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Purpose: This paper examines the link between the failure of public accountability and stakeholder disengagement brought about by a New Public Management (NPM) style "smart solution" introduced to reduce public urination in Dhaka city. It shows how New Public Governance (NPG), Islamic and dialogic approaches can improve decision-making and solutions. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on the concepts of public accountability, NPM, NPG and dialogic accountability, this study highlights how narrow conceptions of accountability and poor stakeholder engagement impacted the effectiveness of the "smart solution" based on data collected through observation and unstructured in-depth interviews. Findings: Evidence suggests that narrow conceptions of accountability driven by monologic NPM perspectives led to poor stakeholder engagement, which impacted the effectiveness of the "smart solution". The solution that consists of changing anti-urination signage from Bengali to Arabic script has not solved Dhaka's public urination problem. In many instances, the solution has disenchanted certain stakeholders who view it as an offence against Islam and a confusing de-privileging of the Bengali language which has significant national and cultural value in Bangladesh. Originality/value: The findings of the study contribute to policymaking discussions on how to effectively engage with stakeholders and extend the literature on accountability within the context of conflicting public versus private demands related to a public nuisance. The study outlines important issues related to stakeholder engagement and introduces a framework that conceptualises how to increase the effectiveness of public policy decisions using NPG, Islamic and dialogic accountability approaches, especially on matters that require significant public/external stakeholder support. It also provides a conceptual integration of these various approaches, including nuanced insights into accountability challenges within "non-Western" contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The post-budget placement in June in Bangladesh brings with itself an inundation of various scrutiny and assessment of the most crucial public policy document of the year. However, both ex-ante and ex-post oversight is an area where there has been a gaping hole for years. With analysis drawn from interviewing 52 stakeholders and review of relevant literature, the paper stocktakes the role of Bangladesh Parliament in the nation's budgetary process. The paper elaborates the theoretical basis for selecting global indexes used to evaluate the parliament's capacity of budget oversight. In fine, Jatiya Sangsad is a 'budget-approving' parliament dictated by the executive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal migration presents many challenges for governmental coordination due to the extensive and immediate action required to address this problem. However, it also poses opportunities regarding education, employment and living conditions, if the government creates pull factors to distribute migration away from primary to secondary cities. This process will require a rights-based approach, whereby the rights of internal migrants are mainstreamed in government planning to enable sustainable migration to Bangladesh's secondary cities. In this paper, the current international human rights and internal migration laws will be analysed, alongside the domestic laws and policies relevant to internal migration in Bangladesh. In doing so, this paper will explore how government policy and action can employ a rights-based approach to incorporate internal migration within the government's overarching development framework. A rights-based approach is necessary to effectively prepare for, and adapt to, the increase in internal migration in an equitable way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing nations, the establishment of sustainable healthcare information systems (HIS) is often hindered by insufficient government policies and outdated technology. Bangladesh is a notable example where many patients lack proper healthcare access due to fragmented and non-digitally recorded data. Research has shown that standardized hospital healthcare systems can streamline patient management, increasing the capacity to serve more patients simultaneously. These systems have the potential to improve healthcare in developing nations significantly. This article offers an overview of the key obstacles that impede HIS implementation in these countries. The study looked at relevant information systems literature using a systematic literature review (SLR). The systematic literature review (SLR) was governed by a review process, and relevant studies were gathered from three databases: IEEE Xplore, EBSCO Databases, and ScienceDirect. A total of 4014 papers were initially found. However, only 11 main studies were included for analysis after a careful selection procedure governed by inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study found 24 obstacles to adopting Healthcare Information Systems (HIS) in developing countries, divided into six groups. These obstacles include a lack of financial assistance, inadequate infrastructure, inadequate education and awareness, cultural and political obstacles, reluctance to change, and poor system quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many cities and urban areas are growing rapidly to accommodate increased population and economic activities. However, unplanned urban growth is putting significant pressure on existing water supply systems, green infrastructures, and natural systems, especially in developing countries. The water sensitive cities concepts allow to plan and systematically develop integrated urban water management to achieve balanced sustainable outcomes. In this paper, we have noted that through full implementation of existing long-term masterplans water sensitive cities concepts could be internalized in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. We emphasize implementation of existing masterplans and have further identified six broad groups of key strategies that could accelerate this internalization: development of a vision and political willingness; strengthened government policy support and coordinated outcomes; adaptive decision-making capacity; private sector engagement; community and NGO engagements and implementation of multi-functional water sensitive urban designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

With the aim to enhance production, alleviate poverty, meet animal protein demand, earn foreign currency and maintain ecological balance, the Bangladesh government has formulated the National Fisheries Policy 1998. Over the last two decades, this policy for safeguarding fisheries is still in practice but gets little attention by researchers and policy makers to assess its effectiveness. This study analyzes the fisheries policy frameworks and evaluates how policy changes affecting fisheries production with certain ecological balance. The paper describes elements in the historical process of the development of the national fisheries policy related to the issue of equal or restricted access to the fish resource. The findings suggest that changes in policy only could not offer solutions to prevent over exploitation and overcapitalization that presently exists in conventional open access fishery. In addition, key constraints underlying in between policies and in implementation of laws includes ignorance of conservation laws, overwhelmingly top-down decision-making, lack of appropriate policy goals, inadequate enforcement, outdated policy and bogus action strategy, lack of enforcement regulations against pollution, poor coordination and technical know-how of the personnel concerned. For achieving inclusive growth in the fisheries sector, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the government stated the Vision 2021, fisheries policy reform is recommended with special emphasis on marine fisheries sub section formulation, socio-economic development of relevant communities, updating of existing governance, and strengthening institutional capacity to appropriately manage this potential sector. Moreover, the existing regulations should be amended accordingly with clearly defined reliable enforcement authority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper has focused on the language issue of the current education system and its impact on the indigenous population in Bangladesh. Recently a new policy has been adopted in Bangladesh featuring pre-primary education for the indigenous kids in their mother language. The research would analyze the reaction of indigenous people and effects on education regarding this new policy adopted by the government, and suggest some practical steps relevant to the findings. A qualitative study was designed as an indepth interview where the data was acquired from the semi-structural form participated by twenty-five indigenous candidates. The finding of the research has showed a dilemma where they require their mother tongue to help them preserve their cultural and ethnic identity on one side and the anxiety of getting more isolated in the long run on the other. Taking this dilemma in consideration, this research attempts some practical suggestions that roam around the concept of considering indigenous languages as a third language to be included in the national curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The National Drug Policy in Bangladesh prohibits the sale and distribution of antibiotics without prescription from a registered physician. Compliance with this policy is poor; prescribing antibiotics by unqualified practitioners is common and over-the-counter dispensing widespread. In Bangladesh, unqualified practitioners such as drug shop operators are a major source of healthcare for the poor and disadvantaged. This paper reports on policy awareness among drug shop operators and their customers and identifies current dispensing practices, barriers and facilitators to policy adherence. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study in rural and urban Bangladesh from June 2019 to August 2020. This included co-design workshops (n = 4) and in-depth interviews (n = 24) with drug shop operators and customers/household members, key informant interviews (n = 12) with key personnel involved in aspects of the antibiotic supply chain including pharmaceutical company representatives, and model drug shop operators; and a group discussion with stakeholders representing key actors in informal market systems namely: representatives from the government, private sector, not-for-profit sector and membership organizations. Results: Barriers to policy compliance among drug shop operators included limited knowledge of government drug policies, or the government-led Bangladesh Pharmacy Model Initiative (BPMI), a national guideline piloted to regulate drug sales. Drug shop operators had no clear knowledge of different antibiotic generations, how and for what diseases antibiotics work contributing to inappropriate antibiotic dispensing. Nonetheless, drug shop operators wanted the right to prescribe antibiotics based on having completed related training. Drug shop customers cited poor healthcare facilities and inadequate numbers of attending physician as a barrier to obtaining prescriptions and they described difficulties differentiating between qualified and unqualified providers. Conclusion: Awareness of the National Drug Policy and the BPMI was limited among urban and rural drug shop operators. Poor antibiotic prescribing practice is additionally hampered by a shortage of qualified physicians; cultural and economic barriers to accessing qualified physicians, and poor implementation of regulations. Increasing qualified physician access and increasing training and certification of drug shop operators could improve the alignment of practices with national policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Transitions between different tobacco products are frequent among tobacco users in Bangladesh; however, the reasons leading to such transitions and why they quit are not well researched. The aim of the study is to examine perceptions and reasons reported by tobacco users in Bangladesh to transition to other products or quit. METHODS Data from four waves (2009-2015) of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Bangladesh Survey were used. Repeated data on perceptions and reasons for exclusive cigarette (n=520), bidi (n=130), and SLT users (n=308) to either start using other products or quit were analyzed with sampling weights. The percentages of responses across waves were used to calculate the pooled proportion data using a meta-analysis approach. RESULTS Common reasoning for respondents switching to other tobacco products were influence of friends/family (73.8-86.0%), and curiosity (44.4-71.3%). The perceived calming effect of smoking cigarettes and bidis (43.2-56.9%), and the impression that bidis were less harmful (52.3%) and taste better (71.2%) were major reasons for exclusive SLT users to switch products. Health concerns (16.5-62.7%) and disapproval from friends/family (29.8-56.4%) were generally the main reasons for quitting. For smoked tobacco users, doctor's advice (41.6%), package warning labels (32.3%), and price (32.4%) seemed to be the major driving factors to quit. CONCLUSIONS Results highlight that the reasons for switching between tobacco products and quitting include social factors (e.g. friends/family) and (mis) perceptions regarding the products. Tobacco control policy could emphasize cessation support, increased price and education campaigns as key policies to reduce overall tobacco use in Bangladesh. Data from four waves (2009-2015) of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Bangladesh Survey were used. Repeated data on perceptions and reasons for exclusive cigarette (n=520), bidi (n=130), and SLT users (n=308) to either start using other products or quit were analyzed with sampling weights. The percentages of responses across waves were used to calculate the pooled proportion data using a meta-analysis approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Women play an important role in maintaining household food security; unfortunately, their food security is frequently neglected. This type of phenomenon has become common in developing nations such as Bangladesh, particularly in its rural areas. The objective of this study is to investigate the variables that lead to the empowerment of rural women and its impact on their food security. In acknowledging women's significant contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG-2)- Zero Hunger, this study investigates howaccess to resources, social support, and policy perceptions impact women's empowerment and food security. Methods: A total of 480 rural women from the southern part of Bangladesh were questioned, and their responses were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Results: We found that access to resources, social support, and policy perceptions explain 74% of women's empowerment variance and women's empowerment explains 70% variance of women's food security. Access to resources and social support has significant positive impacts on women's empowerment. However, policy perceptions have a positive but not significant impact on women's empowerment. We also observed that women's empowerment significantly improved their food security. Practical implications: To empower women and improve their food security, the accessibility of resources and support from social networks must be improved. The study emphasizes the importance of strengthening the government's policies, which aim to improve the livelihood conditions of vulnerable people through regular monitoring to overcome underlying obstacles. Our study offers empirical data that policymakers can use to address complex food affordability and security challenges during global crises, enabling the achievement of SDG-2 in rural areas of Bangladesh and similar societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The maltreatment of child labourers is a major public health concern. There is a dearth of research in Bangladesh on the intentional maltreatment of child labourers. This study explored the risk factors for the maltreatment of child labourers in rural Bangladesh based on the knowledge and understanding of experts; (2) Methods: Seventeen interviews were conducted with experts who were sampled using a purposeful approach. A thematic analysis was performed to analyse data using NVivo; (3) Results: Child labourers were exposed to maltreatment due to their demographic, their young age, dropping out of school, health complications, and excessive dependency on employers. Socio-cultural adversities such as corporal punishment practices, social stratification, and family disorganization pose risks of experiencing maltreatment. Economic poverty is also a factor. Child labourers were found to be victimized if they worked in violence prone sectors. Significantly, the unregulated market structure and the lack of monitoring has also led to the exploitation of children in the workplace. Gaps in public policies were also identified as risk factor for the maltreatment of child labourers; (4) Conclusion: There is a need for adequate evidence-based research on the determinants of the maltreatment of child labourers to formulate adequate policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equitable futures depend upon better employment outcomes for young women. We use a skills ecosystems approach to explore how youth skills development programs can maximise their impact in highly gendered societies and labour markets. While improving employment outcomes and incomes for young women, BRAC's STAR program cannot withstand Bangladesh's deep-rooted and socially restrictive norms and practices. Short-term successes are diluted as family pressures and commitments take precedent over young women's economic lives. Adding a temporal dimension to the concept of skills ecosystems, these findings highlight that maintaining these impacts requires constant renegotiation and advocacy to challenge the structural obstacles within households and labour markets and within national policies and investments that constrain their longer-term economic empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Smokeless tobacco (ST) remains poorly regulated in Bangladesh. This study describes the prevalence and trends of ST use in Bangladesh, presents ST-related disease burden, identifies relevant policy gaps, and highlights key implications for future policy and practice for effective ST control in Bangladesh. METHODS We analyzed secondary data from the two rounds (2009 and 2017) of The Global Adult Tobacco Survey, estimated ST-related disease burden, and conducted a review to assess differences in combustible tobacco and ST policies. In addition, we gathered views in a workshop with key stakeholders in the country on gaps in existing tobacco control policies for ST control in Bangladesh and identified policy priorities using an online survey. RESULTS Smokeless tobacco use, constituting more than half of all tobacco use in Bangladesh, declined from 27.2% (25.9 million) in 2009 to 20.6% (22 million) in 2017. However, in 2017, at least 16947 lives and 403460 Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) were lost across Bangladesh due to ST use compared to 12511 deaths and 324020 DALYs lost in 2010. Policy priorities identified for ST control have included: introducing specific taxes and increasing the present ad valorem tax level, increasing the health development surcharge, designing and implementing a tax tracking and tracing system, standardizing ST packaging, integrating ST cessation within existing health systems, comprehensive media campaigns, and licensing of ST manufactures. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis shows that compared to combustible tobacco, there remain gaps in implementing and compliance with ST control policies in Bangladesh. Thus, contrary to the decline in ST use and the usual time lag between tobacco exposure and the development of cancers, the ST-related disease burden is still on the rise in Bangladesh. Strengthening ST control at this stage can accelerate this decline and reduce ST related morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to a proverb often referring to the misery that prevails in restricted if enlightened surroundings, "It is dark under the lamp." Urban areas have emerged as centers of excellence as far as economic development is concerned. People coming from diverse cultural, professional, and economic backgrounds live in cities. Gaps their economic conditions have led to various clusters of people much different from their rural counterparts. Comparing between urban and rural areas, studies often argued that urban education is exceptionally better. Adopting "descriptive analysis" of both secondary and primary data, this study notes that students living in urban slums suffer in terms of three parameters (access, attendance, and academic performance) of K-8 education. Government-run education neglects students living in the slums and this enabled NGOs to step in. Students living in tin-sheds receive education mainly through the government's initiatives, while those living in flats attend private, international, and elite-public schools. Students who live in tin-sheds cannot compete with those who live in flats, let alone the slums. The Covid-19 pandemic has further aggravated this crisis. Substantial policy intervention by the government may be the only viable way to ensure developing nations' K-8 urban education is safe from criticism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beggars have largely been leading miserable lives in the lower stratum of society since time immemorial. Government or private-led policies are rarely undertaken to improve the lives of this unfortunate societal segment. The local governments in divisional cities of Bangladesh have adopted a series of interventions aimed at improving the socioeconomic wellbeing of beggars and equipping them with alternative livelihood management options. We evaluated the effectiveness of this intervention (the rehabilitation of beggars) in the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) area, Bangladesh; we gathered a sample of 385 beggars by employing the non-equivalent group design and instrumental variable regression method. The results provide an interesting inference, showing that the rehabilitation program seemingly has no far-reaching significant impact on the socioeconomic wellbeing of the beggars. To be precise, the program provides evidence of no significant differences in earnings, expenditure, food security, or personal wellbeing between the beneficiary and the non-beneficiary group of beggars. In addition, the program fails to deter beggars from continuing to beg, as the result shows no significant association between taking part in the program and begging demotivation. Consequently, the beggars are continuing begging, which indicates a critical policy failure on the part of both government and implementation bodies. Therefore, the study implicitly recommends on-track monitoring and timely evaluation of such interventions so that immediate action can be taken beforehand to empower beggars and move them up the social ladder both socially and economically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dhaka, the capital metropolis of Bangladesh, is burdened with huge population and unplanned urbanization. It is facing huge challenge to provide city-wide water connection due to the declination of groundwater resources, pollution of surface water sources, and poor governance. The low-income communities (LICs) in the city suffer the most due to the absence of formal water supply. This study assesses the right to water of the urban poor in three select slums of the city. It dissects the issue from four broad perspectives: economic burden of water, sociopolitical constraints to attain the right to water, climate change led potential aggravation to the right, and prevailing policy environment to protect the right. It also assesses the implications of the non-fulfilment of right to water on the water security of the urban poor. The study collects primary data using a mixed-method approach, and secondary data from government organizations and dynamic downscaling of regional climate model. The findings indicate that dealing with high water price with low income creates extra financial burden for the poor families resulting in high gender inequality. This inequality varies with hydroclimatic extremity and probability of eviction of the slums. The right to water of the urban poor, especially the slum women, would be greatly impacted by the potential climate change. The existing water and climate change policies in Bangladesh fail to address the right to water issues of the urban poor due mainly to the absence of implementation protocol. The findings would be useful in formulating policies to improve water supply to LICs in Bangladesh and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Bangladesh, internal climate displacement will continue pushing millions to the urbanizing centres where migrants make homes in informal settlements. These settlements, too, are sites for climate hazards such as heat stress and flooding, affecting climate-displaced and economic migrants alike. The demands of growing migrant populations and long-term informal settlement dwellers converge around rights to secure land and housing, acknowledged in policies at both national and urban scales. Yet, settlements continue to face evictions, revealing a significant mismatch between policy aspirations and concrete urban planning strategies. Based on our ongoing research in the informal settlements of Dhaka, Bangladesh, we point to a structural condition we call discursive partition which continues to exclude climate-impacted dwellers from urban resilience policies despite their formal recognition in national climate policies. Based on evidence of how climate-impacted dwellers themselves lead urban adaptation, we point to three critical revisitations for just climate adaptation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Life expectancy (LE) is increasing all over the world, and relying on LE alone is no longer sufficient to identify whether a country is having a healthier population. Examining the increase in LE in relation to health ― health expectancy estimation ― is advised to ascertain the increase (or decrease) in LE without disability over time. This study examines the trends in health expectancy at age 60 in Bangladesh from 1996 to 2016. Methods: Mortality information from United Nations and World Health Organization and morbidity information from Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics were combined using the Sullivan method. Results: With an overall declining trend over the study period and a big drop in disability rates during 2012–2013, the disability rates were observed 1.6–1.7% in 2016. The declining trend in disability may have two-fold implications: (1) among the 98.3% older adults (≥60 years) with no severe/extreme disability, those were in jobs could have continued their work if there was no mandatory retirement at age 59, and (2) the 1.7% (translates into 0.2 million in 2020) older adults with severe/extreme disability require care assistance with their daily activities. The observed gain in disability-free life expectancy, the decrease in life expectancy with disability and its proportion allude to the compression of morbidity and healthier older adults over time. Conclusion: In 2020, Bangladesh had 13.2 million (i.e., 8% of the total population) older adults, which is increasing day by day. The policy makers and government are suggested to prioritize the issues of older adults, particularly disability, care needs, retirement age, and health in the light of the current study's findings. Utilizing health expectancy research is suggested to understand the combined effect of disability and mortality for considering policy changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the nexus between COVID-19 and the livelihoods of easy-bike (three-wheeler human hauliers) drivers using a case study of Rangpur City, Bangladesh. Although easy-bike has become a prevalent form of paratransit among city-dwellers in medium-sized cities in Bangladesh, many passengers are now avoiding such paratransit to maintain health and safety guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has negatively affected easy-bike drivers' income in many medium-sized cities. To conduct this study, we collected primary data from the field, with the health and safety guidelines recommended by the government of Bangladesh in consideration. The results demonstrate a decreasing number of trips due to government policy changes under the COVID-19 pandemic, influencing people's earnings associated with this transit system. We summarized the data to capture the attention of policymakers, who may need to introduce any foreseeable action to assist workers of different professions in need of economic assistance in cities outside of the capital city in Bangladesh. Moreover, we suggest the need to consider these urban transport workers as a vulnerable group for livelihood assistance within the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we emphasise the dynamical study of spreading COVID-19 in Bangladesh. Considering the uncertainty caused by the limited coronavirus (COVID-19) information, we have taken the modified Susceptible-Asymptomatic-Infectious-Hospitalised-Recovered (SAIHR) compartmental model in a Caputo fractional order system. We have also introduced public behavioural and government policy dynamics in our model. The dynamical nature of the solutions of the system is analysed and we have also calculated the sensitivity index of different parameters. It has been observed that public behaviour and government measures play an important role in controlling the pandemic situation. The government measures (social distance, vaccination, hospitalisation, awareness programme) are more helpful than only public responses to the eradication of the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and their participants, we show how certain innovations made by MFIs during the COVID-19 pandemic enable further consolidation of NGOs in Bangladeshi society. The study is based on interviews conducted in 2020 with key personnel from three major NGOs in Bangladesh: Grameen, Sajida Foundation, and Brac (which is also the largest NGO in the world), as well as 20 interviews conducted in 2018 (before the pandemic) with microcredit recipients who use financial services. We observed that MFIs scaled up by taking on the function of relief provision, financial services became more entrenched, and NGO governance was bolstered as MFIs served as intermediaries between the state and people, even though, as the 2018 interviews reveal, microfinance participants were reticent about technology uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article mainly explores the economic and health challenges faced by Bangladesh amid COVID‐19 and the policies taken by the government of Bangladesh to tackle the economic and health issues. Bangladesh is ranked as one of the worst‐hit countries in terms of total corona infections. Affecting the social, economic, and health sectors of the country, COVID‐19 pandemic has dampened the overall economic well‐being and thus GDP growth along with skyrocketing poverty, inequality, and unemployment nationwide. To tackle these crises, the government has initiated effective policy measures which, in turn, enhanced the recovery rate of COVID‐19 positive patients and strengthened the recovery of economic indicators. Therefore, this article suggests other hard‐hit COVID‐19 affected countries following the recovery model of Bangladesh to encounter the economic and health challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]