Syndicates and Societies

This book offers a rich ethnographic account of the relationship between crime and politics in Bangladesh. It studies how 'syndicates' led by political leaders control the country's largest bazar, how this has changed over recent decades, and how labourers and vendors navigate this world.

---

When you work on the streets of Dhaka, crime is part of everyday life. Rackets are ubiquitous, political muscle widespread, and territory often fought over. Locals refer to the syndicate that lie behind the façade of the city, controlling who works where, how services are delivered and who profits. Based on years of research Syndicates and Societies reveals how syndicates shape life in Kawran Bazar, the largest marketplace in Bangladesh, and offers a new approach to understanding the nexus of crime and politics. The book traces the bazar's history from a heartland of gangsters to being dominated by ruling party leaders and state officials. It follows a group of labourers as they seek a place in this world, aligning themselves to leaders, orchestrating bombings and fighting off rivals. Syndicates and Societies thus explores the relationship between crime and order, revealing a world of extortionists and informers, political muscle and union leaders.