History and Evaluation of Social Work in Bangladesh

The Industrial Revolution started in the last half of the eighteenth century brought about a revolutionary change in all aspects of human society. The Industrial Revolution created positive and negative conditions in the society.  Professional social work is developed on the basis of scientific knowledge while dealing with the problems created by the industrial revolution. Social work is the result of the growing complexity of modern industrial society.

Social work is a specialized profession.The work that is done in a social management by making positive and structural changes in the society changes the radical image of the society. That is social work.Social work is a dynamic and unique helping profession, rich with meaning, action, and the power to make a difference for individuals, families, groups and communities.

Social work was born in England and developed in America.The emergence of social work in Bangladesh took place in the early fifties,Globally, social work or modern social welfare was first studied globally in the United States in 1898 and in the developing countries of the world in the early twentieth century.The increase in the number of migrants from India to Pakistan after the partition in 1947 caused various socio-economic problems. The then government appealed to the United Nations for help in resolving the problem.Following his request, a six-member social work team led by Dr. James R. Dumpson arrived in the country in 1952 under the auspices of the United Nations Technical Assistance Program.The UN expert team surveyed and reviewed the overall socio-economic condition of the country and stressed the importance of introduction of professional social work and development of voluntary social welfare organizations.Later, in 1954, under the auspices of the United Nations, a nine-month training program was started at the initiative of the then government and at that time it was proposed to introduce a master's course under Dhaka University.  After that, the country's first social work higher education institution 'College of Social Welfare and Research Center' was established in Dhaka, which was renamed as 'Social Welfare and Research Institute' in 1973.

At present, although the promotion and development of social work in Bangladesh is gradually increasing, social work has not yet fully developed in our country. Apart from eight government universities in our country, social work is being taught in various private universities, national universities and private colleges. The tide of technology is flowing everywhere now.  Thanks to technology, everything is now in the palm of your hand.  The time when it is constantly becoming more modern.  Then the problems of the society are increasing with the passage of time.

  In the context of our country, social problems are constantly increasing. Dowry, child marriage, murder, crime, rape, hunger, poverty, human rights and security problems are on the rise.  Moreover, in our country there are no effective professional social workers to solve this specially identified social problem.  Our country has not yet developed a culture and process for recognizing professional social workers.  The subject is frustrating for social work graduates.  Although professional social workers in developing countries have found a suitable field to apply their acquired knowledge, skills, techniques, and vision, that field is still elusive to the graduate social workers of our country.So in the current situation it can be said that social work has not become an example in our country.

Although so many years have passed since the introduction of social work in our country, the recognition of social work has not yet matched.  Therefore, on this year's World Social Work Day, it is very important to take all the steps to recognize social work as a profession in our country.The steps are:-

The administrative ministries of the government like Ministry of Social Welfare, Department of Social Services, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Family Planning, Ministry of Women and Children etc. are closely involved in social work.  That is why graduate social work should be given priority in the recruitment examination of these ministries.The posts of Union Social Worker, Upozilla Social Service Officer, District Social Service Officer should be reserved for the graduates.

The posts of Union Social Worker, Upazila Social Service Officer, District Social Service Officer should be reserved for the graduates.Every social worker has to be officially registered.  So that a social worker can work for the structural change of the society like a doctor, engineer, teacher on private initiative.The Ministry of Social Welfare will have to arrange various scholarships for the graduates in social work to pursue higher education.Every student studying social work is a social worker. Every person in the society will benefit from the development of human relations shoulder to shoulder with every social worker.  The people of the society will become more creative, modern-minded and self-educated.


Shah Muntacher Hossain Mihan is a Student, Department of Social Work, Noakhali Science And Technology University.