Durkheim, Anomie and The Rise of Teen Gangs in Bangladesh

 

Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, the nation has witnessed a sharp rise in teenage gang activity. Recent data from the Ministry of Home Affairs shows that the number of teenage gangs nationwide has increased by 37 per cent from 2022 to 2024, from 173 groups to approximately 237.  Dhaka City alone hosts 127 teenage gangs. During this time, the number of gang members nearly doubled, from about one thousand to over two thousand, which underscores a profound social crisis.  The above information outlines a situation of acute breakdown of social norms and values that once Émile Durkheim called anomie denoting deviant behaviour resulting from normlessness caused by rapid social and political changes. Durkheim’s Anomie theory was penned in the background of Industrial Revolution. However, his theory remains profoundly relevant to understanding the rise of teenage gangs in contemporary Bangladesh.

As often reported in recent times, teenagers are increasingly involved in various forms of criminal activity, festering the daily lives of ordinary citizens in Bangladesh. To be precise, Dhaka has recently experienced a severe escalation in teenage gang-related violence. For example, the Mohammadpur area in Dhaka has emerged as a hotspot for teenage delinquency. Not only in Mohammadpur, incidents such as robbery, pickpocketing, theft, and eve-teasing committed by teenage gangs are rampant across the city. Just as in Dhaka, residents in other districts remain troubled by the menaces of teenage gangs. For example, the teenage gang-related incidents in Manikganj and Comilla districts are reportedly on the rise.

The rise of teenage gangs in Bangladesh can be explained through the lens of Émile Durkheim’s theory of anomie. Durkheim described anomie as a condition of normlessness, where individuals feel disconnected and morally adrift due to the erosion of societal norms and values. In Bangladesh, many teenagers from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds in urban areas face limited access to education, employment, and opportunities for meaningful social mobility. When society unduly glorifies success and material achievement, without ensuring fair and accessible means to attain those goals, the perceived lack of opportunity and social mobility often leads individuals to the adoption of deviant strategies. This disconnection between societal expectations and the lived realities creates ground for anomic responses, often manifesting as gang affiliation, delinquency, and violence. In the context of Bangladesh, this dynamic is increasingly evident. The erosion of societal bonds, the weakening of value systems, and the decline of effective social integration have rendered many individuals, particularly youth, vulnerable to the appeal of gangs.

The alarming rise of teenage gang culture in Bangladesh has exacerbated an already pressing legal and social crisis. In order to tackle this anomie situation, a serious, sustained, and context-sensitive response is needed. To achieve this goal, it is important to mobilize key social institutions, including families, schools, and religious organizations that can foster value based social life. The role of the family is especially critical in this regard because parental involvement is vital in preventing teenagers from experiencing cycles of alienation, frustration, and moral depravation. 

At the same time, the state must take responsibility for creating inclusive and accessible opportunities for the young people. Government initiatives that focus on quality education, vocational training, and other pathways to dignified employment are crucial for steering young people away from teenage delinquency. 

The absence of such opportunities, particularly in urban slums are responsible for the rise of teenage gang culture. Only through a holistic and coordinated strategy that addresses both the socio-cultural and economic roots of teenage gang violence can we start to reverse this teenage gang culture in Bangladesh.


Farah Arifin studies in 
Department of Law, Bangladesh University of Professionals 
(BUP) in Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka.