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The article sheds light on discrimination that denies basic education to Rohingya refugee children currently living in the unregistered Kutupalong refugee camp at Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. The condition of basic education is partially due to the discrimination they experience in Rakhine State, Myanmar. It is further shaped by limited education opportunities they are offered in the host country, Bangladesh. Employing a qualitative method, this study interviewed 18 informants from three categories: namely, Rohingya refugee children, guardians, and teachers (from Burmese and Bangladeshi backgrounds) and administered four focus group discussions to develop a deep understanding of their experiences. The results indicated that the unjust education opportunities provided by the Myanmar government and its divisive control of Rakhine State create various and linked forms of discrimination. The study revealed that ethnic identity, gender, religious background, age, and economic status play crucial roles in denying refugee children basic education in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Following COVID-19, the global educational landscape shifted dramatically. Almost every educational institute in Bangladesh undertook a strategic move to begin offering online or blended learning courses to mitigate the challenges created by the pandemic. The TVET sector, particularly the polytechnic institute of Bangladesh, endeavored to explore the blended learning approach as an immediate and long-term solution to address the educational dislocation caused by the pandemic. This study attempts to conceptualize a pedagogical design based on the ADDIE and rapid prototyping model to make a reliable and robust instructional design to be used in the blended learning context. A content validity index (CVI) was used to validate the proposed model; a technology acceptance model (TAM) was employed to examine its acceptability to students; and finally, students' academic performances were analysed to evaluate the overall performance of the proposed instructional design. The findings reveal that the proposed instructional design can be a reliable and valid pedagogical approach to be implemented in the blended learning context for polytechnic students. The proposed instructional design may help TVET educators and course designers to create a robust blended learning environment in the TVET sector and in other similar disciplines, such as science and engineering education.

The English language pronunciation is a sub-skill of speaking modules during the learning process of a second language. Accurate pronunciation is not followed enough by Bangladesh students in speaking English It was found that the participants face barriers while pronouncing English. However, it is ignored and even provided the least attention by them. In order to explore the pronunciation barriers of vowels and consonants of Bangladesh expatriate learners and to identify remedial measures, this study stresses about four aspects of pronunciation: "vowel confusion and insertion," "missing stress sounds," "sounds' errors cause of written form," and "absence of fricatives." The study emphasizes on the value and status of pronunciation and overcame the approach of it among Bangladesh expatriate students. A pronunciation test was conducted with 8 Bangladesh expatriate learners with an age range of 20-25 years and the participants were asked to pronounce 7-8 words in every aspect, recorded their voice and documented for analysis along with observation of the Bangladesh expatriate learners at King Saud University. The study reveals that Bangladeshi students have many errors on the way to the correct vocalization of English sounds, which are mainly the influence of their mother tongue. Bangladeshi Learners could not make the distinction between long and short vowels. To overcome this problem, learners need to participate pronunciation practice in the formal assessment process in addition to language lessons and also focus their attention on conversation through multimedia.

The prime objectives of this study were to unveil the level of anxiety and the sources of English language anxiety of the tertiary level students of Bangladesh. Through a questionnaire survey using Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale developed by Horwitz et al. (1986), the study found that most of the tertiary level learners have high anxiety of English as a foreign language. Based on an exploratory factor analysis with principal component analysis and varimax rotation (Kaiser Normalization), a four-factor (communication anxiety, comprehension and test anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, and lack of anxiety) solution emerged. Following a close analysis of the EFA and other established valid models, the study found that six components, namely, speaking anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, peer pressure/social-image anxiety, comprehension-related anxiety, negative attitude towards class, and test anxiety were the main sources of anxiety, which need to be addressed for alleviating the anxiety of the students.

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a significant influence on many aspects of life, including education. As a result, the education system in emerging nations such as Bangladesh needs a rapid transition from conventional to technology-based distance learning. This study looks at the current state of higher education and how well online courses that use technology work. Design/methodology/approach: This study used a structural equation model (SEM) to analyze the 392 student records taken from several universities in Bangladesh. Findings: This research showed that students are more likely to use a digital higher education system if faculty are willing, students are eager and the economy is stable. Students who have had a bad experience with digital learning should know that a virtual evaluation system is needed. The willingness of students to use technology also plays a significant role in whether or not the students will take online classes. The research shows that combining traditional classroom and online learning is the best way to create a long-term learning system. Originality/value: The model suggested in this study has a big effect, and Bangladesh policymakers should consider this model when planning a new kind of technology-based education.

Different new media tools like Facebook, blogs, wikis, Google docs and YouTube are perceived to have effects on English language (L2) learner motivation at the tertiary level in Bangladesh. However, the effects of new media usage on L2 learner motivation are not defined yet in the context. This study investigates the effects of new media usage on L2 learner motivation at the tertiary level. A qualitative research design is used throughout the study to collect and analyze the data. Data were collected through six Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with 30 tertiary level English language learners from eight universities located in Bangladesh. The findings of the study show that new media usage in English language learning motivates learners immensely, transforms dependent and passive learners into active and autonomous learners, makes them participatory, engaging and enthusiastic in learning, and works as a supplement to the classroom teachings. However, culturally inappropriate and wrong interpretation of some language contents in new media tools demotivates learners. Therefore, the usage of new media tools in enhancing learner motivation needs to be keenly monitored to reduce adverse effects. The study recommends future research to be conducted to assess the negative washback of new media usage affecting L2 learners.

The recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic forced education institutes to shift to an internet-based online delivery mode. This unique situation accelerates a long-standing issue of digital inequality among the students in education and warrants a concentrated study to investigate students' readiness for learning in online environment. This study developed an instrument to meticulously measure the students' readiness for online learning in a pandemic situation. The proposed model consists of (a) motivation, (b) self-efficacy, and (c) situational factors. The proposed model was validated with the engineering students (for pilot study N = 68 and main study N = 988) from several universities in Bangladesh. To validate the underlying relationships between the latent constructs, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed followed by structural equation modelling (SEM) for the construct validity of the measurement model and to assess the model fit. The findings showed that besides motivation and self-efficacy, the situational factors describing the contextual dynamics emerging from the COVID-19 significantly influenced the student's online readiness. We argue that digital inequality is an important factor influencing student readiness for online learning.

University teachers in Bangladesh and Nigeria, in general, are novices in using modern technologies such as Google classroom in the teaching learning process. This study aims to explore teachers' attitudes towards the use of Google classroom and investigate the factors that influence the teachers' acceptance and behavioural intentions to use it as a learning management system. A quantitative method has been used to examine the teachers' acceptance of Google classroom based on a simplified technology acceptance model (TAM) in two universities located in Bangladesh and Nigeria. The study reveals that Bangladeshi teachers have a higher positive attitude towards accepting this platform compared to Nigerian teachers. Besides, Nigerian teachers are impacted significantly by the technology challenges during its use. The findings of this study inform educators of the key aspects of Google classroom use which could enable them to effectively adopt it during and post the COVID-19 pandemic.

This cross-sectional study explored stressful situations of caregivers related to life events of their children suffering from neurodevelopmental disorders along with potential contributing factors. A total of 906 caregivers of children with diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder, from eight administrative districts and two city corporation areas in Bangladesh were interviewed. The Family Stress and Coping Interview scale was used to evaluate parenting stress. The diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorder at the outset, feelings about the cause of the disorder, future planning for employment and accommodation for the child and dealing with child sexuality were some important stressful situations for parents. Parenting stress is found to be higher among female [regression coefficient (B) = 5.09, p < 0.001] and less educated caregivers [B = 2.69, p < 0.01]. Increasing age of child [B = 0.82, p < 0.001] and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorder before child's second birthday [B = 4.22, p < 0.001] are also associated with higher parenting stress.

Syllabus, as one of the most important tools of teaching-learning, must contain necessary contents. A clearly designed, well-presented syllabus with the contents following the best practices in the field is a prerequisite for effective teaching. To analyze the contents of the syllabi of English language development courses of Bangladeshi university English departments, this study prepared a checklist of an ideal syllabus following the relevant literature and theories. The study has found that the contents in those syllabuses are presented in a haphazard way. They cannot the meet most of the criteria of an ideal syllabus in terms of contents. Most of them have only some learning topics or items as contents; and names of some books as materials. Regarding the other aspects like goals and objectives, assessment, rubric, teaching-learning methodologies, types of useful materials etc., the syllabuses present a very poor scenario. In the presentation and organisation, a linear fashion is found seemingly without any grading.

Background: Blastocystis, a widely distributed zoonotic protozoan infecting both humans and numerous animals, remains poorly understood with its potential medical and veterinary significance. This study examined the molecular occurrence and genetic variation of Blastocystis in children and calves in Bangladesh to explore cross-species transmission and disease burden. Methods: In total, 998 DNA samples were investigated, comprising 299 stool DNA from children and 699 fecal DNA from calves, using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. Results: This study detected Blastocystis in 5.35% of the children and 14.74% of the calves. While slight variations in occurrence rates were observed across different study variables, none were statistically significant. The occurrence was highest among children under 5 years and calves aged 1–3 months. Regarding breed, the Holstein Friesian cross and the Jersey cross exhibited higher rates of infection. Conversely, occurrences were lower among children and calves in Gazipur district. The remaining parameters displayed nearly equivalent percentages of Blastocystis. The subtypes identified in children included ST1, ST3, and ST4, with ST1 comprising 50% of them. ST3 and ST4 were also found in calves, alongside ST10 (55.34%) being the most prevalent. Other subtypes found in calves were ST14, ST21, and ST24–ST26. Conclusions: This study found that Blastocystis is more common in calves than in children in Bangladesh, with genetic diversity of nine subtypes. The common occurrence of identical variants of two subtypes in both populations suggests potential zoonotic transmission, highlighting the necessity for further molecular investigations and comprehensive measures within the One Health framework to mitigate public health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Bangladesh, okra is an important popular summer vegetable. However, traditional farming practices often lead to suboptimal yields. Thus, the study was designed to determine the ideal GA3 and NAA doses for accelerating okra growth, yield, and quality characteristics. A three-replication, randomized complete block design was adopted. Foliar sprays with three concentrations of GA3 (0 ppm, 150 ppm, and 250 ppm) and NAA (0 ppm, 150 ppm, and 250 ppm) were applied in 2022 and 2023. In comparison to the control, the combined application of GA3 @ 150 ppm and NAA @ 150 ppm improved plant height, leaf number, leaf area, branch number, internode length, bud number, pod number, pod length, pod diameter, and 1000 seed weight average over the two years. Furthermore, GA3 @ 150 ppm with NAA 150 ppm increased yield by 35.08% and 27.01% in 2022 and 2023 respectively, above the control. Combining NAA @ 150 ppm with GA3 resulted in higher levels of vitamin C, TSS, magnesium, and zinc by 19.31%, 81.2%, 22.73% and 21.43% in 2022 and 22.83%, 50.57%, 18.07%, 33.33% in 2023 respectively, compared to the control. In contrast, GA3 and NAA decreased potassium and calcium in both year when compared to the control. Overall, the results of this experiment indicated that using GA3 @ 150 ppm with NAA @ 150 ppm could enhance okra growth, yield, and quality. These findings provide insightful information for improving okra cultivation techniques and improving Bangladesh's productivity in agriculture and food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bad breath (halitosis) is a common problem affecting psycho-social wellbeing of young people. We aimed to explore the extent of self-perceived halitosis and associated factors among university students in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among university students from November 2021 to April 2022. Six private and two public universities were approached. A total of 318 participants were conveniently selected for the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Students unwilling to participate were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with halitosis. Statistical analysis was conducted using Stata Version 17. Results: A total of 55.97% of students had self-perceived halitosis, with females (74.53%) having a significantly higher proportion than males (36.94%) (p < 0.001). A significantly higher proportion of halitosis was found among participants who were overweight (61%), had obesity (60.77%), smoked cigarette (46.79%), consumed alcohol (71.43%), lacked exercise (66.29%), were on unhealthy diet (57.35%), consumed coffee/tea (61.35%), breathed through mouth (64.60%), brushed tooth infrequently (85.71%), changed toothbrush after 6 months (77.42%), did not use toothpaste (94.74%), did not use/ sometimes used fluoride toothpaste (75.76%), lacked dental floss use (60.85%), did not use toothpick (62.87%), did chew or sometimes chewed sugar-free chewing gum (75.82%), did not clear / cleaned tongue sometimes (76.14%), did use mouth freshener regularly or occasionally (64.97%), did not use or used mouthwash sometimes (58.87%) were also associated with higher self-perceived halitosis (p < 0.05 for all). Students with gum bleeding, swollen gums, dry mouth, dental caries, food accumulation, and tooth sensitivity had a significantly (p < 0.05 for all) higher proportion of self-perceived halitosis (76.85%, 81.82%, 72.50%, 67.78%, 64.13% and 67.40%, respectively) compared to those without this problem. Being female (OR = 5.04; 95% CI: 2.01–12.62; p < 0.001), alcohol consumers (OR 7.35; 95% CI: 1.77–30.50; p = 0.006); not using sugar free chewing gum (OR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.10–0.58; p = 0.001), lack of tongue cleaning (OR 4.62; 95% CI: 2.16–9.84; p < 0.001), and gum bleeding (OR = 7.43; 95% CI: 3.00-18.35; p < 0.001) were independently associated with halitosis on multivariable regression. Conclusion: This study reveals a high proportion of self-perceived halitosis and relevant factors. There should be more public education on the causes of halitosis and potential management approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evidence clearly shows that education greatly impacts people's well-being. Bangladesh has two main education systems—general and traditional religious schooling. The current study aimed to measure the quality of life of madrasa students and find out the factors influencing it. This was a cross-sectional study on a group of madrasa students in the Mirpur area of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Data were collected using two-stage stratified random sampling between April and May 2022. The final sample size was 373. The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was calculated using the KIDSCREEN-10 index, and the median split was used to categorize the score into 'good' and 'poor' categories. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all statistical tests. Among the participants, most (56%) reported having a good HRQoL. The median age (IQR) of the participants was 10.0 (8.0–12.0) years. Most of the participants were male (91%) and were not orphans (95%). The current study also found that a higher feeling of safety (AOR 3.7; 95% CI 1.3–10.4; p = 0.016) increased the odds of having good HRQoL. However, having a present illness decreased the odds (AOR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4–0.9; p = 0.10) of having a good HRQoL. The key results show that the majority reported a good HRQoL. Promoting students' physical, mental, and social well-being through health education, anti-bullying initiatives, regular school health screening, and institutional & community involvement can help to improve the overall HRQoL of madrasa students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) C. B. Rob. belongs to the Litsea genus and is categorized under the family of Lauraceae. The study aimed to investigate the phytoconstituents and pharmacological properties of methanol extract of leaves of Litsea glutinosa, focusing on antidiabetic activity via in vivo and in silico techniques. Methods: Extensive chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques were applied to isolate and characterize the constituents from the L. glutinosa plant species. The antidiabetic activity was studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mice, and the computational study of the isolated compounds was carried out by utilizing AutoDock Vina programs. In addition, the pharmacokinetic properties in terms of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) and toxicological profiles of the isolated compounds were examined via in silico techniques. Results: In the present study, two flavonoid glycosides 4΄-O-methyl (2 ̋,4 ̋-di-E-p-coumaroyl) afzelin (1) and quercetin 3-O-(2 ̋,4 ̋-di-E-p-coumaroyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (2) were isolated from the leaves of L. glutinosa and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and mass spectral data. Although compounds 1 and 2 have been reported twice from Machilis litseifolia and Lindera akoensis, and Machilis litseifolia and Mammea longifolia, respectively, this is the first report of this isolation from a Litsea species. Administering the methanolic extract of L. glutinosa at doses of 300 and 500 mg/kg/day to mice with diabetes induced by streptozotocin led to a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose levels (p < 0.05) starting from the 7th day of treatment. Besides, the computational study and PASS analysis endorsed the current in vivo findings that the both isolated compounds exerted higher binding affinities to human pancreatic α-amylase and aldose reductase than the conventional drugs. The in silico ADMET analysis revealed that the both isolated compounds have a favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profile suitable for human consumption. Conclusion: According to the current outcomes obtained from in vivo and in silico techniques, the leaf extract of L. glutinosa could be a natural remedy for treating diabetes, and the isolated phytoconstituents could be applied against various illnesses, mainly hyperglycemia. However, more investigations are required for extensive phytochemical isolation and pharmacological activities of these phytoconstituents against broader targets with exact mechanisms of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-learning has broadly become an important enabler to promote distance education (DE) and lifelong learning in most of the developed countries, but in Bangladesh it is still a new successful progressive system for the learning communities. Distance education is thought to be introduced as an effective way of educating people of all sections in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Open University (BOU), the only distance education provider in Bangladesh, has been trying to adopt the use of various e-learning materials for its distance delivery. This paper has tried to describe the current progress of quality e-learning for expanding distance education, identifying the major problems of e-learning in distance education at tertiary level in Bangladesh, with special reference to BOU, and finally to put forward some valuable recommendations for solving the problems. The study is based on both primary and secondary sources. It is observed from the research that e-learning is going to ensure its bright prospect as an alternative mode of education at the tertiary level in Bangladesh. There are several problems that are identified and can be mitigated and solved through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development, greater acceptance by learners, and much research in this sector in Bangladesh to face globalization. [This paper was presented at the International Conference on Teaching and Learning (ICTL) (4th, Bangkok, Thailand, Nov 13-15, 2013).]

Climate change impacts crop production worldwide, and coastal regions are particularly vulnerable to its adverse effects. Given the projected rise in temperature and shifting precipitation patterns, it is crucial to examine the current challenges faced by farmers in coastal Bangladesh. Using Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), we assessed the perceptions and experiences of farmers and stakeholders regarding the existing agricultural practices, the challenges they face in crop cultivation, and the adoption of climate-adaptive practices in 2 sub-districts in the southeastern coastal region of Bangladesh. Moreover, using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and the Standardized Terrestrial Water Storage Index (STI), we assessed the frequency and intensity of different climatic conditions in these two sub-districts. Results show that 100% of the respondents reported an increase in dry climatic conditions, the occurrence of untimely precipitation, and a decline in irrigation water during the cropping season. All the respondents in the FGDs expressed a loss of crop production because of these climate-induced disturbances. Despite these challenges, farmers have been implementing several climate-adaptive practices. Among the 9 mentioned climate-adaptive practices, 50% of FGD respondents utilize organic fertilizers, 42% cultivate heat- and drought-resilient crop varieties, use improved irrigation and harvest rainwater, and 25% cultivate integrated crops. The results of quantitative analysis of 3- and 6-month SPEI and STI values show that this region experienced frequent and intense dry climatic conditions during the growing-season, which supports the farmers' and stakeholders' concern about the increasing occurrence of droughts during crop growing periods. The results suggest that despite adopting climate-resilient practices under increasing growing-season droughts, farmers require support from the government and NGOs in capacity-building training and input support (e.g., stress-resilient seeds). This study holds practical implications for government, NGOs, and policymakers for ensuring sustainable agricultural productivity in the coastal region of Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquakes present severe hazards for people and economies and can be primary drivers of landscape change yet their impact to river-channel networks remains poorly known. Here we show evidence for an abrupt earthquake-triggered avulsion of the Ganges River at ~2.5 ka leading to relocation of the mainstem channel belt in the Bengal delta. This is recorded in freshly discovered sedimentary archives of an immense relict channel and a paleo-earthquake of sufficient magnitude to cause major liquefaction and generate large, decimeter-scale sand dikes >180 km from the nearest seismogenic source region. Precise luminescence ages of channel sand, channel fill, and breached and partially liquefied floodplain deposits support coeval timing of the avulsion and earthquake. Evidence for reorganization of the river-channel network in the world's largest delta broadens the risk posed by seismic events in the region and their recognition as geomorphic agents in this and other tectonically active lowlands. The recurrence of comparable earthquake-triggered ground liquefaction and a channel avulsion would be catastrophic for any of the heavily populated, large river basins and deltas along the Himalayan arc (e.g., Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Ayeyarwady). The compounding effects of climate change and human impacts heighten and extend the vulnerability of many lowlands worldwide to such cascading hazards. A major earthquake 2500 years ago caused one of the largest rivers on Earth to abruptly change its course. A recurrent event would pose the risk of such cascading hazards to the densely populated floodplains of present-day Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flooding is a recurring and devastating natural disaster in Bangladesh, with significant flood events occurring regularly. The country has implemented various measures to combat these floods, including warning systems, storm shelters, and protective walls. However, the escalating threats of floods, salinization, and waterlogging pose dire risks to the coastal region and its inhabitants. Climate change exacerbates these risks, leading to increased financial and humanitarian costs. The government of Bangladesh has recognized the need for disaster management and flood management strategies, but there are critiques regarding its response to these challenges. Collaboration between policymakers, government agencies, and international organizations is crucial to finding solutions to the flooding crisis. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: The aims of the study are to: (1) determine the short-term reactogenicity of WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines (i.e., Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Sinovac, Oxford-AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson, Covaxin) amongst lactating women and their children, and 2) evaluate lactation-related outcomes following the same vaccines in Bangladesh. Methods: This was a multi-centre, self-reported, cross-sectional study of lactating woman-child dyads in Bangladesh. Demographics, past medical history, breastfeeding history and clinical outcomes of lactating woman–child dyads at least 7 days after the last dose of vaccine were determined through a structured questionnaire. Results: There were 750 participants from four centres. The mean age of lactating women and children surveyed were 27.6 (SD ± 4.6) years and 10.3 (SD ± 6.7) months, respectively. Majority (81.2%; 608 of 750) received 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccinations while lactating. Almost all (99.9%; 749 of 750) vaccinated lactating women surveyed reported no change in human milk supply. More than half of the participants (56.9%; 373 of 656) reported no symptoms after both doses of COVID-19 vaccines. There were no serious adverse events such as anaphylaxis or hospital admission. Majority of the lactating women (98.9%; 742 of 750) reported that the children whom they breastfed had no symptoms such as fever or cough. Discussion: This large study of lactating woman-child dyads in Bangladesh, who received a diverse range of WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines, showed no serious short-term adverse effects. Significance: What is Already Known on this Subject?: mRNA COVID-19 vaccination is safe for lactating woman and child dyads in the short term. What this Study adds?: This is the largest known South Asian study on WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines (both mRNA and non-mRNA) which showed that these vaccines are safe for lactating women and child dyads in the short-term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Snakebite is a major poverty-related neglected tropical disease. An integrated scientific approach is needed to understand the dynamics of this important health issue. Our objective was to estimate snakebite occurrence in a tropical area by using a blend of ecological modelling and robust statistical analysis. Methods: The present study used climatic, environmental, and human population density data to determine the area with snakebite occurrence-probability for the first time in Bangladesh. We also analysed a large, 16-year dataset of hospitalized snakebite cases to reveal the epidemiology of snakebite in the south-eastern zone of the country. Findings: Our results show that cobra bite is the most commonly occurring venomous snakebite in humans (around ~12% of the total yearly snakebite records), and men are more frequently bitten than women (2/3 of human victims are men). Most bites occur during the rainy season for cobra and green pit viper, while krait bites are not restricted to any particular season. As snakebite incidents are closely related to climate conditions, we can model snakebite risk using temperature and precipitation variables. Whereas there is a lack of snakebite reports from several parts of the study area in official records, our models predict that the entire study area is favourable for snakebite incidents. Based on the combined evidence we estimate that about 200,000 snakebite events occur every year in the south-eastern part of Bangladesh alone. Considering future global climate change, our model projections show that snakebite incidence in Bangladesh might not significantly decrease in the future (- 2070-); however, the distribution of probabilities might change, with a predicted increase of snakebite incidence in the hilly areas of the country. Conclusions: Using climatic data to predict snakebite incidence in Bangladesh allowed us to provide estimations of the total annual number of snakebite cases in the study area. As in most countries, the scarcity of accurate epidemiological data in official records might have masked the real magnitude of this problem. Our analysis suggests that the problem of snakebite envenoming in Bangladesh might be worse than currently perceived. A long-term sustainable snakebite program plan should be designed and institutionalized, considering climatic, geographical and human demographic variables, to obtain better data and facilitate the implementation of accurate snakebite management programs for this country. Author summary: Snakebite envenoming is an important health problem in Bangladesh. A community-based survey conducted in 2009 indicated that around 700,000 snakebites/year may occur in this country. However, until now, there is no study estimating the incidence of snakebite in Bangladesh from the aspect of ecology. Considering the climatic, environmental, and human population variables, a large, 16-year clinico-epidemiological dataset of snakebite patients was analysed to portray snakebite occurrence probability in Chattogram Division, which comprises the south-eastern part of Bangladesh. Five species distribution models were used to map snakebite-prone areas. We found that the study area has large differences in the predicted incidence of snakebite. Our predictions indicate that around 200,000 snakebite cases per year might occur in the study area, where the latest estimate on 2009 estimated less than half that number for this division. Further, predictions for the year 2070 provide us with similar numbers, independent of the global increase in temperature. As snakebite will remain a major health problem for this country in the next 50 years, we propose the development of a sustainable management plan aiming to limit human-snake conflicts and their consequences while safeguarding also snakes and the ecosystem services they provide especially to agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Efficient healthcare delivery and access to specialized care rely heavily on a well-established healthcare sector referral system. However, the referral system faces significant challenges in developing nations like Bangladesh. This study aimed to assess self-referral prevalence among patients attending tertiary care hospitals in Bangladesh and identify the associated factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at two tertiary care hospital, involving 822 patients visiting their outpatient or inpatient departments. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The patients' mode of referral (self-referral or institutional referral) was considered the outcome variable. Results: Approximately 58% of the participants were unaware of the referral system. Of all, 59% (485 out of 822) of patients visiting tertiary care hospitals were self-referred, while 41% were referred by other healthcare facilities. The primary reasons for self-referral were inadequate treatment (28%), inadequate facilities (23%), critical cases (14%), and lack of expert physicians (8%). In contrast, institutional referrals were mainly attributed to inadequate facilities to treat the patient (53%), inadequate treatment (47%), difficult-to-treat cases (44%), and lack of expert physicians (31%) at the time of referral. The private facilities received a higher proportion of self-referred patients compared to government hospitals (68% vs. 56%, p < 0.001). Among patients attending the study sites through institutional referral, approximately 10% were referred from community clinics, 6% from union sub-centers, 25% from upazila health complexes, 22% from district hospitals, 22% from other tertiary care hospitals, and 42% from private clinics. Patients visiting the outpatient department (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.28–4.82, p < 0.001), residing in urban areas (aOR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04–1.64, p = 0.007), belonging to middle- and high-income families (aOR 1.34, 95% CI 1.03–1.62, p = 0.014, and aOR 1.98, 95% CI 1.54–2.46, p = 0.005, respectively), and living within 20 km of healthcare facilities (aOR 3.15, 95% CI 2.24–4.44, p-value < 0.001) exhibited a higher tendency for self-referral to tertiary care facilities. Conclusions: A considerable number of patients in Bangladesh, particularly those from affluent urban areas and proximity to healthcare facilities, tend to self-refer to tertiary care centers. Inadequacy of facilities in primary care centers significantly influences patients to opt for self-referral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows and economic growth at sectoral levels in Bangladesh, employing a panel study framework. Utilizing sectoral-level panel data spanning six sectors from 2007–08 to 2018–19, the analysis is conducted using Panel Vector Error Correction Model (Panel VECM). Results from panel unit root tests confirm that all variables are integrated of order one I (1), indicating stationarity. The Pedroni panel co-integration test further supports the presence of co-integration among the variables. Notably, the Panel VECM reveals evidence of a unidirectional causal relationship from Real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP) to Real Foreign Direct Investment (RFDI) across all six sectors of Bangladesh. The findings underscore the significance of formulating pragmatic policies and implementing them effectively to attract FDI across sectors, thereby contributing to the overall economic growth of Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the significant contribution of the ship recycling sector to the global economy and industrial development (e.g., Bangladesh's USD 800 x 106 turnover), concerns about safety and environmental impact necessitate a critical evaluation of current practices. While the Hong Kong Convention (2009) established a framework for safe and environmentally sound recycling, Bangladesh, a leader in this sector, faces challenges in aligning existing yards with these standards. This study aims to identify and address the challenges hindering Bangladeshi ship recycling yards from achieving compliance with the convention. Employing a comprehensive literature review technique, meticulously analysing relevant academic journals, industry reports and governmental regulations to identify existing knowledge gaps and best practices in achieving compliance with the Hong Kong Convention. The findings of the study encompass tailored recommendations, including the implementation of continuous monitoring for effective job scope management and transparent financial backing for yard enhancements. These insights can be served as a roadmap for advancing Bangladesh's ship recycling industry, fostering environmentally sustainable practices, ensuring worker safety and fostering sustained economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Bangladesh has been going through outbreaks of dengue fever cases every year since 2000. Yet this year's (2023) episode of dengue fever has crossed every line concerning fatality. Symptoms of the fever range from high fever, headaches, and muscle aches to deadly dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). The present review aims to assess the current pathogenicity and associated risk factors of recent dengue outbreaks in Bangladesh. Methods: To perform this review work, we extracted relevant information from published articles available in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. We used dengue virus, dengue fever, and dengue outbreaks as keywords while searching for information. Results: This Aedes mosquito‐transmitted viral fever is more common in Bangladesh because of the tropical nature and immense burden of populations, resulting in convenient conditions for the reproduction of the vector. The rapid genetic transformation of this RNA virus and the resistance of its vector against insecticides have intensified the situation. The number of hospitalized patients has increased, and the case fatality rate has risen to 0.47%. Inadequate mosquito control measures, plenty of vector breeding sites, and a lack of public awareness have worsened the situation. Routine spraying of effective insecticides in high‐risk zones, regular inspection of potential mosquito breeding sites, and public awareness campaigns are the keys to limiting the spread of this virus. Also, the availability of detection kits, improved hospital settings, and trained health professionals are mandatory to keep disease fatalities under control. Conclusion: Dengue fever is a preventable disease. The successful development of a competent vaccine is now a prime need for preventing any future upsurge of the disease. Also, we recommend public awareness, vector control activities, and global collaboration to prevent spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticide self-poisoning is one of the three most important global means of suicide, killing an estimated 110–168,000 people each year, mostly in poor rural Asian communities. Organophosphorus (OP) and carbamate anticholinesterase insecticides are responsible for about two-thirds of these deaths. Calcium channel blocking medicines (CCB) may reduce the effect of pesticides and prevent deaths. Two preclinical rodents' studies and eight clinical studies utilising nimodipine and magnesium sulphate (MgSO4), respectively, showed mixed results. We have established a multi-centre randomised controlled trial (RCT) of patients with OP or carbamate self-poisoning admitted to at least six major hospitals in Bangladesh. The study aims to recruit maximum 3,243 patients over four years. One-third of the patients selected at random will receive standard treatment, while one-third will be treated with additional nimodipine and one-third with additional MgSO4. The additional treatments will be given for 48 h. We will check mortality (currently an estimated 11% die with standard treatment) and need for intensive care for mechanical ventilation across the three groups. This could lead to development of the first novel treatment for anticholinesterase poisoning in 50 years and its introduction into routine hospital practice worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In Bangladesh, buffalo dairy farming is gaining traction for its cost-effectiveness and the nutritional benefits of buffalo milk. This study aims to examine how environmental factors like age, number of past calvings, season of calving, intervals between calvings, and dry periods influence milk yield and lactation patterns. Through monitoring 384 buffaloes from seven populations across different ecological zones, significant impacts of various factors on milk production and reproduction were observed. Findings indicate that such environmental considerations are crucial for enhancing buffalo dairy farming, suggesting that a focus on these aspects could substantially benefit genetic improvement programs. Household buffalo dairy farming is gaining popularity nowadays in Bangladesh because of the outstanding food value of buffalo milk as well as the lower production cost of buffalo compared to cattle. An initiative has recently been taken for the genetic improvement of indigenous dairy buffaloes. The present study was carried out to determine the influence of some environmental factors like age, parity, season of calving, calving interval, dry period on the lactation yield, and lactation curve of indigenous dairy buffaloes of Bangladesh. A total of 384 indigenous dairy buffaloes from the 3rd and 4th parity of seven herds under two different agroecological zones covering four seasons were selected and ear tagged for individual buffalo milk recording. A milk yield of 300 days (MY300d) was calculated following the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) and the data were evaluated using the generalized linear model (GLM). In production traits, the mean of calculated lactation period (CLP), calculated lactation yield (CLY), and milk yield of 300 days (MY300d) of the overall population were 267.28 days, 749.36 kg, and 766.92 kg, respectively, whereas calving interval (CI) and dry period (DP) as reproductive traits were 453.06 days and 185.78 days, respectively. The season of calving, age of buffalo cows, population or herd, agroecological zone, calving interval, and dry period had significant effects on production traits (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). The season of calving, level of milk production of 300 days, population, and agroecological zone significantly affected the reproduction traits (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001). Parity was found to be non-significant for both types of traits. The average peak yield of test day (TD) milk production was highest at TD4 (4.47 kg, 98th day of lactation). The average MY300d of milk production was the highest in the Lalpur buffalo population (1076.13 kg) and the lowest in the buffalo population of Bhola (592.44 kg). The correlations between milk production traits (CLP, CLY, and MY-300d) and reproduction traits (CI and DP) were highly significant (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001). Positive and high correlation was found within milk traits and reproduction traits, but correlation was negative between milk traits and reproduction traits. Therefore, these non-genetic factors should be considered in the future for any genetic improvement program for indigenous dairy buffaloes in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saltwater intrusion in the coastal areas of Bangladesh is a prevalent phenomenon. However, it is not conducive to activities such as irrigation, navigation, fish spawning and shelter, and industrial usage. The present study analyzed 45 water samples collected from 15 locations in coastal areas during three seasons: monsoon, pre-monsoon, and post-monsoon. The aim was to comprehend the seasonal variation in physicochemical parameters, including water temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), salinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, and concentrations of Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Fe2+, HCO3-, PO43-, SO42-, and Cl-. Additionally, parameters essential for agriculture, such as soluble sodium percentage (SSP), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), magnesium absorption ratio (MAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), Kelly's ratio (KR), and permeability index (PI), were examined. Their respective values were found to be 63%, 16.83 mg/L, 34.92 mg/L, 145.44 mg/L, 1.28 mg/L, and 89.29%. The integrated water quality index was determined using entropy theory and principal component analysis (PCA). The resulting entropy water quality index (EWQI) and SAR of 49.56% and 63%, respectively, indicated that the samples are suitable for drinking but unsuitable for irrigation. These findings can assist policymakers in implementing the Bangladesh Deltaplan-2100, focusing on sustainable land management, fish cultivation, agricultural production, environmental preservation, water resource management, and environmental protection in the deltaic areas of Bangladesh. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of seasonal variations in the hydrochemistry and water quality of coastal rivers, aiding in the comprehension of salinity intrusion origins, mechanisms, and causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses future climate change impacts on the hydrologic response of the Upper Meghna River Basin (UMRB), a major river system in Bangladesh. Separate SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) hydrologic models were developed for the three major sub-basins of the UMRB, i.e., Barak, Meghalaya, and Tripura, considering their unique geographical, hydrological, and land-use characteristics. To evaluate the efficiency of multi-site modeling in providing better model performance, the SWAT models were calibrated at both single and multiple locations. Those models were then simulated to estimate future flows using climate projection data from thirteen CMIP6 General Circulation Models (GCMs) under moderate and extreme emission scenarios, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5. The results revealed that the annual maximum flow will keep increasing gradually with time. The outlets of the Meghalaya sub-basin will experience a more significant rise in future flow in the upcoming decades compared to the Barak and Tripura sub-basins. Results showed that dry season flows with increases of up to 31–50% would be less affected compared to the wet periods, which could experience increases of up to 47–66%) across the sub-basins by the end of the 21st century under extreme emission projections. Besides an increasing trend in the mean flow, future flows at several outlets also exhibited an escalation in the intensity and frequency of extreme flood events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic activities have significantly changed global land use land cover (LULC), especially in areas with extreme population expansion and climate change. Remote sensing and the geographic information system are popular methods for keeping track of LULC changes. This research analyzed historical changes and predicted future patterns of LULC in Chittagong Metropolitan City, Bangladesh. LULC maps were created using the semi-automated classification plug-in in QGIS, which was used to classify the satellite images from 1990 to 2020. Eight distinct LULC groups, including (i) agricultural land, (ii) fallow land, (iii) trees outside of forest, (iv) hill vegetation, (v) mangrove, (vi) built-up, (vii) pond/lake, and (viii) river, were used to classify the images. The generated LULC maps showed the changes in the area from 1990 to 2020 in several classifications, showing increases in built-up, pond/lake, and river waterbodies of 278.5, 407.69, and 10.07%, respectively. However, a significant decline was observed in agricultural (61.64%), hill vegetation (43.26%), mangrove forest (30.7%), fallow (22.02%), and Tree Outside of Forest (TOF) land (8.81%). The LULC changes between 2020 and 2035 were predicted using the cellular automata-artificial neural network (CA-ANN) model. The prediction maps from 2020–2035 illustrated increasing trends of built-up land (+ 15.65%) and decreasing trends of all other LULC types, predominantly, agricultural (−3.53%), fallow (−3.13%), trees outside of forest (−6.53%), and pond/lake (−1.44%). The findings of this research may be helpful to design future strategies for sustainable landscape management and help decision-makers in government make better choices for the environment and the ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Bangladesh has 22 million adult users of smokeless tobacco (ST). The prevalence among women is higher (24.8%). Health-related quality of life outcome (HRQoL) for ST use is little known. We investigated the association between HRQoL and daily ST use among adult women in Bangladesh. METHODS Using multi-stage design, a cross-sectional survey was conducted. Adult women (randomly selected) were surveyed from 4 purposively selected divisions (Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Rangpur). Female ST users and non-users were compared using HRQoL scores. Self-perceived Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) values and HRQoL scores were modelled to examine their association with ST use. RESULTS A total of 2610 women (1149 users and 1461 non-users) were surveyed. The proportion reported any type of problem in all health dimensions was significantly higher among female ST users than non-users (mobility: 43.3% vs 19.5%, self-care: 29.6% vs 11.9%, usual activities: 48.7% vs 21.8%, pain or discomfort: 69.8% vs 40.6%, and anxiety or depression: 61.3% vs 37.5%). The average HRQoL scores were 0.79 (95% CI: 0.78-0.81) and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.89-0.90) for users and non-users, respectively. Moreover, EQ-VAS average values were significantly higher for non-users [80.7 (95% CI: 79.9-81.6) vs 70.27 (95% CI: 69.2-71.2)]. Controlling the sociodemographics, ST use significantly reduced the HRQoL score by an average of 0.15 points. The EQ-VAS values on average decreased by 0.04 points for ST use. CONCLUSIONS ST use is significantly associated with the HRQoL of females in Bangladesh. Considering the higher prevalence of ST, especially among women, HRQoL hazards need to be communicated for awareness building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bangladesh and northeast India are the most densely populated regions in the world where severe floods as a result of extreme rainfall events kill hundreds of people and cause socio‐economic losses regularly. Owing to local high topography, the moisture‐carrying monsoon winds converge near southeast Bangladesh (SEB) and northeast Bangladesh and India (NEBI), which produces significant extreme rainfall events from May to October. Using observed data, we find an increasing trend of 1‐day extreme event (>$$ > $$150 mm·$$ \cdotp $$day −1$$ {}^{-1} $$) frequency during 1950–2021. The extreme rainfall events quadrupled over western Meghalaya (affecting NEBI) and coastal SEB during this period. Composite analysis indicates that warm Bay of Bengal sea‐surface temperature intensifies the lower tropospheric moisture transport and flux through the low‐level jet (LLJ) to inland, where mountain‐forced moisture converges and precipitates as rainfall during extreme events. To understand the role of climate change, we use high‐resolution downscaled models from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6). We find that the monsoon extreme event increase is ongoing and the region of quadrupled events further extends over the NEBI and SEB in the future (2050–2079) compared with historical simulations (1950–1979). A quadrupling of the intense daily moisture transport episodes due to increased LLJ instability, a northward shift of LLJ, and increased moisture contribute to the increased future extreme events. This dynamic process causes moisture to be transported to the NEBI from the southern Bay of Bengal, and the local thermodynamic response to climate change contributes to the increased extreme rainfall events. The CMIP6 projection indicates that more devastating flood‐causing extreme rainfall events will become more frequent in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangroves provide essential ecosystem services including coastal protection by acting as coastal greenbelts; however, human-driven anthropogenic activities altered their existence and ecosystem functions worldwide. In this study, the successive degradation of the second largest mangrove forest, Chakaria Sundarbans situated at the northern Bay of Bengal part of Bangladesh was assessed using remote sensing approaches. A total of five multi-temporal Landsat satellite imageries were collected and used to observe the land use land cover (LULC) changes over the time periods for the years 1972, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. Further, the supervised classification technique with the help of support vector machine (SVM) algorithm in ArcGIS 10.8 was used to process images. Our results revealed a drastic change of Chakaria Sundarbans mangrove forest, that the images of 1972 were comprised of mudflat, waterbody, and mangroves, while the images of 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 were classified as waterbody, mangrove, saltpan, and shrimp farm. Most importantly, mangrove forest was the largest covering area a total of 64.2% in 1972, but gradually decreased to 12.7%, 6.4%, 1.9%, and 4.6% for the years 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively. Interestingly, the rate of mangrove forest area degradation was similar to the net increase of saltpan and shrimp farms. The kappa coefficients of classified images were 0.83, 0.87, 0.80, 0.87, and 0.91 with the overall accuracy of 88.9%, 90%, 85%, 90%, and 93.3% for the years 1972, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively. By analyzing normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), soil adjusted vegetation index (SAVI), and transformed difference vegetation index (TDVI), our results validated that green vegetated area was decreased alarmingly with time in this study area. This destruction was mainly related to active human-driven anthropogenic activities, particularly creating embankments for fish farms or salt productions, and cutting for collection of wood as well. Together all, our results provide clear evidence of active anthropogenic stress on coastal ecosystem health by altering mangrove forest to saltpan and shrimp farm saying goodbye to the second largest mangrove forest in one of the coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study is to find out the actual numbers or ratio of clickbait headlines used by specific Bangladeshi media, the reason behind the rise of clickbait headlines in the era of social media, and to disclose the perception of media personnel regarding clickbait headlines and their effect on audiences' credibility. The qualitative method of research has been followed for the research. Content of four top-ranked media of Bangladesh have been analyzed and 12 media personnel from these media outlets have been interviewed. The study revealed a huge presence of clickbait components in each media's content. Factors like getting more clicks to generate money, competition, and audience demand have been identified behind the rise of clickbait headlines in recent times. Media personnel have acknowledged that clickbait headlines have some negative effects on various dimensions, of which, losing audience credibility is notable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic infection of Helicobacter pylori represents a key factor in the etiology of gastrointestinal diseases, with high endemicity in South Asia. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori among dyspeptic patients in north–central Bangladesh (Mymensingh) and analyze risk factors of infection and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants in the pathogen. Endoscopic gastrointestinal biopsy samples were collected from dyspeptic patients for a one-year period from March 2022 and were checked for the presence of H. pylori via the rapid urease test and PCR and further analyzed for the status of virulence factors vacA/cagA and genetic determinants related to AMR via PCR with direct sequencing or RFLP. Among a total of 221 samples collected, 80 (36%) were positive for H. pylori, with the vacA+/cagA+ genotype being detected in almost half of them. H. pylori was most prevalent in the age group of 41–50-year-olds, with it being more common in males and rural residents with a lower economic status and using nonfiltered water, though the rates of these factors were not significantly different from those of the H. pylori-negative group. Relatively higher frequency was noted for the A2147G mutation in 23S rRNA, related to clarithromycin resistance (18%, 7/39). Amino acid substitutions in PBP-1A (T556S) and GyrA (N87K and D91N) and a 200 bp deletion in rdxA were detected in samples from some patients with recurrence after treatment with amoxicillin, levofloxacin, and metronidazole, respectively. The present study describes the epidemiological features of H. pylori infection in the area outside the capital in Bangladesh, revealing the spread of AMR-associated mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a globally recognized public health concern, yet research focusing on women in urban areas of Bangladesh remains unexplored. This study aimed to address this research gap by investigating the prevalence and associated factors of PPD within the first 2 years after childbirth. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted, enrolling 259 women (26.66 ± 4.57 years) residing in urban areas who were attending healthcare delivery centers. Sociodemographic factors, child‐related issues, pregnancy‐related complications, and PPD using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were used for data collection. Data analysis involved the application of χ2 tests and logistic regression analysis using SPSS software. Results: This study found a 60.6% prevalence of PPD using a cutoff of 10 (out of 30) on the EPDS scale. Logistic regression analysis identified several significant factors associated with PPD, including high monthly family income (odds ratio [OR] = 47.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.34–270.54, p < 0.001), income dissatisfaction (OR = 14.28, 95% CI: 4.75–42.87, p < 0.001), up to two gravidities (OR = 2.94, 95% CI = 1.25–6.90, p = 0.013), pregnancy‐related complications (OR = 2.70, 95% CI = 1.05–6.96, p = 0.039), increased antenatal care visits, and higher childbirth expenses. Conclusion: This study underscores the high prevalence of PPD among urban mothers in Bangladesh. The identified risk factors emphasize the need for targeted mental health initiatives, specifically tailored to support the vulnerable group. Implementing such initiatives can effectively address the challenges posed by PPD and enhance the well‐being of postpartum women in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreaks pose a significant threat to the health of livestock, wildlife, and humans. Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are enzootic in poultry in many countries, including Bangladesh, necessitating improved farm biosecurity measures. However, the comprehension of biosecurity and hygiene practices, as well as the infection of AIV in turkey farms, are poorly understood in Bangladesh. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the prevalence of AIV subtypes and their association with biosecurity and hygiene practices in turkey farms. We collected oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs from individual turkeys from 197 farms across 9 districts in Bangladesh from March to August 2019. We tested the swab samples for the AIV matrix gene (M gene) followed by H5, H7, and H9 subtypes using real-time reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). We found 24.68% (95% CI:21.54-28.04) of turkey samples were AIV positive, followed by 5.95% (95% CI: 4.33-7.97) for H5, 6.81% (95% CI: 5.06-8.93) for H9 subtype and no A/H7 was found. Using a generalized linear mixed model, we determined 10 significant risk factors associated with AIV circulation in turkey farms. We found that the absence of sick turkeys, the presence of footbaths, the absence of nearby poultry farms, concrete flooring, and the avoidance of mixing newly purchased turkeys with existing stock can substantially reduce the risk of AIV circulation in turkey farms (odds ratio ranging from 0.02 to 0.08). Furthermore, the absence of nearby live bird markets, limiting wild bird access, no visitor access, improved floor cleaning frequency, and equipment disinfection practices also had a substantial impact on lowering the AIV risk in the farms (odds ratio ranging from 0.10 to 0.13). The results of our study underscore the importance of implementing feasible and cost-effective biosecurity measures aimed at reducing AIV transmission in turkey farms. Particularly in resource-constrained environments such as Bangladesh, such findings might assist governmental entities in enhancing biosecurity protocols within their poultry sector, hence mitigating and potentially averting the transmission of AIV and spillover to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological advancements have long played crucial roles in rice productivity and food security in Bangladesh. Seasonal variation over time and regional differences in rice production, however, pose a threat to agricultural sustainability but remain unexplored. We performed a spatial-temporal mapping of rice cultivation area, production, and yield from 2006–2007 to 2019–2020 using secondary data for disaggregating 64 districts in Bangladesh. Growth and multivariate approaches were employed to analyze time-series data. Results showed that Mymensingh had the highest rice cultivated area and production, while Bandarban had the lowest. The 14 years highest average rice yield was found in Gopalganj and Dhaka (3.63 tons/ha), while Patuakhali (1.73 tons/ha) had the lowest. For the Aus, Aman, and Boro, the rice cultivation area in 19 districts, 11 districts, and 13 districts declined significantly. The overall rice production increased significantly in most districts. For the Aus, Aman, and Boro seasons, the rice yield in 54, 50, and 37 districts demonstrated a significant upward trend, respectively. The adoption rate of modern varieties has risen dramatically. However, there are notable variances between regions and seasons. A significant increasing trend in Aus (0.007% to 0.521%), Aman (0.004% to 0.039%), and Boro (0.013% to 0.584%) were observed in 28, 34, and 36 districts, respectively, with an increase of 1% adaptation of HYV. Predictions revealed that rice cultivation area and production of Aus, Aman, and Boro seasons will be increased in most of the regions of Bangladesh by 2030. Based on spatiotemporal cluster analysis, the five identified cluster groupings illustrated that clusters lack spatial cohesion and vary greatly seasonally. This suggests increasing rice production by expanding cultivable land, adopting high-yielding varieties, and integrating faster technological advancement in research and extension. The findings will assist scientists in developing region-specific production technologies and policymakers in designing decentral region-specific policies to ensure the future sustainability of rice production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Momordica charantia and Ipomoea aquatica leaves are two green leafy vegetables in Bangladesh that are commonly consumed considering their characteristic taste and abundant availability in nature. The aim of this study was to determine the available bioactive phenolic constituents as well as total flavonoid content (TFC), tannin content (TTC), phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (TAA) and DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50) of the ethanolic extracts of M. charantia (MCE) and I. aquatica (IAE). HPLC–DAD and UV–visible spectrophotometer were used to determine the phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties, respectively. In this study, TFC, TTC, TPC, TAA and IC50 values were in the order of IAE (40.73 ± 1.0 mg QE/g) > MCE (34.60 ± 0.46 mg QE/g); MCE (40.93 ± 0.70 mg TAE/g) > IAE (31.13 ± 0.42 mg TAE/g); MCE (27.76 ± 0.58 mg GAE/g) > IAE (21.29 ± 0.43 mg GAE/g); MCE (52.03 ± 0.21 mg AAE/g) > IAE (40.77 ± 0.15 mg AAE/g) and MCE (333.22 ± 67.37 µg/mL) > IAE (560.74 ± 10.25 µg/mL). M. charantia ethanolic extracts contained five hydroxycinnamic acid: ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, rosmarinic acid and cinnamic acid; five flavonoids: epicatechin, quercetin, catechin, rutin hydrate and myricetin; two hydroxybenzoic acid: gallic acid and vanillic acid; and one phenolic aldehyde: vanillin. Whereas, I. aquatica extracts possessed four hydroxycinnamic acid: chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, trans-ferulic acid and trans-cinnamic acid; four flavonoids: epicatechin, quercetin, catechin, and rutin hydrate; two hydroxybenzoic acid: gallic acid and vanillic acid; and one phenolic aldehyde:vanillin. These underutilised sources of leafy vegetables may be used to develop functional foods by emphasising their remarkable bioactive components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bakanae is one of the important diseases of rice in Bangladesh that causes substantial yield loss every year. We collected thirty isolates of Fusarium spp. from bakanae-infected rice plants from different agroecological zones of Bangladesh and investigated the variations in cultural and morphological characteristics and pathogenicity. Diversity was found in cultural characteristics, viz., colony features, phialide, chlamydospore formation, shape, and size of macro- and microconidia. Three variants of Fusarium species such as F. moniliforme, F. fujikuroi, and F. proliferatum were identified on PDA media based on their cultural and morphological characteristics. Isolate FM10 (F. moniliforme) exhibited the highest disease aggressiveness in developing elongated plants (26.50 cm), the highest number of chlorotic leaves (5.75), and a lower germination percentage. We evaluated different bioagents against the virulent isolate of F. moniliforme to develop a rice bakanae disease management approach. Four bioagents, viz., Trichoderma spp., Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Achromobacter spp., were evaluated for growth suppression of F. moniliforme. Among the bioagents, Achromobacter spp. and B. subtilis (BS21) showed 73.54% and 71.61% growth suppression, respectively. The investigation revealed that the application of Achromobacter spp. and B. subtilis (BS21) would be a potential candidate for effective and eco-friendly management of the bakanae disease of rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snakes are a natural form of pest control that play an essential role in the ecosystem's balance. Snakes can provide an ecological service to people by lowering insect populations that can spread disease and harm agricultural produce. Because snakes assist us in so many ways, they have long been the subject of torture and unfavorable views across cultures, and humans threaten many. However, little is known about how snake charmers in developing nations like Bangladesh are changing their attitudes and behavior toward snakes. This study aims to examine the snake charmer community in northern Bangladesh's changing attitudes and behavior toward snakes. Snake predictors must be better understood to improve conservation efforts. This study examined whether knowledge of mortality from snakebites, experience with snakebites, myth beliefs about snakes, and education level predict attitudes toward snakes in the northern area of Bangladesh. The results of the ordinal regression model revealed that beliefs in hatred, fear, and the myth that snakes are evil are related to less tolerance of snakes. We also examined attitudes that would predict the intended killing of snakes. Snake tolerance was linked to more frequent snake interactions and a lower level of education. Even after controlling for the influence of other psychological and experience-based variables, better snake tolerance and lower education were linked to a decreased risk of purposefully killing snakes. More education and sustainable wildlife management should be used to change people's attitudes and stop them from killing snakes on purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pampus argenteus and Pampus chinensis form the high-value demersal Pomfret fishery of Bangladesh. But, due to a monotonic decline in catches over the last five years, it is essential to explore the current stock status concerning the removal rate to ensure the sustainability of this fishery. Therefore, given the reliability and minimal data requirements, this study employed an extended Bayesian State-Space Surplus Production Model, JABBA (Just Another Bayesian Biomass Assessment), to assess the stock rigorously. The results revealed that the stock biomass of the Pomfret fishery in the final year of the time series is significantly lower than BMSY, the biomass required to produce MSY. Consequently, this study recommends a yearly catch limit (TAC) of 10,000 metric tons to prevent further depletion of the stock biomass. Furthermore, to avoid growth overfishing by allowing all immature fishes to reproduce at least once before being caught, this study also calculated the optimum length (Lopt) for catch for both species at which biologically maximum yield and revenue can be obtained. The estimated Lopt is 25 cm for P. argenteus and 30 cm for P. chinensis, and not to capture fishes with lengths lower than these limits, this study further calculated the minimum mesh size limits for gill and set bag nets is 7.5 cm. Though the mesh size regulation was estimated using length-based reference points derived from an empirical equation, this regulation can be used as an associate reference point when TAC is applied to assure the sustainability of this fishery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]