Nishat Parvez, Doctoral Candidate, School of Journalism and Communication, “The Cha (Tea) Connection: Informal Political Space in Bangladesh.” What can a cup of tea tell us about democracy? This talk takes audiences inside informal spaces where people casually discuss politics while scrolling through social media, watching videos, or exchanging rumors. Focusing on tea stalls in Bangladesh, I show how media and everyday conversation intersect to shape political beliefs, gender norms, and religious identities. The talk reveals how ordinary interactions quietly influence public opinion and civic life in ways formal institutions often miss.