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Bangladesh

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Abstract

This chapter provides an introduction to Bangladesh. It explores Bangladesh’s geography and environment, politics, governance, economy, history and society. This sets the scene for the understanding of how, and in what instances, street children become involved as workers of Bangladeshi organised crime groups—the ‘mastaans’.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In some instances, tracts is also spelt tracks.

  2. 2.

    BBC News. ‘Bangladesh building collapse: More buildings declared unsafe’. 13 June 2013. Available online at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/22883812

  3. 3.

    BBC News. ‘Myanmar Rohingya: What you need to know about the crisis’. Available online at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-41566561

  4. 4.

    The Guardian (2018). ‘Bangladesh PM Hasina wins thumping victory in elections opposition reject as “farcical”’. Available online at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/30/bangladesh-election-polls-open-after-campaign-marred-by-violence

  5. 5.

    BBC News. ‘Protests continue on Bangladesh streets’. 4 March 2013. Available online at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21663820

  6. 6.

    However, another study, a year earlier estimated the number to be around 679,728 (Department of Social Services, 2000 cited in Bangladesh Police 2008b).

  7. 7.

    For a more detailed discussion of child labour in Bangladesh, please see Chap. 3.

  8. 8.

    The ILO (2006) makes a clear distinction between ‘work’ and ‘labour’. They conclude that work is an activity that can often be beneficial to children, however, when work harms a child, denies them the right to play or education or affects their mental or physical development, it then becomes labour and should be avoided at all costs.

  9. 9.

    A practice known as ‘safe custody’.

  10. 10.

    Mohapatra, S. ‘Repeal the Habitual Offenders Act and effectively rehabilitate the denotified tribes, UN to India’. Asian Tribune. 19 March 2007. Available online at: http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/4972

  11. 11.

    Mastaan is sometimes spelt ‘mastan’ in Bangladesh; however, for the purpose of clarity this book uses only the spelling ‘mastaan’.

  12. 12.

    Daily Star, Bangladesh. ‘Crime gangs grip city’. 31 March 2010. Available at: http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=132303

  13. 13.

    The Independent, Bangladesh. ‘Juvenile crime on the rise’. 19 July 2008. Available at: http://www.independent-bangladesh.com/200807197714/country/juvenile-crime-on-the-rise.html

  14. 14.

    The Independent, Bangladesh. ‘Juvenile crime on the rise’. 19 July 2008. Available at: http://www.independent-bangladesh.com/200807197714/country/juvenile-crime-on-the-rise.html

  15. 15.

    Daily Star, Bangladesh. ‘Schoolboy stabbed to death by students’. 24 March 2010. Available at: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=131343

  16. 16.

    Daily Star, Bangladesh. ‘Schoolboy murdered over cricket match’. 10 August 2007. Available at: http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/08/10/d70810061880.htm

  17. 17.

    Daily Star, Bangladesh. ‘Schoolboy stabbed to death by fellow student’. 3 November 2007. Available at: http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=10072

  18. 18.

    Hammadi, S. and Burke, J. ‘Bangladesh arrest uncovers evidence of children forced into begging’. The Guardian. 9 January 2011. Available online at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/09/bangladesh-arrest-forced-begging?INTCMP=SRCH

  19. 19.

    Hammadi, S. and Burke, J. ‘Bangladesh arrest uncovers evidence of children forced into begging’. The Guardian. 9 January 2011. Available online at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/09/bangladesh-arrest-forced-begging?INTCMP=SRCH

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  1. King’s College London The Dickson Poon School of Law, London, UK

    Sally Atkinson-Sheppard

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Atkinson-Sheppard, S. (2019). Bangladesh. In: The Gangs of Bangladesh. Palgrave Advances in Criminology and Criminal Justice in Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18426-1_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18426-1_2

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