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Industrial energy management is critical to ensuring efficient energy usage, market viability, and greenhouse gas emission reductions. In this study, the aim is to investigate energy management practices in paper and pulp industries (PPI) of Bangladesh. The study identifies several barriers to adopt energy management practices; "Lack of governmental attention", "Inadequate staff awareness" and "limited access to capital" are identified as the major constraints. In addition, HVAC systems and compressed air systems present higher barriers compared to electrical motor and pump systems while looking at the barriers by technology areas. On the other hand, "Owner's demand", "Commitment from the top management" and "Pressure from the customers and different non-Governmental organization" are found to be the dominant drivers of energy management in the studied PPI. Energy management practices can enhance the energy efficiency approximately by 4–5 % according to the study. Furthermore, this study reveals that the majority of PPIs are unaware of the energy service companies (ESCO) with the lack of a standardized system for energy audit, as well as a lack of trust and information, appearing to be the obstacles behind this. • Energy management practices in paper and pulp industries of Bangladesh are shown. • Barriers and drivers to energy management practices in paper and pulp industry are presented. • Barriers to energy efficiency measures by technology area are discussed. • Barriers to consult energy service companies (ESCOs) are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a major fruit crop throughout the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world including Bangladesh. The Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a major pest of mango causing both quantitative and qualitative losses as well as export barriers. We compared the efficacy and economic benefits of several prophylactic and remedial tactics against B. dorsalis during the 2017 mango cropping season in pursuit of the development of a mango IPM program to produce fruit fly-free and residue-free mango fruits. Several non-chemical approaches, such as bagging fruits with double-layer brown paper bags, cloth bags, polythene bags, and installing methyl eugenol kairomone traps and protein hydrolysate bait lures, were evaluated and compared with conventional Profenofos + cypermethrin (Shobicron 425 EC) management. Among the treatments, bagging mangos with double-layer brown paper bags at forty-two days before harvest showed the best performance. Fruit infestation was reduced to zero, marketable yields were significantly higher than with conventional pesticide management, and the marginal benefit cost ratio of bagging mangos with double-layer brown paper bags was nearly twice as high as any other treatment. The strong economic return from bagging fruits with double-layer brown paper bags results from high fruit quality and being able to use the bags for two growing seasons. The positive results from this study indicate that double-layer brown paper bagging is effective at controlling the oriental fruit fly in mango and should be integrated into a full IPM package for mango production. • Bagging mangos reduced B. dorsalis infestation to 0%. • Double-layer brown paper bags (DBPB) resulted in the highest yields and prices. • Bagging mangos with DBPB is profitable in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has been widely recognised as an affordable and effective mass transport system that can solve various mobility issues in countries that are unable to afford rail-based mass transit options. However, it is extremely challenging to predict the demand for the first BRT service in a city of a developing country with a weak public transport system using aggregate models, given the radical difference in the level of service between the BRT and the existing modes. Further, there can be substantial changes in the activity and travel patterns in a city after the introduction of the BRT which simpler disaggregate level analysis tools are unable to predict. Agent-based simulation tools, which are the state-of-the-art tools for simulating complex travel behaviour, are hence more appropriate for predicting the network conditions after the introduction of a new BRT system. But the application of such simulation tools has been primarily limited to developed countries where the transport landscape and the travel behaviour are very different from the developing countries. To address this gap, this paper presents a demand forecasting model for BRT and integrates it into an activity-based micro-simulation tool in the context of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh and one of the fastest growing megacities in the world. The model was developed based on an existing multi-agent, activity-based, travel demand simulator (MATSim). The MATSim implementation in the context of Dhaka focused on two aspects: (1) implementing behaviour models in MATSim to reflect the mode choice in the presence of the proposed BRT (2) integrating multiple data sources (including stated-preference data) for calibrating the mode choice and other components of MATSim to realistically mimic the travel behaviour in the city. Once calibrated, different access scenarios for BRT were simulated using MATSim, and the sensitivity of the outputs to different modelling assumptions is tested. Results from the simulation showed that the marginal utility of travel time, travel cost, and pricing structure of BRT significantly influenced BRT travel demands. Also, BRT demand was found to be the highest (25% of the total trips) in the scenario with multi-modal access/egress connections. While such direct model outputs presented in this paper will be useful for the planners to maximise the ridership of the proposed BRT, the calibrated simulator will be also useful for the evaluation of other innovative transport modes in the context of Dhaka in the future. • Behavioural models are integrated with agent-based microsimulation approach to predict BRT demand in the context of Dhaka, Bangladesh. • The demand for BRT is found to be notably influenced by both the fare structure and multimodal connectivity. • Simulation outputs demonstrate that BRT demand can vary between 0.7% and 25% depending on the adopted policies. • Policy measures to maximise BRT demand include making motorcycles less attractive and ensuring intermodal connectivity. • Customised services, incentives, and targeted planning, including gender-sensitive strategies, are vital for improving BRT ridership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have extended Bulatao’s conceptual framework for selecting the determinants of method choice. Attempts have been made to capture Bulatao’s dimensions directly rather than through proxies. The results of logistic regression analysis using the 1996–97 BDHS indicate that as the number of living children increases, women prefer non-terminal efficient methods such as the pill and injectable/IUD/implant and depend less on inefficient methods such as condom and permanent methods such as sterilization. With an increase in marital duration and age, women increasingly prefer sterilization as compared with other modern methods. The results may indicate a strong preference for male children among those in the sample, as women increasingly use permanent methods to prevent pregnancy as the number of living male children increases. Condom use increases with education of both women and their husbands, compared with other modern methods, indicating that more educated couples possibly have the greater understanding necessary to use the method. The better educated are significantly less likely to use sterilization. The two indicators of contraceptive evaluation, side effect and convenience of current modern method, are very important considerations in selecting the pill, injectable/IUD/implant, and condom over other modern methods. On the basis of convenience, women are most likely to use the pill over other modern methods, while they are least likely to use sterilization. Condom is the most preferred method on the basis of side effect. On the other hand, sterilization is the least preferred of other modern methods for the same reason. Sterilization is significantly less common among the Muslims, which is likely due to religious reasons, while condom use is significantly less common among non-Muslims. The two indicators of contraceptive access, accessibility/availability of current modern method and cost of current modern method, are very important considerations in pill use, while sterilization is less preferred over other modern methods on the basis of both accessibility/availability and cost. The programmatic factor visit of family planning workers/FWAs significantly increases the likelihood of using the pill compared to other modern methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper develops the concept of labour regimes as an application to better understand multi-stakeholder initiatives that are established to govern labour in global production networks. The labour regimes approach connects both global production dynamics and territorialised economic, political, and social formations in understanding labour outcomes at the workplace. The labour regimes approach helps explicate the intersection of labour, capital, and the state, configured across time and space. I argue that such an analytical approach can reveal often contested, and sometimes obscured relations between stakeholders and how they shape the progress and the sustainability of multi-stakeholder initiatives. I make this case by taking the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in the Bangladeshi apparel industry as an empirical case example. This study takes a different approach from the existing works on the Accord. With the Accord having completed its tenure in 2019, this paper specifically focuses on the absence of two key national stakeholders - the state and manufactures from the Steering Committee of the Accord, and examines how this absence affected the Accord's ability to deliver its objectives. Based on qualitative research in and around the Dhaka garment cluster, the paper demonstrates that this absence of the state and manufacturers engendered paradoxical outcomes. While it helped the Accord successfully implement its building safety program in the short-term, the transition of the Accord at the end of its tenure, and thus its long-term sustainability was affected by the lack of commitment of the state and manufacturers to the Accord's mandate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change adaptation is currently an important community concern in developing countries like Bangladesh. The conceptualization of adaptation within the government system matters for the promotion of activities such as employment generation for local communities. The lesser the gap between government policy and the local community's needs for adaptation the more effective outcomes are for ensuring policy success and promoting sustainable community livelihoods or vice versa. This interface between policy and community is important for climate change adaptation which is explored in this paper along with the findings of the research project, DEltas, vulnerability and climate change: Migration and Adaptation (DECCMA) conducted during 2014–2018 in Bangladesh, Ghana, India, and the United Kingdom. The data from Bangladesh was collected from 1384 survey respondents, 19 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), 3 workshops, and 43 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). The findings of the paper show that government adaptation activities mainly reflect the Reactive Approach of Limited Action (RALA) perspective rather than the Proactive Approach To Adaptation (PATA). The RALA perspective is characterized by piecemeal and top-down approaches to adaptation which fail to recognize a community conceptualization of climate change, policy perspectives for coping with local concerns, and governance approaches for effective adaptation. In response, the government needs to focus on the PATA in policy, programs, and projects with the governance approach implemented from the bottom-up or, in other words, from the local perspective. Community participation in decision-making processes is characteristic of this bottom-up governance model. Local community participation, consultation, and representation are essential parts of PATA in adaptation policy formulation and execution, providing important lessons for Bangladesh. • Adaptation to climate change is a high policy priority for developing countries such as Bangladesh. • The conceptualization of adaptation in government policy matters for community sustainability. • The top-down, centralised Reactive Approach of Limited Action (RALA) causes further concern for effective adaptation policy. • A Proactive Approach to Adaptation (PATA) is better for community sustainability. • Community participation and representation within governance approaches can expedite a PATA approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In international research and development discourses, the 'Feminization of Agriculture' is often used as a vague umbrella term referring to an increase in women's labor burden and responsibilities in agriculture as a result of male out-migration. However, the term is under-conceptualized, and fails to reflect changing gender relations in agriculture and natural resource management, with the potential consequence of ill-defined agriculture and gender research programs. This paper challenges narratives of the 'Feminization of Agriculture'. Drawing from feminist political ecology, this paper conceptualizes gender relations more broadly by highlighting gendered subjectivities and power relations in agriculture in contexts of male out-migration. I propose a conceptual framework to explore shifts in (1) socio-spatial struggles over resources, (2) influence within agrarian households and communal spaces, (3) aspirations, feelings of insecurity and self-determination. I build on extensive participatory fieldwork conducted in three countries, Nepal, India and Bangladesh. The conceptual framework helps analyze how some gender norms and relations are renegotiated in contexts of male out-migration. While unequal power relations shape everyday struggles in agriculture and natural resource management, for some women, increased mobility, social engagement and handling cash create new spaces to influence, move, and communicate. Importantly, everyday struggles over agricultural, water and land resources remain shaped by gender, age, caste, land ownership, remittances and household position, particularly those living with the family in-laws. Research and development programs need to take intersectionality into account and explore emerging spaces for influence, but also be aware of persistent gender norms and power relations which shape agricultural practices, aspirations and self-determination. I conclude by arguing for the need to expand the 'Feminization of Agriculture' debate towards a broader understanding of socio-spatial change and gendered subjectivities within agriculture. • The term 'Feminization of Agriculture' is under-conceptualized, and fails to reflect changing gender relations in agriculture and natural resource management. • A conceptual framework drawing from feminist political ecology frames gender relations more broadly and highlights gendered subjectivities and power relations in agriculture in contexts of male out-migration. • The conceptual framework explores shifts in (1) socio-spatial struggles over resources, (2) influence within agrarian households and communal spaces, (3) aspirations, feelings of insecurity and self-determination. • This paper challenges narratives of the 'Feminization of Agriculture' by arguing for the need to expand the 'Feminization of Agriculture' debate towards a broader understanding of socio-spatial change and gendered subjectivities within agriculture. • Research and development programs need to take intersectionality into account and be aware of persistent gender norms and power relations which shape agricultural practices, aspirations and self-determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sheds light on the understudied phenomenon of female two-wheeler riders in Bangladesh, and their everyday negotiations of moto-mobility in patriarchal public spaces. In transportation research, female riders have traditionally been characterized as occupying the pillion seat. By conducting ethnographic observations of two-wheeler training clubs in Bangladesh (Dhaka) and qualitative interviews with female riders, the paper expands the discussion of gender and mobility beyond the usual focus on car and public transport in the Global South, which is critical for planning equitable and inclusive transport policies. Using the motility framework (access, competence and appropriation), this paper unravels the cultural, spatial and social dynamics of women's everyday moto-mobility. Through engagement in women-only training clubs which also serve as gendered social spaces, female riders actively build technical and spatial competence. They opt for safety-conscious approaches in driving behaviour, subverting traditional/masculine notions of dominance and authority. The findings also reveal how young riders subvert families and communities to acquire and ride motorbikes, but still largely conform (and adapt) to social norms to manufacture respectability (following normative sartorial choices, sex-segregated seclusion/purdah). In other words, their resistance is in proportion to how much they can assert themselves without facing negative repercussions from communities and society at large. As their presence and performances of micro-subversions rewrite spatial geographies (of risk and respectability), this has implications for reshaping the everyday transport geographies of women in urban public spaces. By presenting gender scripts as an element of appropriation in the constant negotiation of mobility, this paper contextualises motility in a non-western setting, and shows how multiple (seemingly contradictory) gender performances can feed into each other and regroup to facilitate women's access (to mobility) and rights in a gendered city. • Female motorbike riders in Bangladesh negotiate patriarchal urban public spaces. • In doing so, they challenge traditional gender scripts and reconstruct new ones. • Training clubs offer women new and safe spaces for gendered sociality. • Their micro-subversions rewrite spatial geographies (of risk & respectability). • This has implications for everyday geographies of women's mobility in urban spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines international temporary migration as an intermediary step among aspiring entrepreneurs to accumulate the needed capital when they face credit constraints at home. The analysis is based on a representative dataset of lifetime employment histories of return migrants from Bangladesh. After establishing the credit constraints that potential entrepreneurs face, the paper shows that non-agricultural self-employment rates are significantly higher among returning migrants — over half versus around 20% of non-migrants. Most migrants transition into self-employment by using their savings from abroad as the main source of financing. The paper then offers, for the first time, a detailed account of the financial costs and benefits of international migration. Our findings suggest that temporary migration can contribute to structural transformation of lower-income countries by enabling credit-constrained workers to enter into non-agricultural entrepreneurship. • Many aspiring entrepreneurs in lower income countries face tight credit constraints. • Temporary international migration allows faster accumulation of the necessary capital. • Cost benefit analysis shows that it shares many features with classical investments. • Novel data from Bangladesh show frequent transitions into self-employment upon return. • Self-employment to a large extent is financed by savings acquired abroad. • Self-employment after return strongly increases the gains from temporary migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper examines land formalization in the former enclaves of India inside Bangladesh. • Drawing on ethnographic research methods, it sheds light on the ambiguities of land ownership and negotiations. • It offers a lens of flexible land to comprehend such ambiguities. • It argues that attention must be paid to legibility, sovereignty, and negotiation in a post-colonial context. The former enclaves of Bangladesh and India existed as de facto stateless spaces for almost seventy years before they were exchanged and merged with the host state territories in 2015. Because of their extra-territorial existence, land ownership and transactions remained effectively a local affair in the enclaves. After the exchange, however, enclaves became regular parts of the state territory, and the host state officially recognized private ownership of enclave land. Drawing on fourteen months of ethnographic research in India's ex-enclaves inside Bangladesh, in this paper, I shed light on the complex and multi-layered process of land formalization. As such, I offer a lens of flexible land to comprehend how the state and the citizens employ numerous resources and tactics in claiming and formalizing land that becomes the simultaneous reasons and results of its flexibility. In so doing, I argue that the key to our understanding of flexible land lies in an attentive reading of legibility, sovereignty, and negotiation in a post-colonial context, especially in South Asia. Thus, flexible land becomes an innovative lens, explained and developed throughout this paper, to address how flexibility functions as an embodiment of land formalization for the citizens and the state in the former enclaves of India inside Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyse the relationships among tourism, sustainability, and innovation in the Bangladesh economy. Based on annual data covering 1980 to 2019, we apply robust and standard time series econometric techniques and reveal that innovation and sustainability are significantly linked with tourism in Bangladesh. Furthermore, we use Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modelling method to find the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tourism industry. We find that the tourism industry is one of the highly affected industries in Bangladesh. As a recovery strategy, we reveal that innovation efficiency and government stimulus packages are much more effective in tackling the pandemic's adverse impacts. Based on the holistic analysis, we also provide key policy suggestions for the sustainable development of the tourism industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In both developed and emerging countries, like Bangladesh, uterine cancer is one of the most common cancers for women. It is also the sixth most common cancer among females in the world and the fourteenth most common cancer in total. In recent years, the high prevalence of uterine cancer in women has risen dramatically. This covers several aspects that are linked to the signs and symptoms of this disease that are to be assessed and tested. Typically, these dimensions are expressed in quantitative and qualitative forms and also exist different kinds of uncertainty. Therefore, by using suitable methods to resolve the problem of uncertainty; otherwise, the detecting procedure will become unreliable. There are several systems proposed in this paper to tackle the problem. None of them, however, is worthy of solving the problem of ambiguity. This paper explains the development of a Belief Rule Based Expert System using the RIMER method, which by taking into account signs and symptoms, is able to detect the involvement of malignant tumors and risk factors for this cancer under uncertainty. Specifically, the system will expect a huge employment in diminishing the cost of lab assessments. The structure will support patients in making judicious strides well early. Moreover, this research has been done on MATLAB environment shown that the yields produced using the made system are more reliable than from manual structure, artificial neural network (ANN) and support vector machine (SVM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores whether mother tongues should be given a sustainable chance to thrive as mediums of instruction in tertiary education in Bangladesh and China. In the Bangladesh context, four universities located in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, were included in this qualitative research study. Eight teachers of English, law, general education, and business participated in interviews. In the Chinese context, two international universities located in China's Greater Bay Area (GBA) were also chosen for study. Six teachers were observed in their classrooms to understand their classroom practices and were interviewed to determine their perceptions about implementing mother-tongue instruction in classroom interactions. The data show that teachers are aware that English, on the one hand, limits students' learning, fosters improper learning strategies, and marginalises them in academia while on the other hand, compromises students' opportunities to develop critical thinking skills. However, they do not believe introducing the mother tongue will prompt significant changes in higher education learning and teaching. The paper concludes that introducing mother-tongue-based translanguaging that challenges the monolingual biases towards English seems a utopian ideal that may take a long time to be accepted and implemented in these two Asian countries. However, fostering mother-tongue-based translanguaging by recognising the need for the mother tongue within a broad linguistic repertoire that promotes a de-colonising pedagogy and equality in education could be a promising approach in tertiary education in the Global South. • The paper explores whether mother tongues should be given a sustainable chance to thrive as a medium of instruction in tertiary education in Bangladesh and China. • Teachers in higher education in Bangladesh do not believe that introducing the mother tongue in higher education will prompt significant changes in learning and teaching. • Students' inadequate literacy and the lack of textbooks in their mother tongues may hinder their learning and knowledge construction in higher education in Bangladesh. • In the Chinese context, the content teacher thought that EMI teachers may face challenges in communicating their mindset and values to their students. • Introducing Mother-tongue-based translanguaging may take a long time to be accepted and implemented. • Fostering mother-tongue-based translanguaging that promotes a de-colonising pedagogy and equality in education could be a promising approach in tertiary education in the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transport sector as a whole plays an important role in the economy of Bangladesh as its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) stood at 10.98 percent in the fiscal year (FY) 2018-19 with a growth rate of 6.88 percent. However, this sector also accounted for 9.92 percent of the country's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2020. This GHG emission is projected to grow by 116 percent by 2030, making decarbonization of transport an urgent priority by uptaking the electric vehicle (EV). Hence, the Government of Bangladesh is presently working towards issuing an EV policy to remove the barriers to accommodate this paradigm shift in the transportation sector. In order to develop an effective policy for scaling up EV uptake in Bangladesh, systematic and detailed forecasting needs to be carried out considering various influencing parameters. In this study, an EV outlook for Bangladesh from 2022 to 2040 has been formulated by applying the concepts of the additive linear programming mechanism. The predictive modelling includes linear growth of ICE vehicles, EV price reduction, and inclusion of carbon tax on ICE cars as contributing factors in this paper. It has been estimated that, with the inclusion of a 40% carbon tax, the forecasted number of EVs would reach around 3,000,000 in the year 2040. The outlook has led to a comparative financial analysis between ICE vehicles and EVs through the establishment of financial modelling. The genetic algorithm optimizes total tax incidence (TTI) that limits the payback period, and hence, reduces the price gaps between EVs and ICE vehicles. Based on the findings of the study, a number of policies are recommended on fiscal and financial incentives to pave the way for increased uptake of EVs in Bangladesh. • Electric vehicle outlook and policy formulation for decarbonizing the Bangladesh transport sector. • Factors such as growth, the global price of EVs, and the carbon tax for fossil fuel vehicles are considered. • Calibrated outlook has led to comparative financial analysis between fossil fuel vehicles and EVs. • A genetic algorithm is applied to optimize the total tax incidence (TTI) related to the investment payback period. • Policy recommendations are formulated to pave the way for increased uptake of EVs in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Systematic review of longitudinal Shigella outcomes in children. • Shigella is associated with continued diarrhea and linear growth faltering. • There is a need for standardized measurement and reporting of Shigella outcomes. We conducted a systematic review of the longitudinal consequences of Shigella infection in children to inform the value proposition for an effective vaccine. We searched PubMed and Embase for studies published from January 01, 1980 to December 12, 2022 and conducted in low- and middle-income countries that included longitudinal follow-up after Shigella detection among children aged <5 years, irrespective of language. We collected data on all outcomes subsequent to Shigella detection, except mortality. Of 2627 papers identified, 52 met inclusion criteria. The median sample size of children aged <5 years was 66 (range 5-2172). Data were collected in 20 countries; 56% (n = 29) of the publications included Bangladesh. The most common outcomes related to diarrhea (n = 20), linear growth (n = 14), and the mean total cost of a Shigella episode (n = 4; range: $ 6.22-31.10). Among children with Shigella diarrhea, 2.9-61.1% developed persistent diarrhea (≥14 days); the persistence was significantly more likely among children who were malnourished, had bloody stool, or had multidrug-resistant Shigella. Cumulative Shigella infections over the first 2 years of life contributed to the greatest loss in length-for-age z-score. We identified evidence that Shigella is associated with persistent diarrhea, linear growth faltering, and economic impact to the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The reuse and recycling of waste materials are now sincerely considered to be an integral part of solid waste management in many parts of the world. In this context, a vast number of options ranging from small scale decentralized to larger scale centralized plants have been adopted. This study aimed at investigating the waste reuse schemes in Khulna city located in the southern part of Bangladesh and ranked third largest city in the country. The shops for reusable material (SRM) were mostly situated around railway, waterway, and truck station markets which provided easy transportation to further locations. For the reuses of waste materials and products, a chain system was found to collect reusable wastes under a total number of 310 identified SRM with 859 persons directly or indirectly involved in the scheme. This was a decentralized waste management system with self sufficient (autonomous) management. According to mass balance, about 38.52tonsd−1 solid wastes were reused in Khulna city area, accounting for 7.65% of the total generated wastes. This study revealed that apparently a silent, systematic, smooth, and clean reuse chain has been established in Khulna city area under private initiatives, whose sustainability was confirmed over the years in the country without any official or formal funds. However, proper adjustment between the higher and lower chain in the materials flow path, as well as personal hygiene training for the workers, would further improve the achievements of the established reuse scheme. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

While software process improvement (SPI) aims at optimizing software processes to produce high-quality software, SPI efforts in software development are still inert in practice, especially in developing countries. In this work, we make an experimental investigation aiming at developing a model for applying SPI of CMMI level 2 practice based on the views and experiences of small and medium-sized software firms in Bangladesh. The primary goal of this study is to determine how commonly a given CMMI practice is adopted to build a new maturity model within specific exercises. We use questionnaire-based survey sessions as the main tool to collect data from 9 SMEs in Bangladesh. Practitioners were asked to choose and rank CMMI level 2 practices based on the five classes of evaluations. Afterward, based on CMMI Level 2 practices from the acquired data, we develop a maturity model for adopting SPI.The paper proposes a model to improve those particular practices to build successful CMMI-based SPI and increase the success rate of CMMI-based SPI initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the economic sustainability of net billing and feed-in-tariff (all energy buy/sell) method is analyzed in comparison with the current net-metering for the industrial PV systems in Bangladesh. Three billing methods are compared according to plant capacity factor, excess energy transfer, levelized cost of energy (LCOE), net present value (NPV), payback period, and profitability index (PI) for the analysis of optimum billing scheme. The highest plant capacity factor and minimum LCOE are found for the large PV system in Chattogram. Out of three methods, all energy buy/sell exhibits the NPV which is USD 5.85 million and PI of 2.54 at the minimum 4.9 years discounted payback time for the large PV system in Chattogram. The sensitivity analysis of solar irradiation at six other regional areas, bill escalation rate, and discount factor is performed to observe the impact on annual energy production and NPV. For both systems, all three assessed methods are found economically feasible, but the net metering is attained as the least profitable in comparison with net billing and all energy buy/sell schemes. From various analyses, it is found that the adaption of these two schemes in the present guideline can enhance industrial PV production in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Nationally representative evidence on abortion service provision is scarce in South Asia. To inform improvements in service provision, this paper assesses the availability of facility-based postabortion services in Nepal, India (six states), Bangladesh and Pakistan, and legal abortion services in India and Nepal and Bangladesh (where the official term used is menstrual regulation or MR).Study Design: The paper presents comparable indicators on three aspects of abortion service provision from representative surveys of public and private sector facilities, conducted over 2012-2015. Indicators cover three areas: (a) need for abortion-related care (total number of abortions and percent of abortions that are legal and the postabortion treatment rate); (b) availability and accessibility of facility-based abortion-related services (percent of facilities offering only one of the two services, percent which are public and percent located in rural areas); (c) quality of facility-based abortion care (percent of legal abortions using procedures not recommended by WHO and percent of women turned away when seeking abortion or MR services).Results: The proportion of all abortions that are illegal ranges from 58% to almost 78% in the three countries where abortion is permitted under broad criteria. The annual treatment rate for abortion complications ranges from about 4 to 26 per 1000 women ages 15-49 across the countries and states covered. In India and Nepal, less than 40% of public sector facilities that are permitted to provide abortion services do so; in Bangladesh, the situation is somewhat better, at 53% providing MR. Across the six Indian states, 4-43% of facilities that offer abortion care are located in rural areas, disproportionately lower than the proportion of women living in rural areas (49-87%). About 30-60% of facilities offered only postabortion care and did not offer legal services in the three countries where legal services are permitted (with the sole exception of Tamil Nadu where this proportion was only 11%); of the remaining facilities, the large majority offered both services. Medication abortion is offered by the large majority of facilities that provide induced abortion and accounts for 40-45%, of facility-based abortions in Nepal and four of the states of India; in Assam and Bihar, this proportion was much lower (13% and 27% respectively). Invasive procedures that are not recommended by WHO are more widely used in India (up to 25-37% of facility-based abortions are D&C procedures; the large majority of this group are D&C, and a small proportion may be D&E, a WHO-recommended abortion procedure, that could not be separated out in this study because providers use the two labels interchangeably); by comparison, the proportion is much smaller in Nepal (5%). Between 22% to a little over half of facilities turned away some women who would otherwise be eligible for an abortion or MR procedure in Nepal, the six Indian states, and Bangladesh.Conclusions: There is an urgent need to increase access to abortion, MR and postabortion services, especially for rural women. Greater access to legal abortion/MR services in the three countries that permit these procedures would increase the proportion of abortions that are legal and safe, reduce morbidity and the need for facility-based treatment for complications. Broadening the legal criteria under which abortion is permitted in Pakistan, and implementing access under such broader criteria, is needed to achieve the same improvements in Pakistan. Ensuring that these services are of high quality and comprehensive-meeting WHO-recommended standards-is essential to protect women's reproductive health and rights.Implications: To improve access to abortion, MR and postabortion care in South Asia, all facilities (public and private) permitted to provide these services should do so, and should include medication abortion. Improvements in quality of care are critical: invasive procedures (D&C) should be eliminated through adherence to WHO's standards of safe abortion care and women seeking abortions should not be turned away because of providers' biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Representatives of the Dutch government usually refer to the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 as an example of the successful transfer of the Dutch Delta Approach to Bangladesh. Their storyline aligns with theorizations of policy transfer as a process of diffusion. These ascribe the mobility of a policy – or its capacity to travel - to its intrinsic quality. The belief in the quality of the Dutch Delta Approach is anchored in the renowned Dutch ability to deal with its own floods and flood risks. By making the contents of that what travels an important cause of its mobility, diffusion theories make it difficult to see, acknowledge and understand the actions and actors needed to make policy transfer happen. This is why in this paper we theorize policy transfer as a process of translation. Based on an identification of the Dutch and Bangladeshi actors involved in the transfer of the Dutch Delta Approach to Bangladesh, and by re-tracing their actions, we show that the transfer entailed an active process of engagement, negotiation, and contestation. In their attempts to develop a Bangladeshi version of the Plan, the involved actors made active use of old relations of collaboration and friendship, while also developing new ones. In the course of the transfer process, and because of the negotiations and contestations that it entailed, the delta plan became something else altogether. The paper concludes that telling the story of the transfer of the Dutch Delta Approach as a story of translation is useful as it allows recognizing and giving credit not just to those who initiated the process, but to all involved. This, we hope, can in turn provide the basis for a more symmetrical dialogue between 'senders' and 'recipients' in international policy transfers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alarming rate at which the deposit of non-renewable or fossil energy resources are depleting around the world has been nudging us in the direction of green energy for quite a long time. Considering the current and upcoming global energy crisis, we have no choice but to pay our serious attention to renewable resources to meet the energy demand of an ever-growing global population and industry. Rice husk has about 20% mass percentage of rice, with low energy and bulk density. Due to these properties, it is not viable to directly combust rice husk as a fuel. Different thermochemical pretreatment technologies can be effectively implemented to improve the fuel characteristics. However, there have been no comprehensive review article on different pretreatments of rice husk. This paper reviews most common rice husk pretreatments technologies namely, gasification, torrefaction, pyrolysis, and hydrothermal carbonization including multiple sub-categories of each technology. All of these processes are successful in improving the fuel characteristics of rice husk such as higher heating value or calorific value, moisture content, fixed carbon, etc. Each of them serves the purpose of converting a low energy-density biomass into an energy-rich material like coal differently. Location, resources, available technology, etc. should also be considered while deciding which pretreatment would be optimum for a given particular case. A comparison has been presented on how much energy can be extracted from rice husk by implementing different technologies given they can be upscaled to an industrial scale. For 527,534 kg of rice husk produced from a sample location in Bangladesh per annum, wet torrefaction before pyrolysis of rice husk yields 85 MW of power which is the highest among the 4 pretreatments discussed in this paper. • Review of different thermochemical processes conducted on rice husk. • Study on gasification, pyrolysis, torrefaction, hydrothermal carbonization process. • Comparison in terms of moisture content, fixed carbon, and heating value gain. • A case study of power generation potential of rice husk produced in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study will introduce a malaria model and formulate its corresponding Continuoustime Markov chain (CTMC). • The number of infected vector and infected host populations of vector-borne diseases depends on seasonal variability. • The threshold quantity R 0 is not same for the deterministic and periodic environments. • Seasonal variation influences the probability of disease outbreaks. • Random fluctuations in malaria modeling depend primarily on factors such as variations in mosquito biting rates, human mobility, and the efficacy of control interventions. • These stochastic elements introduce uncertainty into disease transmission dynamics and affect the accuracy of predictions and intervention planning. The best strategy for successfully controlling malaria transmission is suggested. • The analysis play the important role to understand the impact of various parameters and their stochastic behavior in the malaria model to prevent malaria outbreaks. Background: Malaria is the world's most fatal and challenging parasitic disease, caused by the Plasmodium parasite, which is transmitted to humans by the bites of infected female mosquitoes. Bangladesh is the most vulnerable region to spread malaria because of its geographic position. In this paper, we have considered the dynamics of vector-host models and observed the stochastic behavior. This study elaborates on the seasonal variability and calculates the probability of disease outbreaks. Methods: We present a model for malaria disease transmission and develop its corresponding continuous-time Markov chain (CTMC) representation. The proposed vector-host models illustrate the malaria transmission model along with sensitivity analysis. The deterministic model with CTMC curves is depicted to show the randomness in real scenarios. Sequentially, we expand these studies to a time-varying stochastic vector-host model that incorporates seasonal variability. Phase plane analysis is conducted to explore the characteristics of the disease, examine interactions among various compartments, and evaluate the impact of key parameters. The branching process approximation is developed for the corresponding vector-host model to calculate the probability outbreak. Numerous numerical results are accomplished to observe the analytical investigation. Results: Seasonality and contact patterns affect the dynamics of disease outbreaks. The numerical illustration provides that the probability of a disease outbreak depends on the infected host or vector. Additionally, periodic transmission rates have a great influence on the probability outbreak. The basic reproduction number (R 0) is derived, which is the main justification for studying the dynamical behavior of epidemic models. Conclusions: Seasonal variability significantly impacts malaria transmission, and the probability of disease outbreaks is influenced by time and the initial number of infected individuals. Moreover, the branching process approximation is applicable when the population size is large enough and the basic reproduction number is less than 1. In the future, such analysis can help decision-makers understand the impact of various parameters and their stochastic behavior in the vector-host model to prevent such types of disease outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Analyzes South Asia's energy trilemma balancing energy access, security and sustainability. • Focuses on four major regional countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. • Identifies major challenges as lack of energy access, unreliable gird, and unaffordable prices. • Explores the prospects of renewable energy as the key toward a sustainable energy transition. • Presents stakeholder perspectives on crucial dynamics of energy transition. To address the faced challenges – i.e. rapidly growing energy needs, depleting fossil fuel reserves, surging energy prices, risks to security of supplies, and climate change – the World is targeting a sustainable energy transition. This energy transition is primarily propelled by a global decarbonization drive. South Asia, a developing region housing over 23% of the global population, faces the additional challenge of serious energy deprivation. The subject of energy transition has not been explored in the South Asian context in terms of drivers, challenges, and prospects. This paper investigates the prospects of sustainable energy transition in South Asia in terms of resources, consumption trends, and challenges encountered by countries in the region, particularly India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It also examines the sustainable and renewable energy options for the region. An original stakeholder survey provides salient behavioral insights into awareness, attitudes and opinions shaping societal response to energy transition. The findings of the study highlight the serious energy security issues faced by the region in terms of lack of access, inconsistent supplies, unreliable grids, and high energy prices. Renewables like solar energy, wind power, and hydropower have the potential to propel regional countries to energy and environmental sustainability. "Lack of consistent policies and regulations", "lack of political will" and "lack of investment" are found to be the three most important challenges to the energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past decades, microplastics (MPs) have become an emerging concern due to their persistence and potential environmental threat. MP pollution has become so drastic that it has been found in the human food chain, breast milk, polar regions, and even the Himalayan basin, lake, etc. Inflammation, pulmonary hypertension, vascular occlusions, increased coagulability and blood cell cytotoxicity, disruption of immune function, neurotoxicity, and neurodegenerative diseases can all be brought on by severe microplastic exposure. Although many MPs studies have been performed on single environmental compartments, MPs in multi-environmental compartments have yet to be explored fully. This review aims to summarize the muti-environmental media, detection tools, and global management scenarios of MPs. The study revealed that MPs could significantly alter C flow through the soil-plant system, the structure and metabolic status of the microbial community, soil pH value, biomass of plant shoots and roots, chlorophyll, leaf C and N contents, and root N contents. This review reveals that MPs may negatively affect many C-dependent soil functions. Different methods have been developed to detect the MPs from these various environmental sources, including microscopic observation, density separation, Raman, and FT-IR analysis. Several articles have focused on MPs in individual environmental sources with a developed evaluation technique. This review revealed the extensive impacts of MPs on soil-plant systems, microbial communities, and soil functions, especially on water, suggesting possible disturbances to vital ecological processes. Furthermore, the broad range of detection methods explored emphasizes the significance of reliable analytical techniques in precisely evaluating levels of MP contamination in various environmental media. This paper critically discusses MPs' sources, occurrences, and global management scenarios in all possible environmental media and ecological health impacts. Future research opportunities and required sustainable strategies have also been suggested from Bangladesh and international perspectives based on challenges faced due to MP's pollution. [Display omitted] • General aspects of microplastics (MPs) are addressed in this review. • MPs may negatively affect many C-dependent soil functions. • Different methods have been developed to detect the MPs from these various environmental sources. • MPs' sources, occurrences, and global management scenarios are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper addresses the urgent environmental concern of microplastic (MP) emissions, focusing on the behavioral attitudes and perceptions of the general populace in Shyamnagar Upazila, Bangladesh. Against the backdrop of escalating MP pollution globally, this study investigates the level of awareness and the factors influencing public engagement in mitigating MP prevalence. Leveraging survey data from 350 respondents, the ordered logistic regression (OLR) and boosted regression tree (BRT) models are employed for comprehensive data analysis. The findings expose a concerning lack of awareness about MPs, as only 12% of respondents possessed prior knowledge, and a notable 63% remained uninformed about MP pollution. The OLR model reveals a positive correlation between heightened awareness of MPs and an increased willingness to take action. Gender differences become evident, with women exhibiting greater willingness than men to mitigate MP emissions, and environmental practitioners displaying heightened motivation. The BRT model underscores construction materials and industrial pollution as the primary influential factors amplifying MP pollution. These insights not only illuminate the existing scenario but also provide a basis for fostering favorable behavioral attitudes and perceptions to mitigate the prevalence of MPs within the coastal milieu. [Display omitted] • The public's behavioral attitudes and perceptions toward MPs' emissions are assessed in this research. • Most respondents did not know about MPs. • The ordered logistic regression (OLR) model reveals that higher knowledge of MPs increases respondents' willingness to act. • The boosted regression tree (BRT) model indicates that construction materials and industrial pollution influence most the increase of MP pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of various forms of ICTs (information communication technology) such as mobile telephones can foster the socio-economic progression of developing countries. Contextually appropriate design and use are needed for ICTs to deliver value to various parties within the socio-economic spheres of developing countries who have different needs and wants compared to those of the developed world. There is however scant empirical evidence of how various stakeholders symbiotically interact and create value in developing countries where large multinationals have limited access and engagement. Drawing on the theoretical lens of co-creation of value our paper examines how technology upgrading is achieved in the context of the Bangladeshi mobile telephone industry. In doing so this paper suggests technology upgrading can be achieved even without some of the key prerequisites such as financial, institutional, infrastructural facilities cited in existing literature. The findings offer useful theoretical and policy implications by providing deeper understanding of the interactions and inter-relationships of those who have involvement in the value creation for mobile telephony and contribute to the development of effective business models and technological innovations for these marketplaces. • Small and medium firms co-create value and contribute to technology upgrading. • Technology upgrading is possible with minimum initiative from large multinationals. • Technology upgrading is possible without financial, institutional & infrastructural facilities. • Government regulations and support can make technology upgrading more efficient. • Technology upgrading and ICT for development complement each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article attempts to analyze the main impacts of climate change on public health starting with global and going through local by analyzing coastal communities in the area of influence of Sundarbans, located in southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh. In dealing with paramount health problems caused by climate change, we discuss what are the major challenges faced by different actors. From the opinion of globalization and world system theory it will be argued that developing countries are facing major defiance in terms of mitigation and adaptation, including human health problems. Those living in developing world, as the case of Bangladesh, responsible for the lowest contributions to climate change, are already suffering the most. This paper is based on bibliographical and statistical review, and uses primary data collected from field and secondary from publications, books, scientific journals, international reports. In this paper we also focused that poor countries shall not be liable for the damages caused by carbon emissions already trapped into atmosphere, a historic problem caused by developed world, so we expect that multi-governance platforms should make mutual efforts to promote health in partnership with local institutions in order to solve the climatic crisis. • Unfortunately, developing countries which have contributed fewer amounts of GHG from beginning to right now, are the most affected and vulnerable countries due to climate change in conjunction with already suffering the consequences on human health. • A range of health risks such as vector-borne diseases problems capable of infecting human beings are linked with changeable weather patterns, as verified in the study region through primary data collection. Within the range of vector-borne diseases, dengue is more linked with global climatic pattern variation. • Scientific observation brings strong evidence with 98% of the inhabitants interviewed living in Southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh since childhood confirming that the sea level is rising, with more frequent tidal inundation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction : There have been a number of studies that have led to the development of safety risk assessment models to quantify the probability of crash frequencies on roadway facilities (both at micro- and macro-levels), over a specified time period. However, past research has rarely focused on heterogeneous traffic conditions in developing countries. Method: This paper puts forward several models related to the traditional count approach to estimate crash frequency at a micro-level in a non-lane based bi-directional heterogeneous traffic environment. The paper shows the results of dispersion, zero-inflation, and random heterogeneity effects of different exogenous factors by comparing Poisson (P); Negative Binomial (NB); random and fixed parameter Zero-Inflated Poisson (ZIP); and Latent Class Models (LCM). The empirical analysis is based on data from a section of a major national highway in Bangladesh. The performance of the models was validated using different statistical goodness-of-fit measures that compared the estimated and observed average crash frequencies at individual locations. With the identification of the most significant influencing factors, the paper discusses the practical policy implications using partial effects analysis and spatial distribution. Results : It was found that the Zero-Inflated Random Parameter model gives a slightly better statistical fit when compared to alternative approaches. Practical applications : This micro-level modeling approach would be useful to identify significant crash risk factors; to prioritize road sections according to their safety level; to select site-specific appropriate counter-measures; and devise proactive target oriented safety management strategies. Thus, the results shown here could be a point of reference in the planning, designing, maintaining, and managing two-lane highway sections in developing countries. • A methodological approach to develop micro-level crash prediction model for non-lane based bi-directional heterogeneous traffic environment has been put forwarded. • The combined role of dispersion, zero-inflation, class segmentation and random heterogeneity effects of different exogenous factors are examined. • A large set of exogenous variables pertaining to non-lane based heterogeneous traffic environment are tested. • A policy discussion is included to illustrate the practical applicability of the proposed modeling approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We use qualitative research to locate the everyday affects of transport in Dhaka. • Lived experiences of safety are entangled in human & non-human elements of travel. • Understanding power of affects in transport can help reconfigure safety for women. By examining the lived experiences of 30 female bus commuters in Dhaka using in-depth qualitative approaches, this paper argues for an enhanced understanding of socio-cognitive undercurrents of gendered mobilities. By privileging a feminist-affective lens, and tracing the emotionally and politically charged everyday negotiations of space, power struggles, (dis) comfort, and encounters between gendered bodies, the paper contends that women's agency to act and respond to harassment in public transport is contingent on multi-scalar assemblages comprising socio-technical infrastructures, lifestyles, cultural histories, personal dispositions and situated knowledge. Moreover, by applying assemblage thinking and affect theories in transport spaces, the study links discussions on gender, violence and mobility beyond the common economic tropes as is common in transport studies of the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bangladesh is a small country with a large population. Its increasingly developing economy further makes land a lucrative source of fixed capital. On the other hand, land titling is a cumbersome and lengthy process, where different government bodies process different sets of documents, and bureaucratic loopholes encourage fraudulent activities by organized people. As a result, the current model suffers from good governance. In this paper, we propose a Blockchain-based solution that offers data synchronization and transparency, ease of access, immutable records management, a faster and cheaper solution. Considering the technological knowledge and capacity of the people and the government, we introduced a phase by phase Blockchain adoption model that starts with a public Blockchain ledger and later gradually incorporates two levels of Hybrid Blockchain. We provide detailed smart contracts design of the public Blockchain and implement a prototype system using Ethereum. Our experimental setup uses local and live Ethereum test networks to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed system. Our analysis shows that the proposed model reduces the number of required travels, the overall cost of information processing as well as provide easy access to vital information. As a result, Blockchain adoption can improve the land title digitization effort of Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this paper is to evaluate the validity of a translated version the Information Literacy Self-Efficacy (ILSE) scale in a different socio-cultural context in Bangladesh. The 28-items of the ILSE scale was translated into Bangla to collect data from students of a public university in Bangladesh. To determine the underlying factor structures of the 28-items scale and its short version of 17-items, exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) were conducted with a sample of 394 students. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were performed with a group of undergraduate students (n = 267) to examine the validity of the scale. The 28-items and 17-items versions of the scale extracted four factors and three factors, respectively. In the CFA analyses, 23 out of the 28-items were found reliable although discriminant validity was not achieved between two constructs. While analyzing the 17-items subscale, 13-items were found to be reliable. Overall, the CFA model fit statistics for both the 23-items and 13-items support the use of the translated version of the ILSE scale for assessing self-efficacy for information literacy among Bangla -speaking population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the context of urban transformations, water governance has received global attention due to its growing complexities in responding to wicked and multifaceted challenges, such as rapidly growing populations, increased resource demand and uncertain climate futures. To date, much of the empirical research on water governance and urban transformations has examined developed cities, with limited investigation of developing cities. This paper therefore aims to enrich current empirical insights regarding the evolution of, and key shifts within urban water governance in Bangladesh. Drawing on recent developments in sustainability transitions and urban water governance scholarship, the paper charts 250 years of water resource development in Bangladesh. Analysis of primary and secondary qualitative data sources revealed five major periods between 1757 and 2016 that represent key changes to governance approaches that underpinned sectoral changes. Although the shifts in governance approaches have cumulatively improved the adaptive capacity of Bangladesh’s urban water system, they have not been framed to provide guidance and facilitation for driving on-ground change, which may be inhibiting a sustainable transformation of Bangladesh’s urban water sector. Nevertheless, the insights do provide important foundations for informing the development of new governance models capable of dealing with multi-scale strategies for supporting a sustainability transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bangladesh is widely deemed to have made rapid progress on gender equality and women's empowerment. How to understand the apparent advances of women in a poor, populous, Muslim-majority country in the belt of classic patriarchy? This paper locates the origins of these changes in the immediate aftermath of Bangladesh's struggle for independence in 1971, when a series of visible ruptures to the patriarchal bargain dramatized the ongoing crisis of social reproduction. This drew elite attention to the conditions of landless rural women, creating space for their programmatic inclusion in the political settlement, within a newly biopolitical project of national development. The paper argues that it is possible to make sense of the gains women have made as well as old and new obstacles to gender justice - including women's continuing responsibility for care - in this critical juncture in the political history of gender relations in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across the world, microfinance (MF) has been recognized as an effective instrument for simultaneous reduction of poverty and long-term growth through creation of entrepreneurship. Available research does suggest that MF experiment in most cases was successful to reduce poverty, especially among poor women. However, evidence-based research on impact of MF initiatives on nature of entrepreneurial activities and on the psychological capital or potential of the entrepreneurs remains under-studied. This paper attempts to bridge the gap and seeks to diagnose the entrepreneurial behaviour of MF users in comparison to a comparative set of non-users in the same socio-economic climate in an emerging economy and the haven of MF, Bangladesh. The outcome variables considered are not just participation in income generating process, but specific qualitative attributes of entrepreneurship, including ability to innovative, bricolage, risk taking, marshalling etc. and also some quantitative indicators in the form of frequency of repeated loans and income generated there from that may offer proxy measures of scaled up and sustainable entrepreneurship. Data exploration posits that transformative entrepreneurship, which indicates sustainability of the venture to usher in prosperity, is rare among MF users. Small loan sizes, quick repayment cycles and repeated loans of MF institutions constrict the borrowers to opt for low-risk ventures, with women borrowers facing additional barriers as their gendered role force them to be less risky and follow traditionally accepted business modes, rather than making big headway. Using propensity score matching technique, the paper finds that easy access to credit through MF initiatives could not inculcate the psychological potential to bear risk and bricolage among the borrowers. Self-employment in micro enterprises, without much innovation and risk taking, has been the characteristics of overall income generating process of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Recent literatures examine the short-run effects of natural disasters on household welfare and health outcomes. However, less advancement has been observed in the use of self-reported data to capture the short-run disaster–development nexus in least developed countries’ with high climatic risks. This self-identification in the questionnaire could be advantageous to capture the disaster impacts on households more precisely when compared to index-based identifications based on geographical exposure. In this paper, we ask: “what are the impacts on household income, expenditure, asset, and labor market outcomes of recurrent flooding in Bangladesh?” We examine the short-run economic impacts of recurrent flooding on Bangladeshi households surveyed in year 2010. In 2010 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), households answered a set of questions on whether they were affected by flood and its likely impacts. We identify treatment (affected) groups using two measures of disaster risk exposure; the self-reported flood hazard data, and historical rainfall data-based flood risk index. The paper directly compares the impacts of climatic disaster (i.e., recurrent flooding) on economic development. We further examine these impacts by pooling the data for the years’ 2000, 2005, and 2010 and compare the results with our benchmark estimations. Overall, we find robust evidence of negative impacts on agricultural income and expenditure. Intriguingly, the self-reported treatment group experienced significant positive impacts on crop income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using both household level and plot-level data from Northern Bangladesh, this paper analyzes the difference in agricultural productivity across different contractual arrangements among ultra-poor households. Employing the fixed-effect model on the pseudo panel data, the paper finds evidence of sub-optimal use of inputs and, consequently, lower productivity for lands cultivated under sharecropping contracts. The inefficiency on the part of sharecroppers is also evident from the stochastic frontier model. Although the paper finds that credit has no direct impact on productivity, the results of Logit estimates suggest that availability of credit induces households to opt for fixed-rental contracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data collected before and after the catastrophic flooding that took place in northern Bangladesh in 2014, this paper contributes to the growing evidence on the factors enhancing households’ resilience to shocks, or their “resilience capacities”. The analysis takes into account all three dimensions of resilience capacity—absorptive, adaptive, and transformative—as well as a broad range of specific capacities supporting them. In addition to disaster preparedness and mitigation, it finds suggestive evidence that the following capacities reduced the negative impact of the flooding on household food security: social capital, human capital, exposure to information, asset holdings, livelihood diversity, safety nets, access to markets and services, women’s empowerment, governance, and psycho-social capabilities such as aspirations and confidence to adapt. The paper highlights the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to understanding the determinants of resilience in future research, one that accounts for the full range of potential capacities. It also points to the value of taking a cross-sectoral, multi-intervention approach to on-the-ground resilience programing in Bangladesh and other developing-country areas that are increasingly vulnerable to climate shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy scarcity and environmental pollution from biogenic residues and wastes are major challenges in the 21st century, which can be converted to useful renewable energy and reduce environmental threats. In Bangladesh, a tremendous amount of biogenic residues is generated which remains largely underutilized. Mono-digestion, which is a common practice in Bangladesh for biogenic residue processing, resulted in low biogas yield. However, Bangladesh has a vast source of biogenic residues which can be utilized through anaerobic co-digestion to increase biogas production. In this paper, a desk study and comprehensive review has been conducted in finding potentiality of biogenic residues in biogas production from available biogenic residues in Bangladesh. Research studies on co-digestion of biogenic residues were reviewed critically, and their practices and benefits on energy production and impact on the environment were stipulated in this study. The study shows that co-digestion of biogenic residues in appropriate ratio increases the biogas production, improves digested quality and reduces GHG emissions. [Display omitted] • Biogas production potential from agricultural and livestock sectors were analyzed. • State of art co-digestion options of animal dung as main feedstock was reviewed. • Co-digestion of crop residues and animal dung lessened environmental burden. • Digestate can be used as bio fertilizer or converted into other forms of fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bangladesh has encountered several challenges, including issues like overpopulation, energy shortage, and global warming for the last few decades. Addressing the increasing energy demand has become a crucial concern because of rapid increase in population and lack of growth in the economic. The electricity production of a country heavily relies on fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, which makes up approximately 54% of the current installed capacity. Bangladesh is an agrarian nation and biomass stands out as a source of renewable energy having significant potential to mitigate the demand for heat and electricity. Biomass resources in the country mainly comprise animal dung, agricultural crop residuals, solid waste from municipalities and forest residues. The existing biomass resources contribute to producing a high amount of energy and content of around 1574.16 PJ of energy equivalent to 437.28 TWh of electricity in which agricultural residues, animal manure, municipal solid waste, and forest residues impart around 852.32 PJ, 399.04 PJ, 112.16 PJ, and 210.64 PJ of energy respectively. This paper explores the extent, possibilities, and technologies associated with biomass energy conversion. Additionally, the study delves into the several biomass projects that the government, as well as non-governmental groups, are working on for environmental sustainability along with plans, challenges, and methods that are being utilized to encourage biomass technologies across Bangladesh. [Display omitted] • The biomass potentiality in Bangladesh for heat and electricity generation is emphasized. • The energy scenario and necessity of alternative energy sources in Bangladesh are discussed. • The available energy conversion technologies from biomass in Bangladesh are presented. • The existing biomass resource content of around 1574.16 PJ (437.28 TWh of electricity) of energy. • The economic aspects and challenges of biomass conversion into energy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the viability of utilizing agricultural biomass-based energy potential, employing mathematical, engineering, and economic modeling techniques. Moreover, the potential of a biogas-based co-digestion (CD) system, integrating its techno-economic performance and environmental sustainability in terms of electricity generation, has also been studied. In this investigation, the categorization of 25 different plant species into two groups: arable field crops (AFCs) and horticultural plants (HPs), was performed. Data was collected during the 2021‐–2022 cropping season in Bangladesh from various sources, including literature reviews, governmental, and non-governmental organizations. The findings revealed that the available agricultural biomass residues, totaling 1,02,585.75 KT, have the capacity to generate 1,33,815 million m3/year of biogas. This energy potential corresponds to 291,125.85 TJ/year or 9231.60 MW of electricity, which can fulfill 88% of the national total energy demand. In terms of levelized cost, the proposed approach is more competitive and shows a greater promise compared to other technologies. Furthermore, it demonstrates environmental friendliness by reducing CO 2 emissions by 156 tons at a cost of $7/ton while earning $1092 annually from the potential carbon-credit market. This approach presents a potential solution to address Bangladesh's energy crisis. The payback period of the system ranged from 2.93 to 3.75 years, with and without the inclusion of a slurry, respectively. The recommended methods hold significant promise for meeting national energy demands. A case study was provided as a proof-of-concept (PoC) to validate the approach. This study is the first of its kind, providing valuable insights into the renewable energy potential in Bangladesh. The results will assist policymakers in formulating sustainable energy policies. • Mathematics, engineering, economics and environmental modeling explored renewable energy. • Techno-economics and environmental sustainability validated the proposed methodology. • Bioenergy-based electricity could supply 88% of the national energy demand of Bangladesh. • A case study was provided as a proof-of-concept (PoC) to validate the approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar-powered irrigation system, a low-cost option, ensures varieties of co-benefits both in the domains of climate mitigation and adaptation, and thus has been incorporated as a part of climate project. However, its co-benefits in climate adaptation have not been sufficiently explored, which may result in a lack of insights about co-benefits and prevent wider roll-out and scaling-up. This paper aims at exploring co-benefits of solar-powered irrigation, an adaptation measure, taking a project in a drought-prone area of the northwest part of Bangladesh as a case. Using both interviews and focused group discussion, this research finds that besides generating co-benefits in climate mitigation, there are substantial adaptation co-benefits in various forms including vulnerability reduction and enhancement of resilience. However, many of the co-benefits in climate adaptation are indirect and less visible and realizable in the long-term, such as informal social group formation, improved financial strength, and employment opportunity. Making co-benefits more visible among various stakeholders, and launching a feed-in option may help to scale up solar-powered irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Approximately 250 MW of power can be recovered from waste in Bangladesh. • A detailed thermoeconomic model based on incineration technology is presented. • Exergoeconomic analysis shows plant cost is affected more by operational costs. • COE of proposed plant is 53.9 USD/MWh, comparable to existing power plants. • Proposed plants have better environmental efficiencies than coal, oil power plants. With a population of 165 million, Bangladesh is undergoing rapid industrialization and urban development, and is well on track to move out from the group of least developed countries by 2024. This results in a significant increase in the urban energy needs and the amount of generated waste. Most of the municipal solid waste in Bangladesh is currently deposited in landfills, thereby contaminating nearby cultivable soils. It is desirable to have a system that recovers energy from the municipal solid waste in order to satisfy the increasing energy needs, while simultaneously addressing the land scarcity and pollution issues. This paper proposes using incineration to recover energy from municipal solid waste to produce electricity in the urban areas of Dhaka and Chattogram. A detailed technical analysis involving energy, exergy, exergoeconomic, and emission is presented. The power plants in these two cities show potential capacities of 169 MW and 83 MW respectively, with exergoeconomic factors of 61 %. The results indicate energy and exergy efficiencies of 32 % and 27 %, respectively, and a production cost in the range of 53.9–56.7 USD/MWh which is comparable to the production cost from the current power plants in Bangladesh. The proposed plants also result in a reduction in the greenhouse emissions and exhibit ecological efficiencies of over 87 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequency of marine accidents in Bangladesh is observed to be one of the highest in the world. Maritime disasters in the country took more than 10,000 lives in past three decades. Each time an accident occurs with terrible loss of lives, the issue goes viral through newspapers and social media for several days, and then it is simply consigned to oblivion. Most of the records kept of marine accidents are limited to unsubstantiated news reports with a few exceptions marked in a handful of accidents that were subjected to detailed reporting conducted by maritime authorities. Several research works have been carried out to point out the core reasons behind accidents. But there was a demand of time to find out and represent the sequence of events leading to an accident with the help of a tool more effective than those used in earlier papers. The tool used in this paper is event tree, showing how a single factor, when coupled with other factors or not, is likely to lead to an accident. Despite being a widely-used tool for accident analysis, event tree has been applied for the first time with quantitative study in analyzing maritime accidents in Bangladesh. The research work didn’t end up using event tree as a tool only, but it also conducted a probabilistic analysis. In this research work, the factors, most likely to lead to a disaster, has been identified and then assessed with the data of previous accidents. The probabilistic analysis yielded to the finding that the number of accidents can be reduced considerably if the problem of poor visibility, when the vessel is overloaded, can be solved. The event tree showing the sequence of events will help future researchers and system designers to find out and eliminate the factors contributing to marine accidents and eventually curb the very high frequency of disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maritime transport system is vital for the economy of Bangladesh. Marine accidents adversely affect the human, the marine environment and properties and activities abroad ships and ashore in various forms and degree of extent. The effects of accidents vary from minor injuries to fatalities and form insignificant damage to very severe damage to the environment and property. During the period 1983 to 2015, thousands of marine accidents have been reported in Bangladesh. The main purpose of every accident study is to provide decision makers with valid and reliable information in order to make informed and hopefully better decisions. In this paper, accident data for passenger vessel collected from Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) are presented and an analysis is carried out to determine the common causes of accidents on passenger vessels. From this paper, it has been observed that the common causes of accidents are collisions and contacts, fire and explosions, overloading, rough weather etc. Finally, based on this study a number of recommendations have been proposed in order to ensure greater safety of passengers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over two decades ship-recycling industry in Bangladesh has received considerable attention via providing raw materials to steel industry, shipbuilding industry and some other industries in Bangladesh and some other countries of South Asia. Bangladesh derives 80-90% of its steel from end-of-life ships. Ship-breaking industries generate a number of employment opportunities for Bangladesh too. Unfortunately, the ship-recycling industry has also gained the attention because of many fatal accidents causing human deaths. This industry affects the environment in some seriously harmful ways. Workers safety, child labor, environmental issues are also threatened by this industry. In some ship-recycling facilities of Bangladesh, children are conducted to various works which violates the rules and regulations of Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BASF). Workers are also being deprived of their rights in some cases. Due to ship-breaking harmful substances like Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP's), asbestos, heavy metals become wide open in the environment which is a threat to the inhabitants. This paper focuses on the Ship Breaking and Recycling Industry (SBRI) of Bangladesh to access its present situation, impact on environment as well as worker rights and safety. The paper also puts light on how Bangladesh Ship Breakers Association (BSBA) reacts to unhygienic, unsafe scrapping facilities and what remedies shall be taken to overcome the challenges of this potential industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Blue Economy is envisaged as an integration of short & long term economic activities and development following principles of social inclusion, environmental sustainability and innovations considered and concentrated on and around the sea. The attitude of achieving long-term prosperity by a country or a region befitting the wellbeing of all citizens and the mankind preserving the environment, especially the sea is the basis of the Blue Economy. The concept of the Blue Economy, a systematic way of utilizing ocean resources, is quite new in South Asia and Bangladesh. This paper is an instigating one, not the findings of rigorous researches but prepared using information, data and works which are available somehow related to the topic and relevant to thoughts and activities in this region. The paper cites a few highlights on how the Blue Economy Concept fit into the sustainability framework does, while balancing its economic, social and environmental benefits and how does it contribute in GDP. The paper aims at generating thoughts and actions towards investigating various opportunities of the Blue Economy, ways of cashing the benefits as well as identifying challenges and ways of overcoming them. The paper concludes that Bangladesh as well as the south Asia has the potentials to follow the Blue Economy Concept. However it requires strong political willingness, commitments, which already have been demonstrated in Bangladesh. It needs rigorous researches and promoting social awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) [1] was introduced by the International Maritime organization (IMO) to stimulate innovation and technical development of all elements that increase the level of energy efficiency of a ship at design stage. Sea going ships over 400 gross tonnage are considered in the current regulation of EEDI. Inland ships are not covered by current EEDI regulations by IMO. As inland vessels share 0.6% of the global CO 2 emission [2] , the reduction attempt will not have bigger impact. But from the commercial point of view of a country the significance is very high, specially for under developed countries like Bangladesh. Inland self propelled ships face additional restrictions (shallow water/channel, low density water, restriction of ship's dimension, etc.) which increase the power requirement at the same speed, burning more fuel and emit more CO 2 . This paper is a continuation of the Ph.D research of the author where previous published paper's [3] results were updated and verified. The result of this paper would be one of the 1 st attempts in the world was made to establish EEDI baseline for different types of self-propelled inland ships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes the causal relationship between energy demand and economic growth in Bangladesh using annual time series data from 1980 to 2011 from World Development Indicator (WDI), Database of the World Bank. Since the results of causal direction are sensitive to the models being employed, the paper uses Maximum Entropy Bootstrap (meboot) due to its superiority to overcome small sample bias and limitation of asymptotic distribution theory. To avoid the omitted variables bias, the paper uses multivariate framework in production function specification. The paper finds that a unidirectional causality runs from economic growth to energy demand which indicates that conservative policy might not harm the Bangladesh economy but since economic progress leads higher energy consumption, demand side management of energy and exploring renewable energy sources are must. The implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology adoption by the marginalized community is indeed an important issue in global poverty reduction. To realize it, this paper contributes by doing an empirical test of the technology acceptance model, amongst those users typically always deprived in the existing social structure. Firstly, the study aims to examine the influence of Technology Readiness Index (TRI) 2.0′s four indicators (optimism, innovativeness, discomfort and insecurity) on bKash entrepreneurs' perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU) of bKash technology. Secondly, it aims to investigate the effect of ‘bKash’ entrepreneurs' PEOU and PU on their well-being. A total of 360 usable data were collected from the bKash agents in Bangladesh. We employed SEM-PLS3.0 for data analysis. The results indicate that optimism and innovativeness strongly drive perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Subjective well-being was found to be strongly predicted by perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. The study indicates that poor people are somewhat ready to use and accept technology that leads to a sense of well-being. Bringing together the concept of subjective well-being with TRI and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is this paper's contribution to the knowledge domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is to assess the current trend, implementation and future possibilities of solar home systems (SHS) at the non-electricity provided study area in Bangladesh. The study also suggests an applicable plan to solve the problems and assure the proper availability and using compatibility of SHS to the poor and helpless rural people. The study area of the research is Lechraganj Char Union, Harirampur subdistrict of Manikganj district in Bangladesh. The trends and implementation strategies of solar home system (SHS) would be available in the Section 3.1 and Section 3.2 ; the future possibilities described in the Section 4 . One of the major rational of this research is to provide a sample plan of SHS implementations, future propagation process, prospects and issues to be solved can be useful for the whole non grid zones of the country Bangladesh. This could bring more country progress by renewable technology and the lower order citizens of the country by the supply of electricity and also future analysis of SHS. The primary data sources to shape the paper were- personal field observation, field documentation, taking photographs, qualitative household survey, household questionnaire survey, in-depth interview, FGD etc. Secondary data sources were from different books, articles, journals, magazines, newspaper, Government and NGO Organizations, unpublished reports and thesis etc. Various cartographic techniques as like- Produced tables, flow charts, pie-diagrams, graphs, histograms were used for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of implementation of SHS in Harirampur Subdistrict. Proper direction by the government authority and NGOs can improve the current condition and support the off grid citizens of Bangladesh for the penetrating them under the coverage of SHS technology.Further assessment on the implementation of SHS, quality of SHS devices, environmental impacts of SHS, detailed economic advantages can be done for the proper expansion of SHS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]