CHANDABAJI VERSUS ENTREPRENEURSHIP Youth Force in Bangladesh

Focusing on the political economy of youth livelihoods, this book contrasts two pathways that compete for Bangladesh’s young people: “chandabaji” (rent extraction, gatekeeping and coercive fundraising) and entrepreneurship grounded in skills, networks and innovation. The authors map the ecosystems that channel youth toward one or the other, examining urban informal markets, student politics, local patronage, microfinance and emerging digital platforms. They analyze how regulatory frictions, limited access to capital, and weak contract enforcement create arbitrage for coercive intermediaries, while skills gaps and social norms restrict entry into productive work. Case studies document youth-led enterprises in services, light engineering, agribusiness and IT, illuminating the roles of mentorship, supply-chain integration and standards compliance. The book proposes turning points—skills partnerships with industry, startup-friendly municipal rules, entrepreneurial ecosystems around universities and technical institutes, and credible public procurement windows for small firms. It argues that shifting talent from rent-seeking to enterprise is not only an economic imperative but a security strategy: when young people have dignified options, crime and violence lose recruits and communities gain resilience.