Laudun and Goodwin 2013; Tangherlini 2016; Tangherlini and Broadwell 2014). Previous quantitative folkloristic efforts have relied heavily on the ethnographic database of the Human Relations Area Files (HRAF), especially for games and music as objectifiable genres (Lomax 1968; Sutton-­Smith and Roberts 1971), but limiting interpretation was a lack of documentable socioeconomic value and ability to cross-­reference to political systems. Not usually categorized as commercial commodities, folk cultural items seldom have been tabulated for national production and rarely have been the subject of formulaic representation (for exceptions, see Jones 1971; Mamun 2017; Yang, Shafi, Song, and Yang 2018; Vahlo 2018). Statistical analysis for countable material genres probably more than oral and social expressions offers benefits for macro-­study, notably with folk

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