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The aim of this paper is to investigate how politically based trade union power can determine the fate of a regulatory body's organizational reform and undermine public accountability in a purportedly democratic developing country (DC). A large regulatory organization in Bangladesh was examined as a case study to uncover how political actors and power were embedded in a World Bank (WB)‐led organizational reform designed to contribute to public accountability and democracy. Interviews and media (newspaper) were utilized to identify the contestation of powers at macro‐ and micro‐levels. The explanation of reform implementation was informed by New Institutional Theory and its derived concept of institutional logics. Finding that political recruitment of the organization's senior executives made it susceptible to the pressures of political agents, the study reveals how politically supported union actions interrupted a WB‐led organizational reform that was seeking to secure democracy and public accountability. It finds that the pre‐existing institutional arrangements resurfaced over time as the political agents secured more power to restore past practices that adversely impacted public accountability. The lack (absence) of accountability in a so‐called democratic regime facilitated political interference with the regulatory governance and reforms that undermined organizational accountability to external stakeholders. The case‐study organization's institutional environment, agents, and interests were unique situational conditioners that nonetheless may be relevant to other similar public accountability organizations in DCs. The findings of the paper have important implications for policymakers who design, implement, and evaluate public accountability reforms in DCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial development of a country plays a vital role in its overall progress and is closely tied to its capacity of electricity generation. However, the scarcity of natural resources and increasing costs of fuel in global markets pose significant challenges for developing countries like Bangladesh in managing the rising expenses of electricity generation. Consequently, the government of Bangladesh is exploring alternative energy resources such as solar, wind, hydroelectricity, biomass, and biogas to supplement fossil fuels and optimize electricity generation cost. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of natural resources, including gas, coal, and oil, which are conventionally used for electricity generation in Bangladesh. It highlights concerns about dwindling resource availability and their impact on the country's energy landscape. Through numerical analysis, it demonstrates the detrimental effects of relying heavily on gas‐based power plants, leading to electricity supply instability. To address the ongoing energy crisis, the paper proposes the adoption of renewable energy sources as a viable solution. Additionally, it also acknowledges the challenges associated with implementing large‐scale renewable projects in distinct areas of the country, such as limited infrastructure, technical constraints, and the need for significant investment. Overcoming these barriers is crucial for achieving widespread utilization of renewable resources. This paper concludes by offering recommendations to overcome these challenges and maximize the contributions of renewable energy in meeting future energy demands. The suggestions include developing robust infrastructure, implementing policy reforms to attract investment, emphasizing research and development, and promoting community engagement in renewable energy initiatives. It also highlights the potential of renewable energy resources in shaping a more secure and sustainable energy future for Bangladesh, emphasizing the importance of electricity generation for socio‐economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To test the efficacy of an integrated microfinance/livelihood and community‐based rehabilitation (IMCBR) programme in improving health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and motor function of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and gain in social capital to their ultra‐poor families in rural Bangladesh. Method: This was an open‐label cluster randomized control trial. Children with CP aged 5 years or under were randomly allocated to three arms; Arm A: IMCBR; Arm B: community‐based rehabilitation (CBR); and Arm C: care‐as‐usual. The CBR was modified with phone follow‐up followed by home‐based CBR at 2.5 months post‐enrolment because of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Intention‐to‐treat analysis was performed. Results: Twenty‐four clusters constituting 251 children–primary caregivers' dyads were assigned to three arms (Arm A = 80; Arm B = 82; Arm C = 89). Between baseline and endline, the percentage mean change in the physical functioning domain of HRQoL was highest in Arm A (30.0%) with a significant mean difference between Arm A and Arm B (p = 0.015). Improvement in the mean social capital score was significantly higher in Arm A compared to Arm C (p < 0.001). Interpretation: The findings suggest that IMCBR could improve the HRQoL of children with CP and the social capital of their ultra‐poor families. Long‐term follow‐up of the trial participants and future exploration of such interventions are essential. The integrated livelihood and CBR programme holds potential to improve health and well‐being of children with CP and their ultra‐poor families. What this paper adds: Half of the families who received livelihoods were impacted by a cold‐wave, suggesting the need for a more disaster‐resilient livelihood asset.The integration of livelihood with community‐based rehabilitation programme helps to improve health‐related quality of life of children with cerebral palsy and the social capital of their ultra‐poor families. What this paper adds: Half of the families who received livelihoods were impacted by a cold‐wave, suggesting the need for a more disaster‐resilient livelihood asset.The integration of livelihood with community‐based rehabilitation programme helps to improve health‐related quality of life of children with cerebral palsy and the social capital of their ultra‐poor families. This original article is commented on by Fianto on pages 727–728 of this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To validate a novel equation to estimate weight from mid‐upper arm circumference (MUAC) among children with cerebral palsy (CP) in rural Bangladesh. Method: Children with CP aged 2 to 18 years registered in the Bangladesh CP Register were randomly selected. Data on sociodemographics, Gross Motor Function Classification System level, and anthropometric measurements were extracted. Bland–Altman plots with a 95% agreement limit and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported to measure agreement between observed and estimated weight. Percentage error was used to determinate the method's accuracy. Results: There were 497 participants with a mean age at assessment of 9 years (SD 4 years 11 months) (47.7% female). Lin's concordance correlation coefficient between the observed and estimated weights was 0.90 (95% CI 0.89–0.92). Bland–Altman plots showed a reasonable accuracy of the equation in the study cohort. The mean percentage error of the equation was 5.04%. The average difference between observed and estimated weights was −1.02 kg (SD 5.1). The differences between observed and estimated weights were significantly greater among children with weight‐for‐age, height‐for‐age, or BMI‐for‐age z‐scores less than or equal to −4. Interpretation: It is possible to predict the weight of children with CP from MUAC with sufficient accuracy. The equation can be used for populations in low‐resources and low‐ and middle‐income countries. What this paper adds: The equations predict the weight of children with cerebral palsy from their mid‐upper arm circumference reasonably accurately.The difference between observed and estimated weights ranged between 0 kg and ± 5 kg in 81.5% of children.Sex and Gross Motor Function Classification System level did not affect the accuracy of the equations.The equations were less accurate for estimating the weight of severely undernourished children. What this paper adds: The equations predict the weight of children with cerebral palsy from their mid‐upper arm circumference reasonably accurately.The difference between observed and estimated weights ranged between 0 kg and ± 5 kg in 81.5% of children.Sex and Gross Motor Function Classification System level did not affect the accuracy of the equations.The equations were less accurate for estimating the weight of severely undernourished children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: There is a dearth of information about binge eating disorder (BED) among Bangladeshi university students, who may be more susceptible to BED due to the rise in unhealthy lifestyles and food habits. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of BED symptoms among Bangladeshi university students. Methods: Students (N = 525) from three public universities in Bangladesh participated in this cross‐sectional study between November 2022 and March 2023. Face‐to‐face interviews were conducted using a structured paper‐based questionnaire that included two validated survey tools; the binge eating disorder screener and the patient health questionnaire‐9. To identify the factors associated with BED symptoms, multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted, with sociodemographic and behavioral information (e.g., age, sex, smoking status, etc.) considered as covariates. Results: The prevalence of BED symptoms among participants (mean age 21.28 years, 50.3% male and 49.7% female) was 20.6%. Male students had a 2.28 times higher likelihood of having BED symptoms compared to female counterparts (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.28; 95% CI: 1.33−3.89). Older students (AOR = 3.56, 95% CI: 1.80−7.05), students who were overweight or obese (AOR = 3.32, 95% CI: 1.87−5.89), and students reporting higher depressive symptoms (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.66−4.35) were at greater risk for developing BED compared to their respective counterparts. Conclusions: This study provides new insights into the prevalence of BED symptoms and its contributing factors among Bangladeshi students. Approximately 1‐in‐5 university students reported having BED symptoms. University students who are older, overweight, or obese, and who report depressive symptoms may be at greatest risk. Future longitudinal studies are needed to determine the causal factors underlying BED. Findings from this study can assist policymakers and public health professionals in developing effective and targeted strategies to mitigate the risks associated with BED among Bangladeshi university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inequalities in breastfeeding programmes and practices have slowed global progress in providing the life‐saving protection of breastfeeding for millions of infants despite well‐known life‐long impacts. As breastfeeding interventions are scaled up, inequalities in coverage and breastfeeding practices should be tracked, particularly in disadvantaged groups, who are likely to suffer the most serious health and developmental impacts of poor childhood nutrition. The literature provides evidence of inequalities in breastfeeding practices, but research is limited on socioeconomic disparities in the coverage of breastfeeding interventions. This paper (1) compares inequalities in breastfeeding practices in intervention and nonintervention areas and (2) documents inequalities in programme coverage by type of intervention. We disaggregated endline evaluation surveys in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Vietnam, where rigorous evaluations had documented significant overall improvements, and analysed whether inequalities in breastfeeding practices and programme coverage differed by treatment areas. We used Erreygers index to quantify inequalities and found that breastfeeding practices were largely pro‐poor; intervention coverage was not consistently pro‐poor. While counselling coverage often favoured women from the poorest quintile, public education/media coverage consistently favoured better‐off women. Inequalities favoured more educated mothers in the coverage of combined interventions. None of the programmes had explicit equality objectives. The results indicate the need for introducing specific actions to reduce inequalities in breastfeeding policies and programmes. This is a priority unfinished agenda for nutrition programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the welfare effects of encouraging rural–urban migration in the developing world. To do so, we build and analyze a dynamic general‐equilibrium model of migration that features a rich set of migration motives. We estimate the model to replicate the results of a field experiment that subsidized seasonal migration in rural Bangladesh, leading to significant increases in migration and consumption. We show that the welfare gains from migration subsidies come from providing better insurance for vulnerable rural households rather than from correcting spatial misallocation by relaxing credit constraints for those with high productivity in urban areas that are stuck in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To describe the epidemiology of cerebral palsy (CP) in children from low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) using data from the Global Low‐ and Middle‐Income Country CP register (GLM‐CPR). Method: The GLM‐CPR is a multi‐country initiative that combines and compares data from children with CP (<18y) in LMICs. Children with CP are registered after detailed neurodevelopmental assessment by a multidisciplinary medical team using a harmonized protocol. Data are collected on agreed core variables. Descriptive analyses are completed to report findings from participating countries. Results: Between January 2015 and May 2019, 2664 children were recruited from Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, and Ghana (mean age [SD] at assessment: 7y 8mo [4y 8mo], 95% confidence interval 7y 6mo−7y 11mo; male [n=1615] 60.6%, female [n=1049] 39.4%). Overall, 86.6% children acquired CP prenatally and perinatally (e.g. preterm birth, birth asphyxia, neonatal encephalopathy). Median age at CP diagnosis was 3 years. Moreover, 79.2% children had spastic CP and 73.3% were classified in Gross Motor Function Classification System levels III to V. Notably, 47.3% of children never received rehabilitation services (median age at receiving rehabilitation services was 3y; 12.7% received assistive devices) and 75.6% of school‐age children had no access to education. Interpretation: Population‐based data show that the proportion of severe cases of CP is very high in LMICs. Children with CP in LMICs lack access to rehabilitation and educational services and a large proportion of children have potentially preventable risk factors, for example, birth asphyxia and neonatal infections. Delayed diagnosis, severe motor impairments, and lack of rehabilitation in most children call for urgent action to identify preventive opportunities and promote early diagnosis and intervention for children with CP in LMICs. What this paper addsThe proportion of severe cases of cerebral palsy (CP) is very high in rural low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs).Children with CP in LMICs lack access to rehabilitation and educational services.A large proportion of children with CP in LMICs have potentially preventable risk factors. What this paper adds: The proportion of severe cases of cerebral palsy (CP) is very high in rural low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs).Children with CP in LMICs lack access to rehabilitation and educational services.A large proportion of children with CP in LMICs have potentially preventable risk factors. This original article is commented by Paneth on page 1245 of this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, with low‐income countries being disproportionately impacted. However, these countries often face market frictions that hinder their ability to adopt effective adaptation strategies. In this paper, I explore the role of credit market failures in limiting adaptation. To achieve this, I collaborate with a large microfinance institution and offer a randomly selected group of farmers access to guaranteed credit through an "Emergency Loan" following a negative climate shock. I document three key results. First, farmers who have access to the emergency loan make less costly adaptation choices and are less severely affected when a flood occurs. Second, I find no evidence of adverse spillover effects on households that did not receive the Emergency Loan. Finally, I demonstrate that providing the Emergency Loan is profitable for the microfinance institution, making it a viable tool for the private sector to employ in similar circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the factors affecting the labour allocation decisions of rice‐producing households in Bangladesh. A farm‐household model has been used to explore the household decision‐making mechanism. We use a primary questionnaire survey, and a Generalised Ordered Logit model is used to identify the factors affecting the sample households' likelihood of choosing different labour regimes, assuming hiring‐in is the top ordered alternative, followed by self‐cultivator and smallholders. Results show that one more year of schooling of the household head increases the likelihood of choosing the hiring‐in category against the lower‐ordered choices by 25 per cent. Having more cultivated land substantially improves the propensity of a household to hire labour versus selling labour or self‐cultivation (odds ratio 11.68). If a household lives a kilometre further from the Upazila headquarter, it is 11 per cent more likely to hire labour than being either a smallholder or self‐cultivator, which might be a result of the larger availability of labour in those areas. Additionally, an increase in the number of visits by agricultural extension officers reduces the household's likelihood of hiring labour by almost 21 per cent while making the households more likely to be self‐cultivators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating nutrition interventions into antenatal care (ANC) requires adapting global recommendations to fit existing health systems and local contexts, but the evidence is limited on the process of tailoring nutrition interventions for health programmes. We developed and integrated maternal nutrition interventions into ANC programmes in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and India by conducting studies and assessments, developing new tools and processes and field testing integrated programme models. This paper elucidates how we used information and data to contextualize a package of globally recommended maternal nutrition interventions (micronutrient supplementation, weight gain monitoring, dietary counselling and counselling on breastfeeding) and describes four country‐specific health service delivery models. We developed a Theory of Change to illustrate common barriers and strategies for strengthening nutrition interventions during ANC. We used multiple information sources including situational assessments, formative research, piloting and pretesting results, supply assessments, stakeholder meetings, household and service provider surveys and monitoring data to design models of maternal nutrition interventions. We developed detailed protocols for implementing maternal nutrition interventions; reinforced staff capacity, nutrition counselling, monitoring systems and community engagement processes; and addressed micronutrient supplement supply bottlenecks. Community‐level activities were essential for complementing facility‐based services. Routine monitoring data, rapid assessments and information from intensified supervision were important during the early stages of implementation to improve the feasibility and scalability of models. The lessons from addressing maternal nutrition in ANC may serve as a guide for tackling missed opportunities for nutrition within health services in other contexts. Key messages: Integrating evidence‐based nutrition interventions into ANC to reach PW at scale is urgently needed for improving maternal and newborn health and nutrition.The Theory of Change and steps for strengthening nutrition interventions based on four‐country experiences provide practical guidance on addressing missed opportunities for nutrition in ANC.Strategic use of data can contextualize global maternal nutrition guidelines, protocols, capacity building and supervision approaches, and improve micronutrient supply chains and record‐keeping as part of health services strengthening.Engaging family and community members to support PW and improving the knowledge and self‐confidence of PW are important elements of all country programme models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Child labor is widely regarded as one of the most severe forms of child maltreatment (CM), but little is known about how working children, especially in low-income countries like Bangladesh, experience different forms of CM. This paper explores the extent of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse and neglect experienced by working children and determines the important risk factors for these forms of CM among them. Methods. This cross-sectional study included 398 working children from four local Bazars (rural marketplace) of Raiganj Upazila, Sirajganj district, who were enrolled in this study in March and April of 2017, through a snowball approach, due to a lack of a list of working children. The International Child Abuse Screening Tools for Children (ICAST-C) was used to estimate the different forms of CM in this study. Results. Lifetime prevalence of psychological abuse (PsyA), physical abuse (PA), neglect, and sexual abuse (SA) were 100%, 100%, 82.7%, and 13.5%, while the past year prevalence rates were 100%, 84.2%, 67.1%, and 9.9%, respectively. Common forms of PsyA experienced by children include shouting, yelling, or screaming, as well as restrictions on outings and time-outs. PA typically involves slapping on the face or head, hitting with objects (excluding the buttocks), and ear twisting. Watching pornography is the primary form of SA, while the leading form of neglect is unmet medical needs. The prevalence of PsyA, PA, SA, and neglect was higher among children who lived with individuals other than their parents. Both PsyA and PA were found to be associated with family violence, such as the presence of weapons in the household and adults engaging in frightening screaming behavior. Additionally, children who were bullied by their siblings, had a parent with a primary level of education or less, and always felt safe at home were at an increased risk of experiencing PA. Children who did not feel safe at home all the time were more likely to experience SA. Furthermore, for every one-year increase in schooling, the likelihood of experiencing neglect decreased by 8.3% (B : -.157, P value <.003). Conclusion. Nearly all male working children in rural areas of Bangladesh experienced PsyA and PA, and adult negligence was also prevalent. Although male SA is not a widely discussed issue in Bangladesh, the results of this study are alarming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) use in Bangladesh is one of the highest in the world. Despite having a tobacco control programme, the use of SLTs has increased in recent years. The objective of this paper is to report on the prevalence of SLTs and challenges faced during control measures in Bangladesh. Methods: A wide range of published reports on tobacco in general and SLT were reviewed. Websites of relevant organizations and national survey reports including PubMed were visited to identify national‐ or subnational‐level data. Legislations, policies and their implementation and programmes are reviewed. Additional data were captured by active surveys on SLT products, especially on graphic health warning. The authors' perspectives on SLT control in Bangladesh were captured through a series of brainstorming sessions. Findings: The reported prevalence of SLTs ranged from 21% to 26% among adults. SLT control measures are not adequately addressed despite the existence of several policies and programmes. It is based to the definition of Tobacco Control ACT in 2013. We propose inadequate prioritization and weak policy directives; unregulated industry leading to high production, marketing, violation of package warning and tax evasion; high level of cultural acceptance; and poor awareness of the people as challenges to the control efforts. In addition, a lenient attitude of the government towards the so‐called "cottage" industry made SLTs unabated. We propose prioritization of SLT control, strengthening industry monitoring and tax measures, countering cultural acceptability and public ignorance and cessation support engaging government and civil society organizations as the way forward. Conclusion: The control measures should be evidence‐based warranting operational research. Government and non‐government organizations' collaborative efforts on an immediate, short‐and long‐term basis are recommended to meet the challenges of SLTs. These primarily include policy support for prioritization, enforcement of legislation, industry and marketing regulation, stringent tax measures, denormalizing societal acceptability and cessation support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea that green banking disclosure leads to increased firm value has been rightly considered as over‐simplistic. This paper builds on key prior insights by investigating whether combining green disclosure with other contextual factor, such as non‐performing loans, provides additional insight into the complex green disclosure–firm value relationship in a regulatory setting where green law has recently been enacted for the banking industry. We present an analysis of seven years of data sourced from listed banks in Bangladesh (2008–2014), with data analysed using multiple regression. Our findings indicate that, while green disclosure has a positive effect on the overall firm value of banks, this positive effect is negatively moderated by banks' non‐performing loans. This research contributes to the knowledge by showing that green disclosure alone is insufficient for creating market value for banks. Additional contextual matters need attention to understand the impact of green disclosure in contributing to increased market value for banks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unrestrained utilization of plastic has reached an intemperate state, menacing environment and human lives. The preliminary focus of this research was to investigate and divulge the contemporary status of microplastics (MPs) in commercialized and open pan salts from Cox's Bazar and Maheshkhali channels. A total of 27 samples were obtained. The samples were analyzed for the prevalence of MPs by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy (RS); the prevailing amount, color, size, and shapes were analyzed by stereomicroscope and SEM. The abundance of high‐density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) were detected by FTIR, meanwhile exuberance of cellulose acetate, polypropylene, PET, LDPE, and Nylon 6 were identified by RS. The average quantifications of MPs in Cox's Bazar, Maheshkhali, and packaged salts were found to be 6851.11 ± 538.18, 5638.89 ± 1001.18, and 3405.56 ± 638.57 per kg, respectively. ANOVA resulted in highly significant association between MPs and sampling sites (p =.001*). Post hoc Tukey's test revealed prominent link between commercialized and open pan salts based on the amount of MPs (p =.001*). The most prevalent colors were purple (28%) and blue (27%). The most frequent shapes were fibrous (79%) and fragmented (19.9%) MPs. The smallest MP was detected in commercial salt (1.55 μm), nearly identical and closer to the size of nanoplastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Antibiotic misuse represent a significant global health challenge, with medical students positioned as key figures in promoting responsible antibiotic usage. This study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antibiotic use among medical students in Bangladesh, aiming to identify areas for targeted educational and policy interventions. Methods: This cross‐sectional survey was conducted among 501 medical students across various years of study in Bangladesh, collecting data over a 3‐month period. The survey assessed antibiotic knowledge, usage practices, and attitudes towards misuse, employing descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses to explore associations between students' demographic characteristics and their KAP towards antibiotics. Significance was assigned at p‐value < 0.05. Results: In our study involving 501 medical students from four medical colleges in Bangladesh, we achieved a 76% response rate. Among the participants, 78.24% correctly identified antibiotics' effectiveness against bacterial infections, but 45.71% were uncertain about their efficacy against viral infections. Notably, 21.20% reported self‐prescribing antibiotics, predominantly sourced from physician prescriptions (54.89%). The most common reason for antibiotic use was fever (19.02%). Senior students were less likely to have good knowledge compared to junior students, and urban students demonstrated a higher likelihood of good knowledge and positive attitude towards antibiotic resistance. Conclusion: This study highlights the critical need for educational reforms and antimicrobial stewardship among medical students in Bangladesh to combat antibiotic misuse and mitigate antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Bangladesh has made significant progress in declining maternal mortality in recent decades. However, the available evidence on the various maternal mental disorders in the country has not been comprehensively and critically reviewed to date. This narrative review aimed to assess the mental disorders and associated factors during pregnancy and postpartum in Bangladesh. Methods: A thorough search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Google, Google Scholar, and BanglaJOL with search terms at the end of January 2024 to identify the original articles published on psychiatric morbidities during pregnancy and postpartum. Results: This review included 28 empirical studies published between 2007 and 2023 with a sample size ranging from 100 to 39,434. Two studies were published before 2010, 16 studies were published between 2011 and 2020, and 10 studies were published between 2021 and 2023. No countrywide study was noted, the Bangla Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS‐B) was used in 57% of studies, suicidal behavior was assessed in three studies, postpartum depression (PPD) was featured in 16 studies, and three qualitative studies were noted. The prevalence of PPD ranged from 9% to 51.7%. About 46% of mothers had positive scores for common mental disorders. The prevalence of mental disorders was 14.2%; among them mood disorders were present at 6.1% and psychoses were noted at 4.5%. Conclusions: There are wide variations in the prevalence of maternal mental disorders in Bangladesh from study to study; a lower prevalence was noted when diagnostic tools were used even though no nationwide study with confirmatory diagnostic tools was noted. Studies with nationwide distribution and diagnostic tools are warranted to understand the problem precisely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression, anxiety, and stress are the commonly encountered mental health conditions among medical students. Overseas environment may add additional burden to the existing environment. However, comparison of the rate and associated factors of depression, anxiety, stress among domestic and overseas students has not been attempted in Bangladesh. We aimed to assess the rate and associated factors of depression, anxiety, stress among domestic and overseas medical students in the country. Methods: This cross‐sectional study was conducted among 360 undergraduate medical students in 2021. Data were collected by self‐reporting instruments by a stratified random sampling method by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale‐21 scale. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were done by computing crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval to identify the associated factors. Results: Among the 360 undergraduate medical students, 181 were domestic and 179 overseas ones. 44.8% of domestic students reported depressive symptoms, 45.3% reported anxiety symptoms, and 33.1% reported stress. On the other hand, half of overseas students experienced depression (50.3%) and anxiety (52.5%), and 41.3% experienced stress. Female medical students were found vulnerable for developing depression, anxiety, and stress than males. Conclusions: The study revealed higher rates of depression, anxiety, and stress among overseas undergraduate medical students enrolled in a private medical school of Bangladesh. Private medical college authorities could consider special services for overseas students to ensure adequate psychosocial support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain (BCn) revolution across the world leads the global transformation by altering the existing structure and introducing the accessible and decentralized paradigm. This technology facilitates access to resources and redefines conventional frameworks, empowering people and communities globally. Motivated by these attention‐seeking potentiality of BCn features, in this article, we examine the challenges, advancements, and emerging prospects of the BCn revolution in Bangladesh. With a specific focus on BCn implications for sustainability and smart development, this study addresses the urgent need to understand how BCn can facilitate sustainable development in rapidly evolving countries like Bangladesh. The goal of this research is to draw attention to the successful revolution of BCn in the world and use this knowledge to extract best practices and cutting‐edge strategies for sustainable transformation of Bangladesh. The contribution of this study covers the underlying concepts of the BCn technology, showing the revolutionary state of BCn across the world, applications of BCn for sustainability, assessment of its current usage, and highlighting the BCn implementation problems. Furthermore, this study serves as a gateway to a transparent, decentralized future that fosters inclusive national progress and aligns with sustainable development goals. This study also strives to inspire individuals to use this transformational technology for the collective benefit of society by highlighting BCn's potential to empower communities while driving positive change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In an increasingly digital age, students rely heavily on web resources to access health information. However, evaluating the reliability and relevance of such information is crucial for informed decision‐making. This study examines the importance of students' health information literacy skills (HILS) as mediators, particularly their ability to utilize web resources and successfully evaluate health information. Objectives: This research investigates the mediating role of students' HILS in the relationship between their utilization of web resources and their proficiency in evaluating health information. Method: An online survey was distributed to current students at a public university in Bangladesh as part of the data collection process for this study. Using Google Forms, the authors created a structured questionnaire. The survey was distributed through Messenger groups, Facebook pages and email invitations to reach the target audience effectively. The researchers thoroughly analysed the gathered data using structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques and SmartPLS‐4 software to look for correlations between the variables. Result: The study revealed that among the 122 participants, a significant number (N = 47) accessed internet health information on an occasional basis, whereas 30 individuals reported using it infrequently. The data revealed that 58 individuals, accounting for 47.5% of the sample, possessed the necessary abilities to access and assess online health information. Additionally, 57 participants, representing 46.7% of the sample, demonstrated proficiency in conducting online health information searches. The measurement model demonstrated good convergent validity, as evidenced by composite reliability (CR) scores and Cronbach's ⍺ values over 0.700 and an average extracted variance (AVE) of 0.500. The structural model demonstrated R2 values exceeding 0.1, thus validating its dependable forecasting capability. Notable effects were seen, with f2 values of 0.335 and 0.317 for the challenges in accessing and evaluating health information (CAEHI) to health information evaluation (HIE) and CAEHI to HILS relationships, respectively. The mediation analysis found that HILS act as a mediator between types of web resources (TWRs) and HIE, with TWR having an indirect impact on HIE through HILS. Discussion: The result supports all hypotheses. Therefore, it is evident that students' HILS mediate the relationship between utilization of web resources and their proficiency in evaluating health information. Conclusion: This study's findings could significantly impact instructional practices meant to raise students' health information literacy. This initiative seeks to enable students to make informed decisions about their health by providing them with the necessary tools to analyse and evaluate health‐related information. Patient or Public Contribution: Research on health information literacy can assist patients and the general public by instructing them on how to assess trustworthy online health resources. Students gave insightful feedback that assisted in shaping the study and guaranteeing its relevancy. If they better comprehend health information literacy, patients and the general public can use web‐based resources and critically evaluate health information more accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat contributes one‐fifth of the global food supply with an estimated 29% of global production in low and lower‐middle income countries. As production expands across southern Asia, yields are often negatively impacted by outbreaks of fungal rust diseases. A wheat rust early warning and advisory system comprising surveillance, near real‐time disease risk forecasts and advisory dissemination has been established in two target countries in South Asia, including Nepal and Bangladesh. However, as wheat rust spores can be aerially transmitted over long distances, near real‐time estimates of disease incidence are required from sources of infection in neighbouring regions. To address this challenge, we developed and tested a novel algorithm to generate proxy observations of infection sources using online media reports in two neighbouring countries, India and Pakistan. Media sampling could provide an effective alternative where data from ground surveys are not readily available in near real‐time. Our results show that west Nepal was exposed to a substantial inoculum pressure from aerially dispersed stripe rust spores originating from India and Pakistan. There were no outbreaks of stripe rust disease in Bangladesh with only very low levels of cross‐border dispersion and generally unfavourable environmental conditions for infection. We further describe how proxy observations informed farmer decision‐making in near real‐time in Nepal and filled a knowledge gap in identifying early sources of infection for a major outbreak of stripe rust during 2020 in Nepal. Our results highlight the importance of international cooperation in mitigating transboundary plant pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The emergence of the COVID‐19 pandemic led to the adoption of telework modalities by individuals in Bangladesh. The study's objective was to determine the job satisfaction and performance level of employed Bangladeshi women working from home during the COVID‐19 pandemic lockdown. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted among women employees of different professions in Dhaka city. The Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) was used to measure job satisfaction. Work arrangement satisfaction and self‐reported performance were measured by two separate subscales which contain five items each. Responses from 118 employed women were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Chi‐square tests, Independent t‐tests, one‐way analysis of variance, and Pearson Correlation tests through the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), version 26. Results: The findings indicated that 51.7% of women reported a high degree of satisfaction on the MSQ scale; 61.9% expressed high satisfaction with their work arrangements at home and 66.9% reported a high level of performance. Job satisfaction was significantly associated with the number of children and the number of family members. A positive association was found between job satisfaction and total working experience and work arrangements. Work performance was strongly associated with higher educational qualifications. A statistically significant association between job satisfaction and performance was revealed. Conclusions: The findings from this study indicated a high degree of job satisfaction and a high level of performance found in women employees who worked from home during the COVID‐19 pandemic. These findings encourage organizations to foster more policies for telework alternatives for employed women to help them keep a balance between work responsibilities and household chores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Given the significance of addressing neonatal mortality in pursuing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal on child health, research focus on this area is crucial. Despite the persistent high rates of neonatal mortality rate (NMR) in Bangladesh, there remains a notable lack of robust evidence addressing inequalities in NMR in the country. Therefore, this study aims to fill the knowledge gap by comprehensively investigating inequalities in NMR in Bangladesh. Methods: The Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) data from 2000 to 2017 were analyzed. The equity stratifiers used to measure the inequalities were wealth status, mother's education, place of residence, and subnational region. Difference (D) and population attributable fraction (PAF) were absolute measures, whereas population attributable risk (PAR) and ratio (R) were relative measures of inequality. Statistical significance was considered by estimating 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each estimate. Results: A declining trend in NMR was found in Bangladesh, from 50.2 in 2000 to 31.9 deaths per 1000 live births in 2017. This study detected significant wealth‐driven (PAF: −20.6, 95% CI: −24.9, −16.3; PAR: −6.6, 95% CI: −7.9, −5.2), education‐related (PAF: −11.6, 95% CI: −13.4, −9.7; PAR: −3.7, 95% CI: −4.3, −3.1), and regional (PAF: −20.6, 95% CI: −27.0, −14.3; PAR: −6.6, 95% CI: −8.6, −4.6) disparities in NMR in all survey points. We also found a significant urban–rural inequality from 2000 to 2014, except in 2017. Both absolute and relative inequalities in NMR were observed; however, these inequalities decreased over time. Conclusion: Significant variations in NMR across subgroups in Bangladesh highlight the need for comprehensive, and targeted interventions. Empowering women through improved access to economic resources and education may help address disparities in NMR in Bangladesh. Future research and policies should focus on developing strategies to address these disparities and promote equitable health outcomes for all newborns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Effective communication skill of physicians is an important component of high‐quality healthcare delivery and safe patient care. Communication is embedded in the social and cultural contexts where it takes place. An understanding of medical students' attitudes and learning communication skills would help to design and deliver culturally appropriate medical education. The Communication Skills Attitude Scale (CSAS) is a widely used and validated tool to measure the attitude of medical students toward learning communication skills in different populations, settings, and countries. However, there is no culturally adapted and validated scale in Bangla in the Bangladesh context. This study aims to culturally adapt the CSAS into Bangla, and validate it in a cohort of medical students in Bangladesh. Methods: This study used a cross‐sectional survey design to collect data from purposively selected 566 undergraduate medical students from the Rajshahi division. The survey was conducted from January to December 2023. Descriptive statistics like frequency distribution and measures of central tendency were used to measure perception regarding communication skills. The sample adequacy was measured through the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin test. The internal consistency of the items was identified using Cronbach's alpha (α) coefficients. Result: The results of the study show that the Bangla version of the scale is feasible, valid, and internally consistent in the context of a developing country, Bangladesh. The overall internal consistency of the Bangla version is good since the value of Cronbach's alpha (α) is 0.882. For PAS, the internal consistency is 0.933. While, for NAS, the value is 0.719. The item‐wise average scores in the PAS indicate that female medical students are more willing to learn communication skills compared with male students (α = 0.933). While, the scores in the NAS indicate that the male students tend to have more negative attitude toward learning communication skills compared with female students (α = 0.719). Conclusion: The CSAS‐Bangla is a valid and reliable tool for assessing communication skill attitudes among Bangla speaking medical students. This scale can be used in future studies to measure the attitude of students, designing and evaluating communication skills training programs in medical colleges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antenatal care (ANC) is the largest health platform globally for delivering maternal nutrition interventions (MNIs) to pregnant women. Yet, large missed opportunities remain in nutrition service delivery. This paper examines how well evidence‐based MNIs were incorporated in national policies and programs in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and India. We compared the nutrition content of ANC protocols against global recommendations. We used survey data to elucidate the coverage of micronutrient supplementation, weight gain monitoring, dietary and breastfeeding counselling. We reviewed literature, formative research and program assessments to identify barriers and enabling factors of service provision and maternal nutrition practices. Nutrition information in national policies and protocols was often fragmented, incomplete and did not consistently follow global recommendations. Nationally representative data on MNIs in ANC was inadequate, except for iron and folic acid supplementation. Coverage data from subnational surveys showed similar patterns of strengths and weaknesses. MNI coverage was consistently lower than ANC coverage with the lowest coverage of weight gain monitoring and variable coverage of dietary and breastfeeding counselling. Key common factors associated with coverage were micronutrient supply disruptions; suboptimal counselling on maternal diet, weight gain, and breastfeeding; and limited or no record keeping. Adherence of women to micronutrient supplementation and dietary recommendations was low and associated with late and too few ANC contacts, poor maternal knowledge and self‐efficacy, and insufficient family and community support. Models of comprehensive nutrition protocols and health systems that deliver maternal nutrition services in ANC are urgently needed along with national data systems to track progress. Key points: Delivering nutrition services to all pregnant women is essential for maternal and child health outcomes but remains a challenge.Nutrition gaps in antenatal care (ANC) include lack of specificity in national guidelines and protocols, bottlenecks in micronutrient supplies, low ANC provider knowledge and skills, inadequate supervision to reinforce counseling, and not engaging families to encourage key practices.National protocols for ANC should be more specific for the four nutrition interventions (micronutrient supplements, weight gain monitoring, counseling on diets and counseling on breastfeeding) and assign accountability for coverage and quality.Country models are needed for improving provision and utilisation of nutrition interventions through ANC that are based on comprehensive policy frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Regulations response to COVID‐19 has increased internet addiction (IA), depression, and pornography addiction (PA) among adolescents worldwide. The objective of this nationwide study was to assess the current prevalence rate of IA, depression, and PA after the post‐COVID‐19 period among school‐going adolescents in Bangladesh. Methods: A total of 8832 male and female adolescents participated in this research. The cross‐sectional study was conducted online using a simple random sampling method. Including the sociodemographic variables, Young's IA Test (IAT‐20) Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐9), and Pornography Craving Questionnaire (PCQ‐12) were used to measure IA, depression, and PA. By SPSS version 25.0, the prevalence and correlation between IA, depression, and PA were analyzed using the Chi‐square test, binary logistic regression, and a bivariate co‐relation matrix. Results: Sixty‐three percent, 76.6%, and 62.9% of the students were suffering from IA, depression, and PA respectively. Depressive and anxious symptoms were significantly associated with IA. Female students were more depressed than males. Males were more addicted to pornography than females. Students who utilized social media but didn't exercise had greater depression and PA. IA, depression, and PA were correlated. Conclusion: The research emphasizes the need for comprehensive mental health treatments, digital literacy programs, and family and teacher participation to reduce IA, depression, and PA among adolescents post‐COVID‐19. Promotion of physical exercise and supporting policies to build safer online settings for adolescents are also encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite being preventable, cervical cancer remains a leading cause of mortality among Bangladeshi women. This article addresses the trends in Bangladesh's response to the World Health Organization's (WHO) request for the eradication of cervical cancer within the nation. Discussion: When it comes to cervical cancer, healthcare institutions need to be concerned in terms of protocols for diagnosis and treatment, staff education, and available resources. More than a quarter of all female cancers in Bangladesh are caused by cervical cancer, which can be prevented through better healthcare infrastructure, earlier diagnosis, more qualified healthcare professionals, improved urban and rural hospital infrastructure, community‐based clinics, expanded affordable vaccinations, school‐based delivery systems, adoption of single‐dose vaccine schedules, raising awareness, and compiling a registry of previously affected results. WHO applauds Bangladesh's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for its efforts to develop the National Strategy for cervical cancer prevention and control, which will guide and strengthen the country's activities to prevent and treat cervical cancer. Conclusion: The endeavor to eradicate this global disease burden should not be limited to Bangladesh; all nations should participate collectively to prevent the malignancy from returning and threatening human civilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemics of the dengue virus can trigger widespread morbidity and mortality along with no specific treatment. Examining the spatial autocorrelation and variability of dengue prevalence throughout Bangladesh's 64 districts was the focus of this study. Methods: The spatial autocorrelation is evaluated with the help of Moran I $I$ and Geary C $C$. Local Moran I $I$ was used to detect hotspots and cold spots, whereas local Getis Ord G was used to identify only spatial hotspots. The spatial heterogeneity has been detected using various conventional and spatial models, including the Poisson‐Gamma model, the Poisson‐Lognormal Model, the Conditional Autoregressive (CAR) model, the Convolution model, and the BYM2 model, respectively. These models are implemented using Gibbs sampling and other Bayesian hierarchical approaches to analyze the posterior distribution effectively, enabling inference within a Bayesian context. Results: The study's findings show that Moran I $I$and Geary C $C$analysis provides a substantial clustering pattern of positive spatial autocorrelation of dengue fever (DF) rates between surrounding districts at a 90% confidence interval. The Local Indicators of Spatial Autocorrelation cluster mapped spatial clusters and outliers based on prevalence rates, while the local Getis‐Ord G displayed a thorough breakdown of high or low rates, omitting outliers. Although Chattogram had the most dengue cases (15,752), Khulna district had a higher prevalence rate (133.636) than Chattogram (104.796). The BYM2 model, determined to be well‐fitted based on the lowest Deviance Information Criterion value (527.340), explains a significant association between spatial heterogeneity and prevalence rates. Conclusion: This research pinpoints the district with the highest prevalence rate for dengue and the neighboring districts that also have high risk, allowing government agencies and communities to take the necessary precautions to mollify the risk effect of DF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice genetic diversity is regulated by multiple genes and is largely dependent on various environmental factors. Uncovering the genetic variations associated with the diversity in rice populations is the key to breed stable and high yielding rice varieties. We performed genome wide association studies (GWASs) on seven rice yielding traits (grain length, grain width, grain weight, panicle length, leaf length, leaf width, and leaf angle) based on a population of 183 rice landraces of Bangladesh. Our GWASs reveal various chromosomal regions and candidate genes that are associated with different traits in Bangladeshi rice varieties. Noteworthy was the recurrent implication of chromosome 10 in all three grain‐shape‐related traits (grain length, grain width, and grain weight), indicating its pivotal role in shaping rice grain morphology. Our study also underscores the involvement of transposon gene families across these three traits. For leaf related traits, chromosome 10 was found to harbor regions that are significantly associated with leaf length and leaf width. The results of these association studies support previous findings as well as provide additional insights into the genetic diversity of rice. This is the first known GWAS study on various yield‐related traits in the varieties of Oryza sativa available in Bangladesh—the fourth largest rice‐producing country. We believe this study will accelerate rice genetics research and breeding stable high‐yielding rice in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of antibiotic‐resistant pathogens in food is a serious public health concern nowadays. This study focuses on the isolation and characterization of potentially pathogenic Escherichia coli and antimicrobial‐resistant pathogens in chicken curry and potato smash samples collected from the canteens and cafeteria of Dhaka University in Bangladesh. Isolates were identified by their cultural, morphological, and biochemical tests (motility indole urease test, Kliger's iron agar test, catalase test, oxidase test, methyl red and Voges‐Proskauer tests). The antibiotic susceptibility test was done by the disk diffusion method. The range of total bacterial count in the potato smash and chicken curry samples was from 1.4 × 104 to 1.6 × 108 CFU/g and from 2.4 × 103 to 2.6 × 106 CFU/g, respectively. Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Vibrio, Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Proteus, Clostridium, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Micrococcus, Bacillus, and Sarcina strains were isolated in both samples. Isolates were highly resistant to ampicillin (90.90%) followed by colistin (52.27%), azithromycin (27.27%), and tetracycline 25%. Proteus species had the highest rate of multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR; 62.5%), followed by Citrobacter species (50%). The isolated E. coli strains were further analyzed through PCR assay to detect virulent genes (EPEC: eaeA 229 bp, bfpA 450 bp, ETEC elt 322 bp, EHEC hylA 534 bp, and EIEC ial 320 bp). One E. coli isolate had the eaeA target gene under EPEC pathotypes. Escherichia coli, as a fecal indicator, may indicate fecal contamination or poor and unhygienic food handling. The findings recommend further investigations to identify potential mechanisms of contamination and preventive measures to improve the food safety level in the canteens and restaurants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In context, the dengue virus causes dengue fever, which is spread by mosquito bites. About 22,000 people every year lose their lives as a direct result of it. Dengue fever has been on the rise recently, and its spread has alarmed health officials throughout the world. Discussion: Vaccination is essential for the prevention and management of dengue cases because there is currently no particular cure against dengue virus. The current dengue epidemic calls for urgent action in the form of immunization. However, there are serious drawbacks to using existing vaccines like Dengvaxia. Besides, the Qdenga vaccine has not yet been approved by the FDA in the United States. On the other hand, positive results from a phase II randomized and controlled clinical study of the TV005 tetravalent live‐attenuated dengue vaccine were recently reported in Bangladesh. Only an effective vaccination can drastically lower dengue infection and mortality rates. Conclusion: The development of safe and effective vaccination, as well as their correct dissemination, is an essential requirement for the people of Bangladesh and the rest of the globe, and we concentrated on this critical problem in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being a deltaic country and for its geographic location, Bangladesh faces devastating damages every year. In a new global index, Bangladesh has been ranked 7th among the countries most affected by extreme weather events in 20 years since 1998. The ability of a community to recover from a disaster is very much associated with strong social connections. For this research, both secondary and primary data sources have been considered. Socio‐demographic characteristics have been identified from a community‐based general questionnaire and BBS. Also, a newly developed integrated method has been used to measure the social capital of the community. Several statistical methods were used to analyse the data, such as factor analysis (PCA), ROC curve analysis and several GIS techniques, throughout the research. Results show that significant socio‐demographic variables help to develop a specific type of social capital. Consequently, social capital indirectly works as a key for recovering from any disaster impact and could build resilience to hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary diversity is an indicator of nutrition that has been found positively associated with diet quality, micronutrient adequacy, and improved maternal health and child growth. Due to the cultural responsibility of women in providing food at the household level, their status is very important to perform this role. Hence, this study has been conducted on the status of dietary diversity of the mother and child to understand how it relates to various factors of women in urban settings. Data were obtained from 1978 mother–child pairs living in different cities in Bangladesh. The foods taken by the women and children were categorized into 10 and 7 groups to measure women's dietary diversity (WDD) and children's dietary diversity (CDD), respectively. The study found that more than three‐fourths of the mothers and half of the children had low dietary diversity. The household wealth holdings and access to resources by the women were found inadequate, while two‐thirds of them had the lowest to medium level of nutritional knowledge. The binomial logistic regression model was used to measure the factors influencing WDD and CDD. The findings also indicated that children's dietary diversity was influenced by the mother's age, education, supportive attitude and behavior of husband, and access to and control over resources. While the household wealth index can enhance both child and mother's dietary variety, nutrition knowledge, dietary counseling, and access to and control over resources can improve maternal dietary diversity. This study recommends improving women's socioeconomic status by increasing their wealth and access to resources and enhancing their nutrition knowledge by providing food and nutrition counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, Bangladesh has seen significant environmental degradation and the loss of its GDP, which has had a detrimental effect on public health, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, industrial development, and environmental services. The unusually high temperatures, humidity, and unpredicted rainfall gave rise to disease like dengue and affecting peoples mental health. However, the government, as well as public and private groups, are undertaking some phenomenal efforts to help reduce environmental degradation and raise the number of green footprints. The objective of this article is to examine the green initiatives, strategies, and policies of Bangladeshi organizations in enhancing green footprints in the socio‐economic spaces, through comprehensive content analysis of various newspapers, journal articles, government reports, and company annual reports. The aim of this article is to trace out the evidences of change in the socio‐economic fabric of the society. The primary focus of the article on the environment friendly business activities, which eventually bring social changes. The article found that green HRM, green business, MFS, green corporate culture is increasingly been seen in the society, which indicate silent changes. Bangladesh has put regulations and programs into place to lessen carbon emissions and safeguard sensitive coastal areas. It is noteworthy for demonstrating a strong dedication to improving sustainable development and environmental preservation. Many organizations in Bangladesh have also received the prestigious Asia's Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Awards for their outstanding zeal to ensure positive environmental changes in the society. Moreover, large proportion of Bangladesh's energy mix comes from renewable energy sources, leading to the installed renewable energy capacity of 579 MW. Additionally, the government has announced plans on replacing traditional transport methods with electric or hybrid vehicles. Bangladesh has further solidified its position as the global leader in green garments factories, as the country has 176 such facilities that have received the USGBC's LEED accreditation. The article placed a strong emphasis on particular policy proposals, including the adoption of the circular economy, the digital economy, sustainable finance, car‐sharing systems, renewable energy sources in manufacturing and workplaces, and environmentally friendly practices in both public and private organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ganges‐Brahmaputra‐Meghna delta is vulnerable to sea level rise from global warming. Based on sea level rise predictions for the year 2100 given in the 6th Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), we examine the effect of uncertainty in sea level rise on maximum tidal elevation statistics at several locations along the Bangladesh coastline using a discretized derived distribution approach. For five IPCC scenarios, the standard deviation in maximum tidal elevation including sea level rise is predicted to increase by between 3% and 61% at three different locations for a 41% increase in the standard deviation of mean sea level rise. By excluding the linear effect of sea level rise, the increase in the standard deviation of maximum tidal elevation is found to vary spatially from 2% to 68% with a 41% increase in the standard deviation of sea level rise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The connection between marital status and suicidal behavior has been poorly assessed in South Asia. We aimed to see the proportion of marital status in individuals with suicidal behavior in South Asian countries. Methods: We followed PRISMA guidelines and registered the protocol in advance (PROSPERO 2023 CRD42023399906). A systematic search was conducted in Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO. Meta‐analyses were performed to pool the proportion of married individuals with suicidal behavior (total [suicide + suicide attempts], suicide, and suicide attempt) in South Asian countries. We considered suicidal behavior consist of suicide and suicide attempts (nonfatal). Results: Our search identified 47 studies for this review from 6 countries published from 1999 to 2022 with a sample size ranging from 27 to 89,178. The proportion of married individuals was 55.4% (95% CI: 50.1–60.5) for suicidal behavior, 52.7% (95% CI: 44.5–60.7) for suicides, and 43.1 (95% CI: 32.9–53.9) for suicide attempts. The proportion of married persons among suicide attempts varied significantly across countries (p = 0.016) which was highest (61.8%; 95% CI: 57.2–66.2) in India, followed by Bangladesh (52.5%; 95% CI: 41.8%–62.9%) and Pakistan (45.1%; 95% CI: 30.9–59.9). The pooled proportions did not differ significantly in relation to the quality of the studies (p = 0.633). Conclusion: This review identified married persons died more than others by suicide in South Asian countries while single persons attempted suicide than married. As the current study did not assess any cause‐and‐effect association, a cautious interpretation is warranted while considering married marital status as a risk factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Diabetes mellitus, characterized by high blood glucose, is an overwhelming public health concern globally, including in Bangladesh. The implication of this trend may pose a significant challenge to the health systems due to the lack of awareness and improper management of this chronic disease. To formulate strategies for public health planning, this study aims to explore the potential risk factors for elevated blood glucose levels among Bangladeshi individuals using advanced statistical methods and a nationally representative data set. Methods: This study utilized data from the 2017−18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey and included 11,863 individuals. A nonparametric Kruskal−Wallis test assessed the significant association between fasting plasma glucose levels and various risk factors. Additionally, a robust quantile regression model was applied to examine the net effects of each risk factor at different quantiles of the distribution. Results: The prevalence of diabetes is 8.1% among individuals in the study population, with variations observed across different administrative divisions in the country. Respondents from the Dhaka division respondents had a higher likelihood (24.1%) of having elevated plasma glucose and the Rangpur division had a lower risk (10.3%) of developing diabetes disease. This study identified several potential risk factors associated with elevated blood glucose levels, including hypertensive disease, overweight and obese body mass index, higher economic status, reduced physical activities, and older age, significantly contributing to develop diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: This study recommends promoting healthy lifestyles, increased physical activity, effective hypertension management, obesity reduction, and nationwide screening programs to control diabetes and noncommunicable diseases in Bangladesh. These preventive measures are crucial for reducing the existing prevalence of diabetes and working toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Bangladesh did not have enough evidence on the current estimates and trend in inequities in the under‐five mortality rate (U5MR). There is also a shortage of evidence on trends and inequalities in healthcare‐seeking for pneumonia among under‐five children (U5C) in Bangladesh. Hence, this study investigated the inequalities in U5MR and health care seeking for pneumonia in U5C through socioeconomic and geographic disparities in Bangladesh between 2007 and 2017. Methods: Data from 2007, 2011, 2014, and 2017 Bangladesh Demographic and Health surveys were analyzed using the Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) software by World Health Organization (WHO). The data on U5MR and healthcare‐seeking for pneumonia were first disaggregated into five equity dimensions: wealth status, education, child sex, place of residence, and administrative divisions. Second, using summary metrics such as difference (D), population attributable risk (PAR), ratio (R), and population attributable fraction (PAF), inequalities were assessed. Results: The U5MR declined from 73.9 deaths per 1000 live births in 2007 to 48.6 deaths in 2017, while the prevalence of healthcare‐seeking for pneumonia in U5C fluctuated over time (34.6% in 2007, 35.4% in 2011, 42.0% in 2014, and 39.8% in 2017). Profound socioeconomic and geographic disparities in U5MR and the prevalence of healthcare‐seeking for pneumonia in U5C favored the wealthy, educated, and urban residents. At the same time, the Sylhet division showed the worst situation for U5MR. There were also sex‐related disparities in U5MR (PAR = −4.5, 95% confidence interval: −5.3 to −3.7) with higher risk among male children than females. Conclusion: These results indicate that improving disadvantaged women, such as the poor, uneducated, and rural inhabitants, who exhibit disproportionate disparities in U5MR and healthcare‐seeking behavior is important. To reduce childhood mortality, it is essential to improve healthcare‐seeking for pneumonia among U5C. Facilitating women for better education and economic encompasses would help reducing disparity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) provides significant health benefits to children. However, mothers may find it difficult to continue EBF for 6 months. The present analysis aimed to examine the influence of the Suchana intervention—a large‐scale programme implemented with the aim of improving the health and nutritional status of mothers and children from poor households in the Sylhet region of Bangladesh—on EBF and stunting among children under 6 months. Baseline and endline data were obtained from the Suchana evaluation. EBF was defined as an infant (<6 months) only receiving breast milk in the previous 24 h. Childhood stunting was defined as a length‐for‐age z‐score of less than −2 among children of the same age. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the associations of the Suchana intervention with EBF and stunting. EBF prevalence improved from 64% at baseline to 85% at the endline in the intervention area, with the intervention group having 2.25 times higher odds of EBF compared to the control group. Stunting prevalence reduced from 28% at baseline to 24% at the endline in the intervention group, but after controlling for covariates, the association between stunting and the intervention was not significant. However, the interaction analysis showed significantly lower stunting prevalence among EBF children in both intervention and control areas. The Suchana intervention had a positive impact on the EBF practice of rural children in a vulnerable region of Bangladesh, and EBF was identified as a significant factor associated with stunting. The findings suggest that the continuation of the EBF intervention has the potential to have an impact on reducing stunting in the region, highlighting the importance of promoting EBF to improve child health and development. Key messages: Suchana intervention in rural Bangladesh promoted exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among mothers in the intervention group.EBF was found to be a significant factor associated with stunting in the study population.Better integration of determinants of stunting are needed to achieve a statistically significant reduction in stunting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are no data on the nutritional status and dietary diversity of the pregnant and nonpregnant reproductive‐age Rohingya women who have recently shifted to the Bhasan Char Relocation Camp located on an island in the Bay of Bengal. A cross‐sectional survey was conducted in November–December, 2021 to assess the nutritional status and evaluate the dietary diversity of two vulnerable groups of the forcibly displaced Rohingya population: nonpregnant reproductive‐age women and pregnant mothers. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to identify the factors associated with nutritional impairments. Overall, 7.6% of the nonpregnant reproductive‐age women were underweight (Body Mass Index [BMI] < 18.5 kg/m2), and nearly one‐third of them had a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. However, 26.7% of the pregnant mothers were undernourished (BMI < 20.0 kg/m2) and almost one‐fourth of them were either overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2). The prevalence of thinness (Mid Upper Arm Circumference [MUAC] < 23 cm) was 34.5% among pregnant mothers, and 10.1% of them were severely thin (MUAC < 21 cm). The mean (±SD) of the Women's Dietary Diversity Score (WDDS) was 3.3 (±1.1) for nonpregnant reproductive‐age women and 3.7 (±1.3) for pregnant mothers enrolled in this study. Overall, 63.8% of the nonpregnant women of childbearing age and 46% of the pregnant mothers had a low WDDS (WDDS < 4). The WDDS was found to be protective against thinness among nonpregnant reproductive‐age women (AOR = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.37, 0.93; p‐value =.03) and low BMI in pregnant mothers (AOR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.55, 0.91; p‐value =.01). The results of this survey will assist in early recognition of the nutritional demands, and act as a guide to planning nutrition‐based programs among Rohingya reproductive‐age women relocated to the Bhasan Char Island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biosecurity‐based interventions are important health strategies for the control of infectious disease and improve productivity in broiler. There are various reasons why broilers die at the early stages of production; however, biosecurity measures are crucial in reducing the risk of disease prevalence and can therefore affect the overall deaths in a flock for a specific period (crude mortality rate [CMR]). Objectives: This study was designed to determine the current biosecurity situation on small‐scale broiler farms in Bangladesh and its relationship to the CMR during the early stages of production. Methods: A cross‐sectional observational study was conducted on small‐scale broiler farms (N = 57) located in peri‐urban areas of Chattogram and Pabna districts of Bangladesh. Descriptive and predictive statistical analyses were performed to estimate the frequency of categorical variables and their effect on CMR. Results: The findings indicated that around 80% of small‐scale broiler farms lacked adequate biosecurity measures. Both on day 1 (p = 0.012) and on days 2–14 (p = 0.003), flocks with inadequate biosecurity had considerably higher median CMRs. Farms that were near the neighbourhood used wood shavings as bedding, offered tube well/shallow well or supply line water, maintained a brief empty period (≤5 days) before introducing new flocks and began using antibiotics on day 1 all had significantly higher CMR at both days 1 and 2–14. Conclusions: The findings point to the necessity of implementing stringent biosecurity measures in broiler production in locations where there is a shortage, which can lower the burden of arbitrary antibiotic usage and will lower total production costs due to crude mortality and management‐related issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Persistent diarrhoea continues for at least 14 days and kills more children than acute diarrhoea. We assessed whether rice suji, green banana mixed rice suji or 75% rice suji improved persistent diarrhoea in young children. Methods: This open‐labelled randomised controlled trial was carried out between December 2017 and August 2019 at the Dhaka Hospital of icddr,b, Bangladesh, with 135 children aged 6–35 months with persistent diarrhoea. The children were randomly assigned to green banana mixed rice suji, rice suji or 75% rice suji, with 45 in each group. The primary outcome was the percentage who recovered from diarrhoea by day 5 using an intention‐to‐treat analysis. Results: The children's median age was 8 months (interquartile range: 7–10 months). By day 5, the recovery rate was 58%, 31% and 58% for children in the green banana mixed rice suji, rice suji and 75% rice suji groups, respectively. The green banana mixed rice suji group had fewer relapses (7%) than the 75% rice suji group (24%). Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli, rotavirus, norovirus, Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, astrovirus and Campylobacter were the major pathogens for persistent diarrhoea. Conclusion: Green banana mixed rice suji was the most effective option for managing persistent diarrhoea in young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effects of COVID‐19 on fish consumption and nutrition intake based on a random survey of 247 fish consumers in Bangladesh. The Propensity Score Matching technique is used to compare fish consumption and fish‐sourced nutrition intake between two groups of consumers before and during COVID‐19. The result shows that 38% overall reduction in fish consumption for the low‐income group compared to lower‐middle, upper‐middle‐ and high‐income groups. Furthermore, per capita consumption of culture and capture fish species decreased significantly for low‐income, lower‐middle‐income, and upper‐middle‐income groups of consumers. It indicates that nutrition and mineral intake have reduced sharply as well Higher energy and K reduction are observed for Pangasius hypophthalmus among different culture fish species while energy and Ca reduction were higher for Wallago attu and Mystus vittatus respectively. Therefore, the government might place a greater emphasis on excluding the food supply chain from lockdown restrictions during a COVID‐19‐like pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to explore the fish value chain and the determinants that influenced the fish farmer's decision, preferably in the value addition chain of Rui, Catla, Tilapia, and Pangas fish. Hence, primary data were collected from 200 fish farmers and 212 market actors from three districts of Bangladesh. The per quintal value addition by the retailers in Mymensingh and Jessore areas was the highest for Rui and the lowest for Pangas. In Dhaka, the retailer's highest per quintal value was reported for Catla. The Poisson regression analysis revealed that farmers' education, fish farming experience, and access to extension services could positively, while the farmer's age could negatively influence their value addition decisions. Developing effective extension services is vital to make an integrated and sophisticated fish market system in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregnant women with their infants are considered at higher risk for influenza‐associated complications, and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends influenza vaccination during pregnancy to protect them, including their infants (0–6 months). There are limited data on the influenza burden among pregnant women and their infants (0–6 months), and there are no routine influenza vaccinations in Bangladesh. Methods: Five annual cohorts (2013–2017) of pregnant women were enrolled from the eight sub‐districts of Bangladesh before the influenza season (May–September); they were contacted weekly to identify new onset of influenza‐like illness (ILI) (subjective or measured fever and cough) and acute respiratory illness (ARI) (at least two of these symptoms: cough, rhinorrhea, or difficulty in breathing) among their infants from birth to 6 months of age. We collected nasopharyngeal swabs from ILI and ARI cases, tested by real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT‐PCR) for influenza virus (including types and subtypes) and estimated influenza incidence (95% CI)/10000 pregnant women‐months or infant‐months, respectively. Results: We enrolled 9020 pregnant women, followed for 26,709 pregnancy‐months, and detected 1241 ILI episodes. We also followed 8963 infants for 51,518 infant‐months and identified 5116 ARI episodes. Influenza positivity was 23% for ILI and 3% for ARI cases. The overall incidence (2013–2017) of influenza among pregnant women was 158.5/10000 pregnant women‐months (95% CI: 141.4–177.6) and that among infants was 21.9/10000 infant‐months (95% CI: 18.2–26.5). Conclusions: Although the data was collected more than 5 years ago, as the only baseline data, our findings illustrate evidence of influenza burden among pregnant women and infants (0–6 months), which may support preventive policy decisions in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context‐specific research is needed on the relationship between household animal production and nutrition outcomes to inform programmes intervening in small‐scale animal production. We examined associations between household animal/fishpond ownership and animal source food (ASF) consumption among 6‐ to 12‐month‐old infants enroled in the control arm of a cluster‐randomised controlled trial in rural Bangladesh. We measured ASF consumption using a 7‐day food frequency questionnaire at 6, 9 and 12 months and assessed household animal/fishpond ownership at 12 months. We developed negative binomial regression models with random intercepts for infant and cluster, controlling for infant age and sex, maternal age, socioeconomic status and season. Models were stratified by a dichotomised maternal decision‐making score. Compared with infants in households without each animal type, those with 4–10 and ≥11 poultry consumed eggs 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1, 1.6) and 1.6 (95% CI: 1.3, 2.0) times more, respectively; 2–3 and ≥4 dairy‐producing animals consumed dairy 1.9 (95% CI: 1.3, 2.7) and 2.0 (95% CI: 1.3, 3.1) times more, respectively; and ≥12 meat‐producing animals consumed meat 1.4 (95% CI: 1.0, 1.8) times more. It was unclear whether there was an association between fishpond ownership and fish consumption. Our results did not suggest that maternal decision‐making power was a modifier in the relationship between animal/fishpond ownership and ASF consumption. In this South Asian context, strategies intervening in household animal production may increase infant consumption of eggs, dairy and meat, but not necessarily fish. Research is needed on the role of market access and other dimensions of women's empowerment. Key messages: Household ownership of poultry and dairy‐ and meat‐producing animals was associated with higher infant intakes of eggs, dairy and meat, respectively. There was not a clear association between household fishpond ownership and infant fish consumption.While we found no significant differences in these relationships by maternal decision‐making power, future research in this setting should consider the relative importance of other dimensions of women's empowerment or other contextual factors, such as market access.In Bangladesh and similar rural South Asian settings, programmes aiming to impact infant and child diet through agricultural interventions must assess the factors constraining both production and consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and nurturing care during the first years of children's lives are crucial for ensuring their growth and development. The IYCF and nurturing practices are associated with a multifaceted interplay of context‐specific factors where fathers' involvement is necessary. The aim of this study is to explore the current scenario of fathers' involvement in IYCF practices in the urban slums of Bangladesh. A cross‐sectional survey among the residents of the Sat Tola slum in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh was conducted. To avoid social desirability bias, 361 mothers of children aged <24 months were interviewed regarding fathers' involvement. An operational definition of father's involvement was developed based on 11 criteria and then scoring was applied to classify 'Good Involvement' and associated factors were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Fathers' mean age was around 31 (SD ± 6.09) years and the majority of them (44.32%) completed primary education. Fathers had diversified occupations such as day laborer (32.41%), garment worker (22.71%), and business (14.96%). Factors that were significantly associated with the father's involvement in IYCF practices include educational status (aOR = 3.98, 95% CI = 1.91, 8.26, p <.00) and theiroccupational status (aOR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.16, 0.70, p =.00). Fathers were more active for their first child (aOR: 1.99, 95% CI = 1.04, 3.79, p =.03). Having child in the age group of 14–20 months (aOR = 2.73, 95% CI = 1.32, 5.64, p = <.01) and wife in the age group of 21–30 years (aOR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.20, 4.58, p =.01) were significantly associated. The study finding explored that fathers' education and occupation as well as mothers' age and education were significantly associated factors for fathers' involvement in the IYCF practices. Further longitudinal studies are recommended to establish the causal relationship between fathers' involvement with IYCF and their impact on child growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unsustainable wildlife trade is a major threat to many species, but quantifying trade remains challenging, as seizure data provides an incomplete understanding. For this reason, integrating multiple types of information, including interviews with actors involved in trade, is crucial if we are to understand the problem better. Hence, in this study, we digitized Bangladesh Forest Department tiger seizure records to identify trade routes and interviewed 163 individuals involved in trafficking tigers through Bangladesh's air, sea and land ports, including poachers, smugglers, and traders. We identified six ports used to import tigers, 14 ports used for tiger export and three ports showing bi‐directional trade. Elite Bangladeshis were the most important consumer group, and tigers were sourced from populations in NE India, Myanmar and Bangladesh Sundarbans to supply domestic demand. Tiger products were exported to 14 countries, including seven G20 nations, with Bangladeshi expatriates as the consumer group in three countries (United Kingdom, Germany and Qatar). Rising economic development in Bangladesh over the last decade, combined with deep‐rooted cultural ties to tiger consumption, has led to a rise in domestic demand. Additionally, rapid growth in international transport links has increased smuggling and connected local traders with global markets, increasing the complexity of global trade. These findings suggest Bangladesh is poised to play a pivotal role in tiger conservation over the next decade, requiring strong national strategies to reduce trade opportunities, disrupt networks and weaken demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the assessment of flood risk, the future flood hazard due to climate change is often tied to the present socioeconomic conditions. This makes an implicit assumption that the drivers of risk, other than the hazard, remain constant with time. Therefore, such risk assessment does not provide a realistic outlook for devising plausible mitigation strategies and plans. In this study, flood risk was assessed from an integrated perspective by considering both physical hazard, and socioeconomic exposure and vulnerability—all changing with time. The flood hazard in the Arial Khan River floodplain in the southcentral Bangladesh was simulated with a two‐dimensional hydrodynamic model, and the exposure and vulnerability were projected using different statistical techniques. Principal component analysis was conducted to assign weights to the indicators of hazard, exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The results show that the flood depth, duration, and extent would increase from the baseline to 2080s under regional concentration pathway (RCP) 2.6 and RCP 8.5 scenarios. The sensitivity and vulnerability would decrease, reflecting an improved adaptive capacity. The low‐risk areas could increase from 62% in the baseline to 85%–91% in 2080s depending on the RCPs. The approach followed can be applied elsewhere in developing countries, particularly in riverine floodplain settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed at investigating the optimization of extraction variables for food grade quality agar from Gracilaria tenuistipitata, so far, the first study on Bangladeshi seaweed. Water (native)‐ and NaOH (alkali)‐pretreated agars were comparatively analyzed by several physicochemical parameters. All extraction variables significantly affected the agar yield in both extraction conditions. Alkali‐pretreated agar provided a better yield (12–13% w/w) and gel strength (201 g/cm2) in extraction conditions as followed by 2% NaOH pretreatment at 30°C for 3 h, seaweed to water ratio at 1:150, and extraction temperature at 100°C for 2 h. Gelling and melting temperatures, color, and pH values of both agars were found to be comparable with commercial agar. Significantly higher sulfate contents including organic and inorganic and total carotenoids were reported in native (3.14% and 1.29 μg/mL) than that in alkali‐pretreated agar (1.27% and 0.62 μg/mL). FTIR spectrum demonstrated the purity of the agar as characterized by the stronger relative intensity with higher degree of conversion of L‐galactose 6‐sulfate to 3,6‐anhydrogalactose in alkali pretreatment group than that of native ones. Moreover, antioxidant activity (% DPPH scavenging) was observed and confirmed by IC50 values of 5.42 and 9.02 mg/mL in water‐ and alkali‐pretreated agars, respectively. The results suggested that agar from G. tenuistipitata with optimized alkali extraction conditions could promote cost‐effective yield with improved physicochemical characteristics and biofunctional values upon consumption by the consumers as food materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]