Beyond the Fence: Cultural Displacement and Social Change in Bangladesh’s Borderlands

Abstract

The border is not merely a line but a space of contact, transition, and often, transformation. The culture of the borderland or the border region of Chapainawabganj, India-Bangladesh borderland, is quickly changing due to the influence of external forces. The study seeks to analyze the impact of the infiltration of foreign culture, facilitated by the use of satellite TV, the internet and social media, to transform the traditional lifestyles, value system, and social contacts of inhabitants in such villages. Whereas globalization is the means to the access to new ideas and other means of expression, it is also a threat to the indigenous culture, especially in the communities located on the borders where state presence is usually lower and the cultural diffusion is more intense. This paper correlates the cultural degradation explaining its effects, in terms of family bond, youth behavior, community identity and overall social fabric, by retrieving qualitative data collected from border villages in Chapainawabganj. The results are focused on the timeliness of cultural resilience against the unfiltered exposure media and transnational influence, as well as initiate the discussion on policy, education, and empowerment of the community in the borderland. By focusing on the lived experiences of those at the geographical and cultural margins of Bangladesh, this study contributes to broader discussions on national identity, cultural sovereignty, and the unintended consequences of technological advancement.