Praying, Planning and Drying Chillies: More-Than-Religious Infrastructure and the Shaping of Informal Cities in Global South

In numerous informal settlements across the Global South, religious buildings frequently represent the most prominent and enduring form of infrastructure, even in areas where housing remains unstable and precarious. These structures are often built through collective efforts, and their material presence symbolizes a deeper social cohesion and the influence exerted by the religious built form itself. Despite recognition of this collective process, there remains a scarcity of studies examining how religious rituals, material needs, or forms of collectivization actively shape the urban environment, particularly regarding the experience of everyday urban-making.

Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in Bangladesh, this paper investigates informal settlements, riverside communities, and the broader urban landscape of Dhaka. It reflects on the enduring influence of religious infrastructure and its role in shaping the surrounding city. The paper offers a detailed portrayal of how everyday life is interwoven through religious observances, practices, and patterns of habitation, influencing the urban experience within informal cities.

The central argument of the paper contends that religious infrastructure extends beyond its traditional role, entering the realms of planning and management within settlements. This entanglement challenges the conventional religious/secular divide, highlighting the multifaceted and complex nature of space-making in informal urban contexts in the Global South. By exploring the spatial, social, and material dimensions of such infrastructures, the paper contributes to a nuanced understanding of how religious practices and structures intersect with broader urban dynamics, influencing the ways in which communities engage with and transform their environments.