Paper short abstract

This paper examines the complex entanglement between labour, youth and party politics in Dhaka city.

Paper long abstract

Employment opportunities for urban poor youth in Bangladesh are mostly high risk and precarious. Youth rely on boro bhai, fictive big brothers, for security and opportunities, often necessitating political allegiances and participation in violence. This paper will examine such relationships through the case of a prominent bazar in Dhaka city. It will explore the entanglement between youth, labour and party politics during a politically fractious period between 2014-2015, showing how a group of young labourers negotiated the complex choices, risk and opportunities this posed.