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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]

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]

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]

Bangladesh is a culturally conservative nation with limited freedom for women. A number of studies have evaluated intimate partner violence (IPV) and spousal physical violence in Bangladesh; however, the views of women have been rarely discussed in a quantitative manner. Three nationwide surveys in Bangladesh (2007, 2011, and 2014) were analyzed in this study to characterize the most vulnerable households, where women themselves accepted spousal physical violence as a general norm. 31.3%, 31.9% and 28.7% women in the surveys found justification for physical violence in household in 2007, 2011 and 2014 respectively. The binary logistic model showed wealth index, education of both women and their partner, religion, geographical division, decision making freedom and marital age as significant household contributors for women’s perspective in all the three years. Women in rich households and the highly educated were found to be 40% and 50% less likely to accept domestic physical violence compared to the poorest and illiterate women. Similarly, women who got married before 18 years were 20% more likely accept physical violence in the family as a norm. Apart from these particular groups (richest, highly educated and married after 18 years), other groups had around 30% acceptance rate of household violence. For any successful attempt to reduce spousal physical violence in the traditional patriarchal society of Bangladesh, interventions must target the most vulnerable households and the geographical areas where women experience spousal violence. Although this paper focuses on women’s attitudes, it is important that any intervention scheme should be devised to target both men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three-sector model - encompassing the private, public and non-governmental or 'third' sectors - is important to much of the research that is undertaken on development policy. While it may be analytically convenient to separate the three sectors, the realities are more complex. Non-governmental actors and government/public sector agencies are linked in potentially important (though often far from visible) ways via personal relationships, resource flows and informal transactions. This paper seeks to understand these links by studying the 'life-work histories' of individuals who have operated in both the government and third sector. Two main types of such boundary crossing are identified: 'consecutive', in which a person moves from one sector to the other in order to take up a new position, and 'extensive', in which a person is simultaneously active in both sectors. Drawing on a set of recently collected life-work history data, the paper explores the diversity of this phenomenon in three countries. It examines the reasons for cross-over, analyses the experiences of some of those involved, and explores the implications for better understanding the boundaries, both conceptual and tangible, that both separate and link government and third sector in these different institutional contexts. [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]

Background: Bangladesh had one of the highest burdens of lymphatic filariasis (LF) at the start of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) with an estimated 70 million people at risk of infection across 34 districts. In total 19 districts required mass drug administration (MDA) to interrupt transmission, and 15 districts were considered low endemic. Since 2001, the National LF Programme has implemented MDA, reduced prevalence, and been able to scale up the WHO standard Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) across all endemic districts as part of its endgame surveillance strategy. This paper presents TAS results, highlighting the momentous geographical reduction in risk of LF and its contribution to the global elimination target of 2020. Methodology/Principal findings: The TAS assessed primary school children for the presence of LF antigenaemia in each district (known as an evaluation unit—EU), using a defined critical cut-off threshold (or ‘pass’) that indicates interruption of transmission. Since 2011, a total of 59 TAS have been conducted in 26 EUs across the 19 endemic MDA districts (99,148 students tested from 1,801 schools), and 22 TAS in the 15 low endemic non-MDA districts (36,932 students tested from 663 schools). All endemic MDA districts passed TAS, except in Rangpur which required two further rounds of MDA. In total 112 students (male n = 59; female n = 53), predominately from the northern region of the country were found to be antigenaemia positive, indicating a recent or current infection. However, the distribution was geographically sparse, with only two small focal areas showing potential evidence of persistent transmission. Conclusions/Significance: This is the largest scale up of TAS surveillance activities reported in any of the 73 LF endemic countries in the world. Bangladesh is now considered to have very low or no risk of LF infection after 15 years of programmatic activities, and is on track to meet elimination targets. However, it will be essential that the LF Programme continues to develop and maintain a comprehensive surveillance strategy that is integrated into the health infrastructure and ongoing programmes to ensure cost-effectiveness and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pattern of the spatial variation in arsenic concentration in groundwater of Bangladesh is usually needed for the planning of safe drinking water. Often a model-based prediction is required for this purpose. In this paper, we fit a Bayesian hierarchical geostatistical model by utilizing data from the project, 'Groundwater studies of arsenic concentration in Bangladesh' conducted by the British Geological Survey and the Department of Public Health Engineering of Bangladesh. We also develop a predictive model for arsenic concentration at different levels of well-depth using the same approach. The resulting predictive model has been cross-validated by appropriate statistical tools. Finally, we obtained reliable spatially continuous predictive maps and predictive probability maps showing the areas with high probability of arsenic concentration for different levels of well-depth. Results indicate that our model fits the data well and captures a substantial amount of spatial variation. Moreover, well-depth is found to have a significant contribution in explaining the observed variation in arsenic concentration. The predictive maps that have been produced are observed to be different for various levels of well-depths and are expected to be helpful to the policy makers in preparing proper regional planning for safe drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. To achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, particularly reduction in child mortality (Millennium Development Goal 4), effective interventions to address severe and moderate acute malnutrition (SAM and MAM) among children under 5 years of age must be implemented and brought to scale alongside preventive measures. Bangladesh has an estimated 600,000 children with SAM, for a prevalence of 4%, while 1.8 million children suffer from MAM. Objective. To assess the feasibility and constraints of community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM), a relatively new approach, in managing SAM and MAM among children in Bangladesh. Methods. The methodology involved desk reviews of documents by searching through PubMed and other databases for published literature on CMAM in Bangladesh. We also did a hand search of policy and program documents, including the draft National Nutrition Policy 2013; the Health, Nutrition, Population Sector Development Program document of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh; the Sixth Five Year Plan; and the Operational Plans of the National Nutrition Services of Bangladesh. Results. The conventional approach in Bangladesh has been to treat children suffering from SAM and associated complications in hospital settings. There is no program to take care of children with MAM. There is a dearth of local evidence to operationalize and implement CMAM in the context of Bangladesh. This paper summarizes the scientific literature and rationale for the implementation of CMAM in Bangladesh. It also provides recommendations to improve health strategies related to CMAM, discusses diets being developed that may result in better implementation of CMAM, and offers recommendations for areas of additional necessary research. Conclusions. A recommended approach for Bangladesh on the management of acute malnutrition would be to integrate CMAM into the rollout of the National Nutrition Services so that screening, identification, referral, and treatment of acutely malnourished children could be effectively managed within the communitybased health service delivery system. Given that the vast majority of children are suffering from MAM and could be treated with locally developed food supplements, a significant emphasis of the CMAM approach in Bangladesh should be to screen and treat MAM. Over time, this would also result in fewer SAM cases. However, even with this approach, there would still be a small number of children who have SAM and who ideally should be treated with specialized therapeutic foods. While the Government of Bangladesh is awaiting full-scale production of a local ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), an interim strategy is needed to effectively treat these severely wasted children on an outpatient basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Civil society has the potential to have a positive impact on social exclusion and health equity through active monitoring and increased accountability. This paper examines the role of civil society in Bangladesh to understand why this potential has not been realized. Looking at two models of civil society action--participation in decentralized public-sector service provision and academic think-tank data analysis--this analysis examines the barriers to positive civil society input into public policy decision-making. The role of non-governmental organizations, political, cultural and economic factors, and the influence of foreign bilateral and multilateral donors are considered. The paper concludes that, with a few exceptions, civil society in Bangladesh replicates the structural inequalities of society at large. [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: This paper is aimed at critically assessing the extent to which Non-Communicable Disease NCD-related policies introduced in Bangladesh align with the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2013-2020 Action Plan for the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of NCDs.Methods: The authors reviewed all relevant policy documents introduced by the Government of Bangladesh since its independence in 1971. The literature review targeted scientific and grey literature documents involving internet-based search, and expert consultation and snowballing to identify relevant policy documents. Information was extracted from the documents using a specific matrix, mapping each document against the six objectives of the WHO 2013-2020 Action Plan for the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of NCDs.Results: A total of 51 documents were identified. Seven (14%) were research and/or surveys, nine were on established policies (17%), while seventeen (33%) were on action programmes. Five (10%) were related to guidelines and thirteen (25%) were strategic planning documents from government and non-government agencies/institutes. The study covered documents produced by the Government of Bangladesh as well as those by quasi-government and non-government organizations irrespective of the extent to which the intended policies were implemented.Conclusions: The policy analysis findings suggest that although the government has initiated many NCD-related policies or programs, they lacked proper planning, implementation and monitoring. Consequently, Bangladesh over the years had little success in effectively addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. It is imperative that future research critically assess the effectiveness of national NCD policies by monitoring their implementation and level of population coverage. [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]

Sustainability in business is a buzzword in the modern era which promptly became the target for small and medium firms to remain profitable in the long run. Small and medium fish firms can attain sustainability by successfully adopting blue technology by showing a new way of doing things. This study examined the influence of institutional activities in fisheries (IAF) on perception of blue technology adoption (BTA) and the sustainability of small and medium fish firms (SF). This study also examined how the components of 'Blue Technology' influence the sustainability of small- and medium-scale fisheries in Bangladesh. The data were collected from 101 small and medium fish farmers with self-administered questionnaire using direct field survey. The research found that BTA has strong and positive relationship with SF, while the IAF has weak but positive relationship with BTA and SF. It is also found that fish farmers intended to adopt blue technologies if they see profitability in it. Governmental policy and government's influence on the farmers were found less effective though farmers' expectation from government was high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite improvements in food access and affordability around the world, low‐quality diets persist. Public policy affecting food choice may have a role to play alongside efforts to improve access to healthy foods. This study uniquely explores the potential for dietary interventions to encourage healthy food choice among adults in a developing country. We evaluate two dietary interventions using a randomized control trial in Bangladesh: a behavioral change communication workshop that emphasized national dietary guidelines and a "nudge" in the form of a plate printed with nutrition recommendations. We study the performance of both interventions in two environments: a lab‐in‐the‐field experiment where food choices are discreetly observed at two lunch events and in the home using household survey data. The workshop improves diet quality in the lab and the home, although its impact is less precisely estimated in the latter setting. We find no effect of the plate in the lab during the same lunch event when the plate is received. The plate is effective at home, and the nudge effects of in‐home exposure persist in the lab even when the plate is not being used. Receipt of the plate at the first lunch event followed by one month of subsequent in‐home access to the plate improves food choice at the second event. Combining treatments does not increase their effectiveness. We conclude that nudges improve diet quality in our study context, but more evidence is needed to determine the effects of workshop messages in the home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Alive & Thrive programme scaled up infant and young child feeding interventions in Bangladesh from 2010 to 2014. In all, 8.5 million mothers benefited. Approaches – including improved counselling by frontline health workers during home visits; community mobilization; mass media campaigns reaching mothers, fathers and opinion leaders; and policy advocacy – led to rapid and significant improvements in key practices related to breastfeeding and complementary feeding. (Evaluation results are forthcoming.) Intervention design was based on extensive formative research and behaviour change theory and principles and was tailored to the local context. The programme focused on small, achievable actions for key audience segments identified through rigorous testing. Promotion strategies took into account underlying behavioural determinants and reached a high per cent of the priority groups through repeated contacts. Community volunteers received monetary incentives for mothers in their areas who practised recommended behaviours. Programme monitoring, midterm surveys and additional small studies to answer questions led to ongoing adjustments. Scale ‐ up was achieved through streamlining of tools and strategies, government branding, phased expansion through BRAC – a local non ‐ governmental implementing partner with an extensive community ‐ based platform – and nationwide mainstreaming through multiple non ‐ governmental organization and government programmes. Key messagesWell ‐ designed and well ‐ implemented large ‐ scale interventions that combine interpersonal counselling, community mobilization, advocacy, mass communication and strategic use of data have great potential to improve IYCF practices rapidly.Formative research and ongoing studies are essential to tailor strategies to the local context and to the perspectives of mothers, family members, influential community members and policymakers. Continued use of data to adjust programme elements is also central to the process.Scale ‐ up can be facilitated through strategic selection of partners with existing community ‐ based platforms and through mass media, where a high proportion of the target audience can be reached through communication channels such as broadcast media.Sustaining the impacts will involve commitments from government and capacity building. The next step for capacity building would involve understanding barriers and constraints and then coming up with appropriate strategies to address them. One of the limitations we experienced was rapid transition of staff in key positions of implementing agencies, in government leadership, donors and other stakeholders. There was a need for continued advocacy, orientation and teaching related to strategic programme design, behaviour change, effective implementation and use of data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bangladesh is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change (CC). A basic understanding of public perception on vulnerability, attitude and the risk in relation to CC and health will provide strategic directions for government policy, adaptation strategies and development of community-based guidelines. The objective of this study was to collect community-based data on peoples' knowledge and perception about CC and its impact on health.Methods: In 2012, a cross-sectional survey was undertaken among 6720 households of 224 enumeration areas of rural villages geographically distributed in seven vulnerable districts of Bangladesh, with total population of 19,228,598. Thirty households were selected randomly from each enumeration area using the household listing provided by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). Information was collected from all the 6720 research participants using a structured questionnaire. An observation checklist was used by the interviewers to collect household- and community-related information. In addition, we selected the head of each household as the eligible participant for an interview. Evidence of association between sociodemographic variables and knowledge of CC was explored by cross-tabulation and measured using chi-square tests. Logistic regression models were used to further explore the predictors of knowledge.Results: The study revealed that the residents of the rural communities selected for this study largely come from a low socioeconomic background: only 9.6% had postsecondary education or higher, the majority worked as day labourer or farmer (60%), and only 10% earned a monthly income above BDT 12000 (equivalent to US $150 approx.). The majority of the participants (54.2%) had some knowledge about CC but 45.8% did not (p < 0.001). The majority of knowledgeable participants (n = 3645) felt excessive temperature as the change of climate (83.2%). Among all the respondents (n = 6720), 94.5% perceived change in climate and extreme weather events. Most of them (91.9%) observed change in rainfall patterns in the last 10 years, and 97.8% people think their health care expenditure increased after the extreme weather events. Age, educational qualification, monthly income, and occupation were significantly associated with the knowledge about climate change (p < 0.001). People with higher educational level or who live near a school were more knowledgeable about CC and its impact on health.Conclusions: The knowledge level about CC in our study group was average but the perception and awareness of CC related events and its impact on health was high. The most influential factor leading to understanding of CC and its impact on health was education. School-based intervention could be explored to increase peoples' knowledge about CC and necessary health adaptation at community level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Despite the reference to salt for food processing in the original definition of universal salt iodization (USI), national USI programs often do not explicitly address food industry salt. This may affect program impact and sustainability, given the increasing consumption of processed foods in developing countries. Objective. To review experience of the use of iodized salt in the food industry globally, and analyze the market context in Bangladesh and Pakistan to test whether this experience may be applicable to inform improved national USI programming in developing countries. Methods. A review of relevant international experience was undertaken. In Bangladesh and Pakistan, local rural market surveys were carried out. In Bangladesh, structured face-to-face interviews with bakers and indepth interviews with processed food wholesalers and retailers were conducted. In Pakistan, face-to-face structured interviews were conducted with food retailers and food labels were checked. Results. Experience from industrialized countries reveals impact resulting from the use of iodized salt in the food industry. In Bangladesh and Pakistan, bread, biscuits, and snacks containing salt are increasingly available in rural areas. In Bangladesh, the majority of bakers surveyed claimed to use iodized salt. In Pakistan, 6 of 362 unique product labels listed iodized salt. Conclusions. Successful experience from developed countries needs to be adapted to the developing country context. The increasing availability of processed foods in rural Bangladesh and Pakistan provides an opportunity to increase iodine intake. However, the impact of this intervention remains to be quantified. To develop better national USI programs, further data are required on processed food consumption across population groups, iodine contents of food products, and the contribution of processed foods to iodine nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The system of reserved seats with direct elections to local government bodies has been in place for women since 1997. This article investigates how perceptions have changed about the role of women representatives in local government. By exploring the accounts of women's views, experiences and how they negotiate various structural and attitudinal obstacles, and the changes in the wider sociopolitical context, the article shows that women representatives have gained greater voice and social legitimacy in representing specific types of'women's issues.'These gains were partly a result of the supportive policy directives and mechanisms created by the state. Despite these gains, the centralised and andocentric nature of Bangladeshi government and politics may limit the transformatory potential of these changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic crises have a series of impacts on society and security, depending on their severity, and on people's capacities to cope with and adapt to stresses on livelihoods and community relations. This article highlights findings about how local-level security and social relations have been affected by the global food, fuel and financial shocks since 2008. Based on original research from a qualitative and participatory study in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya and Zambia in early 2009, it discusses local perspectives on how crime and social cohesion have been affected across ten case study communities involved in the study. It identifies a number of common directions of change categorised here as broadly 'crime'. It is suggested that crime and social cohesion are important potential indicators of the impact of economic crisis. The article concludes with a discussion of the poverty, political and governance implications of crisis-driven impacts on crime and social cohesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor boys have been left behind by public policy efforts to expand school access in Bangladesh -- the same policies which have succeeded in attracting girls to school. This article draws on original research to explore the failure to tackle the exclusion of poor boys from school, arguing that paid work has become more attractive in a context in which education is of poor quality and there are no social sanctions against child labour. Recently there has been a shift of policy attention towards poor boys, amidst concerns about security, militancy and Islamic education. Given steady economic growth, poor boys may not necessarily inherit deeper poverty, but in the absence of state or social sanctions against child labour, they are likely to inherit a position at the lower end of the social scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on the economy of Bangladesh. History of the country; Industrial policy; Incentives and facilities for foreign investors.

The Hill Forests in Bangladesh have been depleted and degraded in volume, area, and quantity, thus requiring urgent forest protection by identifying the causes of forest loss. This study seeks to identify the fundamental causes of the shrinking forest cover in the Hill Forests in Bangladesh. The results indicate four sets of causes: (i) indigenous forest dwellers, having their own types of problems; (ii) migrants, who, because of problems in their places of origin, have decidedto move to the forests; (iii) the timber industry, which, legal or not, are cutting too many trees; and (iv) the government through its Forest Department which is not able or willing to implement suitable policies to regulate the cutting trees and to prevent illegal cutting.Because it is a time consuming task to mitigate the first and secondsets of factors, we recommend to involve forest dwellers in forestrypractices as much as possible and taking necessary steps to alleviate the third and fourth sets and thereby reduce the rate of forest depletion. Accordingly, a number of strategies that should be adopted tohalt the loss of remaining forest cover are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]