In the narrow lanes of Dhaka’s informal settlements, where tin-roofed homes lean into each other and tangled electricity lines hang overhead, conflict is a part of daily life.
Driven by rapid urbanization, hundreds of thousands of people move each year to cities like Dhaka and Chattogram in search of work, safety from climate disasters, or basic survival. But opportunity often comes with pressure: overcrowded housing, limited water, unstable jobs, and poor access to services.
In these conditions, small disputes can escalate quickly. Arguments over shared water points, drainage, noise, or unpaid loans are common. Yet, despite these tensions, widespread violence remains rare. Instead, many low-income urban communities rely on informal systems to manage conflict before it spirals.
At the center of these systems are trusted local figures, elders, shopkeepers, teachers, and religious leaders who form community-based mediation groups, often referred to as shomaj committees.
“These are small issues, but if we ignore them, they become big problems,” said Abdul Karim, a 58-year-old mediator in Dhaka’s Korail settlement. “A fight over water can turn into a fight between families. So we bring people together and talk.”
Unlike formal courts, which are often slow and costly, these mediators are accessible. Disputes are usually addressed within days. Both sides are invited to sit together in a neutral space, sometimes a courtyard or a local office where mediators listen and encourage compromise.
Karim estimates he handles 10 to 15 disputes each month, ranging from disagreements over shared utilities to youth altercations and small business conflicts. “We don’t want police involvement unless it’s serious,” he said. “If police come, the situation becomes bigger, and people lose face.”
Maintaining dignity, or shomman, is central to the process. Rather than assigning blame, mediators aim for reconciliation. For residents like Shirin Akhter, a garment worker in Mirpur, this approach can prevent escalation. She recalled a dispute with neighbors over blocked drainage that flooded her room during the monsoon.
“We were arguing every day,” she said. “Then the committee called us. We agreed to share the repair cost. Without that, it could have turned into a bigger fight.”
Urban migration has weakened traditional rural systems of conflict resolution, where extended families and long-standing relationships help maintain social order. In cities, neighbors often come from different regions and backgrounds, with fewer social ties.
Informal mediation helps rebuild a sense of shared responsibility. “Here, we are not relatives,” Karim said. “But we have to live side by side. So we act like relatives.”
Youth engagement is another key part of maintaining peace. In many neighborhoods, unemployment and political patronage networks increase the risk of violence among young men.
Some organizations are working to address this. Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), one of Bangladesh’s largest development organizations, supports youth clubs and community programs that promote leadership and conflict resolution.
“These programs give young people alternatives,” said Razia Sultana, an NGO worker in Dhaka. “We teach them how to negotiate and calm situations. Sometimes they become mediators themselves.”
In one case, a dispute between two groups of young men over access to a local cricket field nearly turned violent. Trained youth leaders intervened and negotiated a shared schedule. “It sounds simple,” Sultana said, “but it prevented a serious clash.”
For many residents, informal mediation is also the only realistic option. Formal legal processes can involve fees, long delays, and time away from work, barriers that are difficult for low-income families. The accessibility of informal mediation builds trust and encourages early intervention.
Bangladesh’s urban population has expanded rapidly over the past three decades, driven in part by climate-related displacement from floods, cyclones, and river erosion. However, infrastructure has struggled to keep pace. Informal settlements continue to grow, often without adequate services.
An urban sociologist at the University of Dhaka described the situation as “compressed coexistence.” “People are living closer than ever, with fewer resources,” the researcher said. “Conflict is inevitable. What is remarkable is how often it is managed without violence.”
Still, these informal systems have limitations. Mediators are often male elders, which can lead to unequal representation. Women and marginalized groups may feel their concerns are not fully addressed.
In cases of domestic conflict, outcomes can sometimes favor men. “Sometimes they tell women to adjust,” Akhter said. “It is not always fair.”
Political influence also affects neutrality. Community leaders may have ties to local power structures, making it difficult to resolve disputes involving influential individuals. “Impartiality is the goal,” Sultana said. “But in reality, politics is everywhere.”
More serious crimes, such as assault, trafficking, or organized extortion are beyond the capacity of informal mediation. In such cases, avoiding formal legal systems can lead to impunity.
Karim acknowledged the challenge. “If it is very serious, we call the police,” he said. “But sometimes people don’t want that.”
Another concern is instability. Many informal settlements are built on contested land and face the threat of eviction. When communities are displaced, the social networks that support mediation often disappear.
Despite these challenges, experts say these grassroots systems play a crucial role in maintaining everyday peace. Rather than replacing them, some suggest strengthening them through targeted support, such as training mediators in gender-sensitive approaches, involving more women in committees, and creating referral systems for serious cases.
The experience of urban Bangladesh highlights a broader lesson: Peace is not only achieved through formal agreements or national policies. It is built through daily interactions, negotiation, and compromise.
For residents like Akhter, peace is defined in simple terms. “Peace is when we can sleep without shouting outside,” she said. “When we can work, come home, and not worry about fighting.”
In densely populated neighborhoods where pressure is constant, that sense of calm is not guaranteed. It is created one conversation at a time.
Keywords: Bangladesh, Dhaka, conflict, peace, everyday, conflict resolution
Sheikh Mehzabin
Sheikh Mehzabin Chitra is an anthropologist, human rights advocate, and researcher focused on marginalized communities, displacement, and grassroots peacebuilding. Her work combines ethnographic research with journalism and policy analysis to amplify voices from the margins and examine how everyday practices sustain peace in humanitarian settings.
