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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, technological and administrative systems for implementing online learning, and the infrastructure that supports its access and delivery, had to be adapted quickly. While disparity in accessibility existed between urban and rural students, extensive resources had been allocated and processes developed to connect learners with course activities and materials, to facilitate communication between instructors and students, and to manage the administration of online learning. Educators needed to make way for this transition with the available technological support and their existing IT skills. Although the pandemic is over, online education still remains a viable option for continuing education in an emergency situation. Exploring the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and delving deep into the nature and the types of these challenges and their possible reasons will pave the way of translating these insights into academic practices required for laying the foundation of blended learning (BL) in higher education. Recently the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh has published a proposal for adopting BL in the higher education institutions of Bangladesh. This case study consisting of both quantitative and qualitative research, explores the challenges faced by the teachers of the University of Asia Pacific (UAP) during the online shift of education because of the pandemic. Based on the findings, a blended learning framework has been developed which can be applied in tertiary level education in Bangladesh and elsewhere.

Although power manifests as a form of social behavior through language, how it contributes to business English lingua franca (BELF) discourses remains underresearched. This article problematizes how perceptions of power dynamics manifest through choices of BELF discourses as practiced in the Bangladeshi ready-made garments (RMG) industry. Data for this study were collected from interviews with three levels of business professionals. Findings show that perceived power is embedded in everyday business discourses to both empower and disempower speakers and influence differences in their language use. Specifically, perceived organizational position, business position, linguistic ability, and sociocultural identity impacted language differences.

This study explores EAP teachers' views of underlying problems in teaching listening skills and the strategies adopted by them to overcome problems at the tertiary level in EFL contexts. The study is based on the theoretical assumption of listening perception processes and its role in language development as hypothesised by Richards (2008). In this instrumental case study, one EAP teacher was purposively interviewed to identify their understanding of the investigated issue. The generated data were analysed following the basic qualitative analysis method. The findings demonstrate that in teaching listening skills both the top-down and bottom-up approaches should be adopted to integrate process-based listening skills teaching, which promotes target language acquisition in and out of the classroom. The findings may make the EAP practitioners reconsider incorporating the bottom-up approach to improve the existing strategies of teaching listening skills at the tertiary level.

The word humor can be defined as something which is perceived to be funny, comical, or amusing. However, in the case of humor perception plays a key role. This is mainly because what is regarded as humorous by one person may not be funny to another person. Hence, humor like beauty lies in the eyes (ears) of the beholder. The potential of humor as a pedagogical tool is not a new concept in education. Teachers around the world have a mixed attitude towards the use of humor in the classroom as a pedagogical tool. Thus, in this study we sought to investigate the perceptions of students towards the use of humor as a teaching tool at higher education institutions in Bangladesh. For this purpose, we have performed both quantitative and qualitative analysis. In the quantitative part of the study, we collected data from 300 students and performed a binary logistic regression. On the other hand, for the qualitative analysis we have undertaken interviews of 30 selected students at a higher academic institution in Bangladesh. Overall, the results of this study indicate that most of the students considered humor as a positive and beneficial teaching tool in the classroom.

Purpose: Facilitation of learning enhances innovation through overcoming innovation barriers and supporting learning outcomes. However, little is known about how public Extension and Advisory Services (EAS) facilitate learning to help adapt to particular climate stressors. This article investigates the role of public EAS in facilitating learning to enhance innovation in a flash flood-affected farming context. Design/methodology/approach: The research adopted flash flood-affected rice farming in Bangladesh as a case and collected data with actors involved in various extension approaches using interviews and focus group discussions. Findings: Public EAS should involve a range of relevant actors, including the private sector and scientists, and jointly evaluate with farmers and provide feedback on the effectiveness of various crop cultivation strategies for flash flood adaptation. Public EAS needs to deliver the necessary instrumental support and resources to achieve learning outcomes and enable farmers to make desirable changes to farm activities. Practical implications: Policy makers need to develop policies for the capacity development of public EAS staff and provide adequate resources so that public EAS can facilitate learning approaches to support discussions on local concerns and the use of local knowledge, experiences, and resources for flash flood adaptation. Theoretical implications: Facilitation of learning to support adoption of technological innovations is not sufficient in the context of flash flood adaptation. Facilitation should support discussions on effective utilisation of natural and common resources for the flash flooding context. Originality/value: The study investigated the ways public EAS can facilitate learning to overcome barriers to innovation and support learning outcomes in a flash flooding context.

Established and well-known employers in Bangladesh often complain that suitable candidates are not available for employment in their organizations, despite the millions of unemployed graduates in the country. This bears clear witness that graduates in Bangladesh are mostly unable to fulfill the needs and expectations of established and well-known employers. Employing a qualitative research approach, this article explores the desired employability skills and graduates' work readiness from the perspective of established and well-known employers in Bangladesh. The study identified the desired skills and traits as 'communication' 'teamwork and collaboration', 'problem solving', 'computer literacy and technical skill', 'honesty and integrity', 'hardworking and willingness to take on extra work', 'achievement orientation', 'adaptability', 'time management', 'leadership', 'personality' and 'academic results and knowledge'. The study also revealed that graduates mostly lack the necessary skills as envisaged by Bangladeshi employers. As employers have outright authority in the selection of graduates, it is suggested that universities work together with industries to develop the skills and traits they demand. This is the first study, to the authors' knowledge, to explore employability skills and graduates' work readiness from the perspective of established and well-known employers in Bangladesh.

The use of web-based tools for educational purposes is a rapidly growing trend in Bangladesh. Most of the academic institutions in Bangladesh have decided to develop academic portals where teachers can create online versions of their courses. This paper addresses students' opinions on the use of virtual classroom from their own personal experiences and identifies features of virtual classroom that are vital to create an interactive student-centered learning environment. We try to understand whether the use of virtual classroom can bring improvement in students' learning and performance in the class. The results from binary logistic regression indicate that most of the participants have positive opinions regarding the usage of virtual classroom for learning purposes. As the present Government of Bangladesh (GOB) has urged all higher education institutions (HEIs) to take effective measures in order to implement 'Integrated University Information Management Platform', the findings from this study will help educators and administrators to understand how to construct an interactive student-friendly academic portal that will fulfill all the needs of the customers and to assess whether the features of the existing portals that they are currently using need any further improvements.

Bangladesh is a fast growing economy and has managed to maintain an impressive annual average growth rate of above 6 percent over the last 10 years. Although there are almost 2 million young people who enter the job market every year, they often fail to meet the demands of the existing job market due to lack of adequate skills. Most of the graduates struggle to find a decent job as their skills fail to match the employers' expectations and needs. As the skill gap is brewing up creating a rise in unemployment, there is an urgent need for actions to enhance employability prospects of fresh graduates. In this study we aim to investigate the skill competence and skill gap of business graduates in the banking sector of Bangladesh. We utilized the mean scores of employability skills in terms of their significance as perceived by the employers in banks and the actual competency of business graduates. Findings of this study will allow students, employers, educators and policy makers in Bangladesh to recognize the critical areas where business graduates are lagging behind in the banking sector thus enabling them to take effective measures in order to reduce the skills gap.

In the last few years, higher education institutions (HEIs) in Bangladesh have been under severe pressure to transform the way they operate. The present Government of Bangladesh requires all universities to improve their quality of education and has implemented various projects such as Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP) in collaboration with the World Bank. As Bangladesh has set a target to transition out of the status of Least Developed Country (LDC) to Developing country by 2024, graduate employability and education quality are pivotal interests for the Government of Bangladesh. This paper investigates the concept of work integrated learning (WIL) and generic skills vital to enhance the employability of the current graduates in Bangladesh. We explore different types of WIL that can be applied at higher academic institutions in Bangladesh and what are the various benefits of this type of learning to the key stakeholders, namely; students, universities and employers. Finally, we conclude by pointing out the prerequisites that need to be considered in order to successfully implement WIL in Bangladesh. This is a descriptive study and we have collected data from different secondary sources such as documents available from government agencies, research organizations, archives and library. Moreover, we have also used interviews from sources such as newspapers and magazines documenting views of well-respected academicians and renowned personalities in Bangladesh. Our findings indicate that in order to successfully integrate WIL, there are some prerequisites such as modifying the current curriculum, designing and offering work oriented courses, building strong connections with potential employers and creating awareness about WIL among faculty members and students.

Every student has the right to feel safe within their academic institution. However, many experience frequent bullying and undergo mental traumas, alienation and self-destructive behaviors. Bullying is largely an unreported and unaddressed issue in many academic institutions, which can result in long-lasting effects on students' lives. A study conducted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), reported that 23% of school students in Bangladesh had been victims of bullying. This statistic clearly indicates that bullying is an alarming issue in Bangladesh which needs to be addressed urgently and properly. This qualitative study was conducted with 60 undergraduate students in order to explore their perceptions and experiences on bullying practices within the academic institutions of Bangladesh. Drawing on the findings of the study, a number of recommendations for the prevention and monitoring of bullying practices within the educational setting are suggested.

Virtual classroom using technology is a novel dimension in distance learning and teaching pedagogy during the pandemic situation across the globe. Researchers regard e-learning as an opportunity for future teaching and learning approach. Therefore, recent pieces of literature on Foreign Language Anxiety, Technological anxiety and E-learning using virtual classroom inspires the current researchers to foster a real picture of Bangladeshi educational institutions. The study aims at investigating whether the virtual classroom situation creates anything new in Foreign Language Anxiety or heals the learners from anxiety experienced in the physical classroom. A self-made Foreign Language Virtual Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLVCAS) was conducted through 104 students' participation from three public and three private universities of Bangladesh. Through the tertiary level learners' physical language classroom and virtual language classroom participation, the quantitative data has been collected. In-depth interview and focus group discussion have also been conducted to collect qualitative data. The study also shows findings and important recommendations for the concerned so that virtual language classroom environment and anxiety-free 'Foreign Language Virtual Classroom' can be implemented.

The paper reports a study that seeks to develop an instrument so as to explore Bangladeshi science teachers' perceived importance and perceived current practices, geared to the inclusion of four suggested areas of focus within a context-based, socio-scientific framework--student motivation, scientific problem-solving, socio-scientific decision-making and a beyond school, active informed citizenry concern. The study, taking into consideration the influence of different realities in the Bangladesh context (large class size, gender stereotypes and inadequate teacher development programmes), was conducted in 2 stages involving first piloting of a devised instrument with participant teachers involved in an international 'We Act' project which sought to promote socio-scientific activism. Expert validation and Cronbach Alpha test were carried out to establish the validity and reliability of the instrument. The actual implementation of the revised instrument was with purposefully chosen Bangladeshi science teachers. The results showed the participant Bangladeshi science teachers' comparatively higher perceived importance, yet lower perceived current practice of incorporating different orientations associated to a context-based, socio-scientific framework. The results also revealed the influence of large class size, professional development programmes and gender factors on Bangladeshi science teachers' perception. The significance of the study lies in emphasising the need for a more socio-scientific approach to Bangladesh science education and initiating professional development programmes for enabling teachers to perceive the role of science education to promote citizens who are able to meet the social needs as indicated in the constitution.

This study explored the physical and clinical phenotype of Bangladeshi children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A totally of 283 children who were referred for screening and administered Module 1 of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) were included. Overall, 209 met the ADOS algorithmic cutoff for ASD. A trend for greater weight and head circumference was observed in children with ASD versus non-ASD. Head circumference was significantly (p < 0.03) larger in ASD males compared with non-ASD males. A trend was also observed for symptom severity, higher in females than males (p = 0.068), with further analyses demonstrating that social reciprocity (p < 0.014) and functional play (p < 0.03) were significantly more impaired in ASD females than males. The findings help understand sex differences in ASD.

The aim of this study was to identify the content of secondary Science curriculum excluded in teaching and learning activities, the reasons behind the omission and its impact on students' learning in the context of Bangladesh. This study used qualitative methodology. Eight teachers were selected and interviewed to investigate what they excluded from their teaching and what the reasons behind the exclusion were. Data were collected from participating teachers' students using a focus group discussion. Data collected from students and teachers were analyzed first. Then, purposefully selected curriculum developers, textbook authors, and teacher educators were interviewed to understand the impact of the null curriculum on students' learning. Analysis of data revealed that all the participant teachers excluded a chapter in Grades IX-X General Science textbook. This chapter included information about reproductive organs, physical and psychological changes during puberty, pregnancy, evolution, and related topics. Teachers argued that the topics were uncomfortable for them to teach, contradicted with religion, and students might misinterpret and practice unethical relationships if these topics were taught. However, the curriculum developers and the textbook authors asserted that including these topics would solve problems such as adolescent mistakes, child rape, child pregnancy, and distorted fantasies. This study concluded that excluding the chapter on adolescence, sexual and reproductive health and evolution obstructs achievement of students' scientific literacy.

The study of family language policy has emerged as a significant domain for multilingual development, language maintenance and cultural continuity. Family Language Policy seeks to connect the studies of child language acquisition with the field of language policy research in its approach to understand language maintenance and shift among different migrant families and communities. However, few studies have been conducted in this area. Through the in-depth analysis of 19 interviews, this article explores family language policy employed by Bangladeshi migrants in South East Queensland. The results show that participants evidence a strong will to maintain their mother tongue for which they resort to strategies from family to social domains. The implementation of their policies is facilitated by what they perceive as helpful macro-level processes. That is, they approve of the Australian policies that promote multiculturalism.

In recent years, education quality and quality assessment have received a great deal of attention at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Bangladesh. Most of the HEIs in Bangladesh face severe resource constraints and find it difficult to improve education quality by improving inputs, such as better infrastructure and modernized classroom facilities. Thus, in response to the present government's demand to improve the quality of education at HEIs in Bangladesh, it is imperative to formulate plans that are more cost-effective. According to some previous studies, the quality of education depends largely on the teaching-learning process. These studies affirm that, with limited resources at hand, the employment of active learning in the classroom is one of the most effective ways to improve education quality. To conduct this qualitative research, we utilized multiple sources of data, including semi-structured and in-depth interviews, descriptive observations and self-administered questionnaires. This paper aims to explore three related issues: What are the various active learning strategies that can be employed by the instructors at HEIs in Bangladesh? What are the potential factors that can hinder the implementation process? Finally, what recommendations can be provided on how to successfully implement active learning strategies in the classroom? The findings suggest that a lack of teacher training and student prior experience in an active learning environment, large class sizes, excessive curriculum loads and students' academic backgrounds are some common factors that can hinder the implementation of active learning in Bangladesh. The findings of this study can be instrumental for HEIs in Bangladesh as they aspire to improve their education quality.

Education builds a nation. National development highly depends on Education. Education is the main component to execute the vision of the nation. The Global scenario of socio-economic development is changing while knowledge supplants physical capital as the source of present (and future) wealth. Sylhet is far better that other division of the country in terms of potentiality of educational, social, economic development but its current educational position is not so satisfactory at all. Basic reasons for underdevelopment of Sylhet are mismatching its needs and traditional development systems and its impact may hinder future development of the Sylhet though it has abundant unique resources. This paper reveals the current situation of the education development of Sylhet and key indicators of the underdevelopment of the region developed by the FGD and expert opinion and field survey. It also focuses how the Sylhet will come out from current hindrance and FGD suggestion for improvement of Sylhet.

Purpose: This paper aims to identify the determinants of school choice and factors that define the success of a school as perceived by the parents and then compare "Public" and "Private" schools with respect to the explored criteria to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the institutions. Design/methodology/approach: The study is based on 1,121 quantitative data collected through survey questionnaire from the parents living in urban areas of Bangladesh. The school choice model was developed and validated by applying structural equation modeling. Findings: This paper offers a statistically significant, robust and reliable five-dimensional 23-item school choice model that includes both school characteristics and preferred outcomes as perceived by the parents. Characteristic-wise comparisons in terms of characteristics revealed that public schools are superior to private institutions in fulfilling several choice criteria such as parents-teacher relationships, performance of the teachers, offerings of special programs, safety assurance in the campus and in having bigger campus with playground. On the other hand, private schools dominate in providing better educational environment, arranging training to the teachers, ensuring satisfactory library services and delivering information effectively to the parents. Among outcome determinants, government schools are well ahead in creating self-discipline, morality and good work habits among students. Private schools are superior in developing critical thinking skill of the kids. Originality/value: There is a gap of comprehensive empirical study on school choice in South Asia region that includes both school characteristics and outcomes. Therefore, this paper contributes significantly to the relevant literature.

Purpose: Participatory forest management initiatives in Madhupur Sal Forest in Bangladesh are characterized by the coexistence of diverse types of advisory service providers. Despite a decade of implementation of forest management initiatives, an assessment of the service delivery from a pluralistic advisory service framework is not evident. Drawing on the framework of pluralistic advisory service this study aimed to assess the role and performance of different advisory service providers that contribute to the management of forest resources. Methodology: We employed a stakeholder analysis to identify different advisory service providers, along with their power relations with forest dwellers. Data were collected using a participatory workshop and nine interviews. Findings and practical implications: The study found that most of the advisory service providers did not ensure the quality of the services, and did not orient their services towards the needs and demands of the forest dwellers. The advisory service providers continued to work with a coordination gap among themselves and the forest dwellers, which ultimately hindered their collective efforts to mobilize resources and build the strong relational condition necessary for the proper management of forest resources. Theoretical implications: This study applied a 'best fit' framework to the micro-level case of a forest advisory service, which helped to explore the dynamics of an advisory system linked to forest management initiatives. Originality: This is the first attempt to assess a pluralistic advisory system for forest management in Bangladesh.

The paper aimed to explore the self assessment practices in higher education in Bangladesh with special reference to Department of Business Administration of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology. For self assessment purpose the researchers have collected opinion from students, alumni, employer and faculty members on eight areas. In collecting data the study used a semi-structured questionnaire on four point scale. To test the internal consistency the researchers have used Cronbach's a (alpha) test of coefficient. The study found that the department is in very weak position almost in all aspects from all assessors. The study suggested to the concerned authority of the department to allocate sufficient fund and logistic facilities for the development of higher education of the department.

This paper attempts to identify the nature of formal environmental education in Bangladesh at school level with particular reference to the national curriculum. The main objective of the study is to assess the contents of the school textbooks for each standard, and to see whether the diversified themes covered are a good representation of contemporary environmental issues or not. Attempt has also been made to examine the organizational aspects of the prescribed text books for each standard. The overall finding is that the school textbooks on environment are found not only ill organized, but also there is a lack of integrity for logical progression; there is ample scope to include emerging issues such as climate change and human adaptation in the Curriculum. Revision of the Curriculum, re-orientation and reorganization of the textbooks with an interdisciplinary and holistic approach are strongly recommended.

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).]

Migration has become a vital element of the Bangladeshi economy, which has led to an increasing focus on providing Bangladeshis with the skills needed on the international labour market. English is often cited as one of these skills, and previous research has shown that a primary reason why Bangladeshis wish to learn English is due to its perceived value for pursuing work abroad (Erling, Elizabeth J., Philip Seargeant, Mike Solly, Qumrul H Chowdhury, & Sayeedur Rahman. 2012. "Attitudes to English as a language for international development in rural Bangladesh." London: British Council. Available online at http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/publications/attitudes-english-a-language-international-development-rural-bangladesh.). The extent to which English is of value in economic migration, however, has been underexplored in research (Coleman, Hywel. 2010. "The English language in development." London: British Council. Available at http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/publications/english-language-development.). Drawing on data from a qualitative study which provides new insights into the experiences and perceptions of a cohort of returnee migrants, this article investigates the perceived value of (English) language skills for migration. The study finds that economic migrants see the advantages of having particular skills, especially English, for economic gain. However, applying a capabilities lens to their narratives (Sen, Amartya. 1999. "Development as freedom." Oxford: Oxford University Press.) reveals the difficulties of classifying their experiences in terms of "success" given the deeply embedded structural issues and challenges the participants report facing. This article therefore questions assumptions that language skills can be transformational when social inequality is (re)produced in the context of migration.

This study devised a 20-item, six-dimensional Employability Skills Index for entry-level jobs in marketing and sales based on the perceptions of students, and a second, 22-item, six-dimensional Employability Skills Index based on the perceptions of employers. Both indexes demonstrated sound reliability, and we presented initial support for the validity of the scales. The study was based on 418 and 973 survey responses collected from Bangladeshi corporate managers and university students, respectively. The study revealed substantial differences in opinions between employers and students on employability skills required for entry-level marketing and sales positions. Managers prioritized skills such as planning, organizing ability, experience, professionalism, type of major courses taken, and positive attitude towards work. On the other hand, students prioritized skills such as commitment to the organization, commitment to the job area, complex problem-solving skills, internship in a relevant field, critical thinking ability, and basic knowledge of selling.

Given the significance of English in the global world, English language teaching in Bangladesh has become subject to a supreme concern in maintaining economic growth and developing a skilled workforce. In this article, several barriers have been discussed based on a critical analysis of published materials. This review article covers several key issues such as the status of English in the country; English in education policies; factors affecting the implementation of communicative language teaching curriculum, method, and materials in Bangladesh; validity of the current assessment and its washback effect on English language teaching in Bangladesh; and current situation of teachers' professional development. The article concluded with language policy and planning implications for policymakers, curriculum and material developers, public exams' test-setters, and future English teacher training programmes, keeping the overall development of ELT in Bangladesh in mind.

Recent literature has suggested that the relationship between globalisation and the English language implicates employability in the job market. Although the effects are uneven in different occupational groups and in different countries, such relationship is growing in significance to policy makers. This paper has explored the hitherto unstudied relationship between English language proficiency and employment and the success of Bangladeshi graduates in Australia to establish how English language skills influence the employment mechanism in the Australian job market for graduates from a non-English speaking South East Asian country. The study was carried out following an interpretive approach as its overall aim was to understand the role of English language skills of university graduates in determining their employment opportunities and career prospects in Australia. It was found that in various ways one's English language skills influence prospects of employment, especially in contributing to the possibility of "secure" and "better" jobs. The research findings may inform educational policy planners, teacher educators, employers and career advisers to optimise English language learning programs that support increased employability through English. Appended to this document is the interview schedule. (Contains 1 table.)

This study is based on a survey of the Communicative English Language Certificate (CELC) course run by the Foreign Language Training Center (FLTC), a Project under the Ministry of Education, Bangladesh. FLTC is working to promote the teaching and learning of English through its eleven computer-based and state of the art language laboratories. As Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) is becoming increasingly popular in many EFL/ESL contexts, the fully computer based language teaching facilities offered by FLTC can be seen as a significant step towards implementing CALL in the soil of Bangladesh. However, any language course using technology alone may not always ensure the best practices of language teaching and learning; the advantages of technological advancements are to be adapted according to the pedagogic needs of the concerned language course. This paper, therefore, seeks to explore how aspects of CALL are being integrated within a framework of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT). The survey was conducted on 425 learners who had completed the CELC course at the selected four centers of FLTC. This study provides a brief overview of how computers are being used for teaching communicative English. It is found that the trainees gave a positive response about the contents, facilities, and organization of the course but not completely satisfied with the teaching techniques and participants' role as independent learners. It is recommended that there is a need for making the computer based learning materials more accessible to the learners so that they can use them more independently in and outside the language lab.

In this qualitative study of brothel-based Female Sex Workers (FSWs), the authors explored factors that influence safe sex practices of FSWs within an integrated HIV intervention. Qualitative methods, including focus group discussions (FGDs), in-depth interviews and key informant interviews were applied in four brothels in Bangladesh. Young and elderly FSWs, "Sordarnis" (Madams who own young FSWs and who may be either active or inactive sex workers themselves), program managers and providers were the participants for this study. Findings showed that condom use was high but not consistent among bonded FSWs (those who are under the control of a "Sordarni") who have regular clients. The bonded FSWs reported being maltreated by the Sordarnis for refusing to have sex without a condom, and access to health services was hindered by Sordarnis. Implications of the study are that integrated HIV intervention should provide more encouragement to relevant stakeholders to promote mutual support towards safe sex practices for the FSWs.

The private universities in Bangladesh are playing an important role in modernizing the higher education system in the country and the role of librarians is also different and challenging. Specially, procuring books and monographs is an exigent function being this lost its demand very quickly. In some cases, titles bear only one semester necessity. Suppliers frequently fail to supply books needed in a semester and late arrival of books is another phenomena which frustrate private university librarians in the country. In these circumstances, IUB (Independent University, Bangladesh) is trying to establish a method for working with the best book suppliers. Experience shows that apparent goodwill or gorgeous showrooms of vendors sometimes mislead the librarians. The best way is to determine some criteria and each criterion should be weighted. The weight may differ from criterion to criterion. Performance in the latest year may receive maximum number in the weighted formula. Goodwill, interest to work with the university, up-to-date-ness, availability of resources, maximum discount, etc., may be included in the weighted formula. Performance of the consecutive three years would guide one to select a vendor from the old panel of suppliers. This paper describes the situation of procurement and the crisis faced by the private universities particularly the IUB. Weighted Formula for Vendor Selection is appended.

This study was designed to examine how self-efficacy, motivation and academic performance interact among students enrolled in an introductory marketing course in a private university of Bangladesh. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaire from the students. Empirical results reveal that there are statistically positive correlations between self-efficacy and performance (r = 0.289), self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation (r = 0.490), self-efficacy and extrinsic motivation (0.297), intrinsic motivation and performance (0.327), and extrinsic motivation and performance (0.251). Consistent with our expectations, students high in self-efficacy and motivation performed better than those low in self-efficacy and motivation. Implications and recommendations for further studies based on findings are discussed. (Contains 2 tables.)

This paper offers: (1) a multidimensional Employability Skill Scale development method; and (2) one 30-item, seven-dimensional, and another 26-item six-dimensional employability skill requirement scale for use with entry-level human resources management positions, as perceived by employers and students, respectively, in Bangladesh. The study is based on samples of 174 and 446 survey responses collected from corporate managers and university students, respectively. There were significant variations in opinions between employers and students on employability skill requirements in entry-level human resources management positions. Employers prioritized skills such as subject knowledge, applying knowledge, listening effectively, breadth of knowledge, working safely, and self-management. On the other hand, students preferred skills such as team leading ability, complex problem-solving ability, judgment ability, proactivity, negotiation ability, strength of reference, type of university, and image of the university.

This article explores language experiences of three Bangladeshi migrant workers with low English proficiency in Australia through narrative inquiry. The narrative of each participant presents insights into the ways in which these migrants navigated through their work and social life, and developed social and communicative strategies to survive in the host country where English is the dominant language. Analyses of the narratives suggest that despite their limited English proficiency, these migrant workers were able to find ways to contribute to the host society and they felt satisfied with their lives in Australia. Although not generalisable, the findings call for taking a critical look at the prevailing assumption that without English language proficiency migrants cannot enjoy a successful life or ensure their social and economic wellbeing in the host society. At the same time, there needs to be a greater recognition of the role of migrants' first languages in the new society. We also argue that instead of taking a generalised view of "success" and "wellbeing", taking a differentiated view may be warranted and this may require taking into account migrants' individual circumstances and their desires and expectations in relation to their social origins.

This study examines the factors contributing to academic probation in university settings and highlights the problems that students encounter in higher education institutions in Bangladesh. The study focused on students facing academic probation on two private universities in Bangladesh and analyzed students' response with respect to nine different factors--difficulty in understanding language, weak communication skills, weak educational background, "grading is too difficult", involvement with other activities, wrong course selection, lack of seriousness in studies, family problem and personal problem. In the survey, the sample consisted of 242 probation students: 80 per cent were male and 20 per cent were female. In this research, results suggest that probation students are more likely to experience academic difficulties, are more prone to drop out and, yet, are more willing to receive institutional assistance (how to return to good academic standing) as compared to other regular students. The authors conclude by discussing policy implications of the findings and defining avenues for further research. One of the shortcomings of this study is the use of private university student samples only. Consequently, the generalization of our results may be limited. The authors developed and instituted a probationary student support initiatives program to both assist these students and understand how their background characteristics and perceptions of the learning environment impacted on their academic standing.

Purpose: The rapidly evolving nature of agricultural innovation processes in low-income countries requires agricultural extension agencies to transform the classical roles that previously supported linear information dissemination and adoption of innovation. In Bangladesh, strengthening agricultural innovation calls for facilitation of interactive communication and a wide range of mediation tasks within (and between) stakeholders operating in different social spheres. This paper examines how a public-sector agricultural extension agency has attempted to change its roles in implementing a major agricultural extension project in order to strengthen agricultural innovation. This role adjustment is a key outcome of an effectively functioning innovation system because it enables collective actions and enhances performance that meets the needs of clients. Methodology: The study uses a case study design that includes mixed methods data collection and analysis. Using interviews, group discussions, observations, and a semi-structured survey, data were collected from stakeholders of a major regional agricultural extension project in Bangladesh. Findings: The findings suggest that the agricultural extension agency missed the opportunity to deliver the agricultural extension project in such a way that it strengthens collective actions and functions that would respond to the needs of all clients within the system. This is due to institutions that create obstacles within the agricultural innovation system. These obstacles relate to the tendency to remain in a linear paradigm of technology transfer and dependency on public service, the under-estimation and depreciation of intermediary roles of extension personnel (e.g. brokering, negotiating, convening), and finally, an inability to foresee extension methods (e.g. training, demonstration) as the facilitation of interactive learning and knowledge embedding processes. Originality/ Practical Implications: This is the first case study from Bangladesh that provides insights into extant initiatives taken by a public-sector agricultural extension agency to put innovation system thinking into use. The paper discusses a number of lessons, which will be useful for evolving new forms of extension work and applying agricultural innovation systems thinking in low-income countries.

In early childhood education the dominant discourse of play-based pedagogy is greatly influenced by a western play approach. This paper examines how play is valued as early learning in Bangladesh. It reports on a qualitative study that explored the understandings of four parents and four early childhood educators in semi-rural Bangladesh. Findings revealed that the value of play as learning is determined by the socio-cultural, historical, educational, economic and political factors of the given society. Parents considered play as leisure while teachers acknowledged it as accelerating young children's learning and aiding their preparation for school. However, participants admitted that play could help the young children to overcome their feeling of fear about school. Since the value of play as learning in the Bangladesh context differed from the western practices, the paper emphasises socio-cultural, political and economic considerations while adopting an imported pedagogical approach like play. (Contains 1 figure.)

Newsgames are a genre of serious games that illustrates events and issues to create awareness among the audience. Generally, it is a new media-based divergent content that plays the role of journalism. Since 2001, along with Kabool Kaboom different types of news games are operating through the active participation of the audience. g games. Beyond these games use infographics and interactivity that connects the audience more by making them sense-maker and empowered in a specific issue. The fundamental aim of this study is to analyze the importance of infographics to generate participation among the active audience. This study adds new findings to the literature review of previous articles adjoining the effectiveness of the newsgames through infographics and interactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing nations including Bangladesh are significantly lagging behind the millennium development target due to the lack of science, technology and engineering education. Bangladesh as a least developing country has only 44 engineers per million people. Its technological education and gross domestic product growth are not collinear. Although limited progress was made in humanities, basic sciences, agriculture and medical sciences, a vast gap is left in technical and engineering education. This paper describes the present condition of engineering education in the country and explores ways to improve engineering education in order to meet the national as well as global skills demand. (Contains 3 tables and 7 figures.)

One of the poorest and most densely populated countries in the world, Bangladesh has faced many challenges during its almost 40-year history as an independent nation. Yet the country has recently made substantial progress in improving young children's survival and protection. It now provides health care, nutrition, immunization, and education services, including expanded access to primary education. The government's "Comprehensive Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Policy Framework" aims to promote better outcomes for children birth to age 8, as defined in Bangladesh's new Early Learning and Development Standards. These policy initiatives, however, have not substantially improved the lives of children in villages. Most Bangladeshi children did not attend preschool or kindergarten--few such programs exist, and certainly not in poor communities. There is no simple solution to Bangladesh's primary education crisis. However, in 2005 Save the Children began implementing an innovative way to fill some of the gaps--Community Learning Circles (CLCs). In developing its comprehensive program Early Learning for School Success (SUCCEED), funded by USAID (United States Agency for International Development), Save the Children aimed to reduce the learning and developmental risks for young children in Bangladesh. As one part of its approach, SUCCEED created informal, village-based after-school programs. The CLC goal was to use 6- to 8-year-olds' valuable out-of-school time in joyful and challenging ways, involving them in interactive learning games and other activities to develop their cognitive, language, and social skills. This article provides an overview of CLCs; discusses the benefits of after-school programs and the impact of CLCs on children, parents, and teachers; and shares the lessons learned from SUCCEED and CLCs to help others who want to use community-based after-school programs to improve outcomes for children at risk.

Recent experiences in participatory video-making raise the question of how best to use this medium for enhancing local seed innovation systems. Embedded in a mini-process of participatory action research, two styles of participatory video--scripted and scriptless--were tested and assessed together with farmers and facilitators in Bogra District, Bangladesh. Data, collected through participant observation, informal interviews, group discussions and workshops, were analysed using a combination of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis. Scripted video can be used as a capacity-building tool and for disseminating sustainable technologies or local knowledge across geographical scales. But there is a risk of goal orientation to produce quality films, which may undermine the spirit of participation and ownership of the process. In the scriptless style, the process seems to be more inclusive but random, and hence, less goal-oriented. Scriptless video can be used as a monitoring tool in local seed innovation systems. Moreover, potential for stimulating self-sustaining spirit within the participant actors appeared to be higher in this style. However, this style may be difficult to institutionalize. Because of the spontaneous and subjective nature of the process and outcome (i.e. the film) that underlies scriptless videos, participatory video may be produced in a specific geographical context and not necessarily be replicable or relevant elsewhere. This study raises several critiques about the usefulness of these two major styles of participatory video and argues that both styles have specific usefulness and therefore can be used in combination to enhance local seed innovation systems in Bangladesh, and possibly, elsewhere in South Asia. (Contains 5 figures and 3 tables.)

The increasing demand for competent users of English in the era of globalisation has had a significant impact on English Language Teaching (ELT) in Bangladesh. Among a number of changes to improve the quality of ELT, teachers of English have been encouraged, even required, to adopt a communicative language teaching (CLT) approach. To facilitate the successful implementation of these changes, besides introducing local training programmes to familiarise teachers with CLT, teachers of English from Bangladesh have also been sent overseas, especially to the English-speaking West, for further training. Drawing on a qualitative research study, this paper discusses the pedagogical concerns of Bangladeshi English teachers, including those who are Western-trained, in relation to their teaching of English. It also investigates their perceptions of the politics of the Western Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) industry associated with problems of pedagogical ethics and appropriacy. Based on the findings and discussions, recommendations are offered for enhancing the quality of ELT in Bangladesh and strategically responding to the commercialised hegemonic but necessary "evil" of TESOL training.

Examined the implementation of communicative language teaching (CLT) in Bangladesh in general and at the University of Dhaka in particular. One paradox faced by English as a Foreign Language teachers was that of an essentially learner-centered curriculum in a tradition where the centrality of the teacher is the culturally and socially sanctioned basis of teaching. (EV)

Explores the trends in the basic education of Bangladeshi children (ages 11 and 12) using data generated through two nationally representative sample surveys. Reports that the level of basic education rose slowly (26.7 percent in 1993 to 29.6 percent in 1998) while improvement was found in life skills knowledge and writing skills. Includes references. (CMK)

Globally plastic pollution is posing a significant threat to the health and integrity of coastal ecosystems. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of plastic pollution in the coastal areas of Bangladesh by examining land-based macroplastic distribution, exploring microplastic (MP) contamination in the coastal aquatic ecosystem and enhancing our understanding of the potential risks associated with MP contamination. Citizen science based monitoring approach using the android application was applied to understand the land-based plastic pollution in the coastal area of Bangladesh. From December 2022 to December 2023, a total of about 3600 photographs of plastic items from 215 citizen scientists were received from the coastal area of Bangladesh covering 580 km long coast line. Polymer Hazard Index (PHI) and Pollution Load Index (PLI) were also calculated to understand the risk of plastic pollution in sediment, water, aquatic organism, dried fish and sea salt. A total of 43 land-based plastic items reported from the coastal area of Bangladesh. Among these plastic items single use items contributed 58.2 % while disposable plastic items contributed 41.8 %. A strong spatial variability in the distribution of these plastic items was observed. PHI and PLI values suggested hazard category-I for MP contamination in sediment, sea salt, water, commercial fishery resources and dry fish. This study highlighted that coastal land area, sea salt, dried fish, water, sediment and organisms are contaminated with plastics which might have the potential threats to human health. Findings from this study will serve as reference data and also baseline for future research to combat the plastic pollution. [Display omitted] • Single use plastic items are dominant in the coastal area of Bangladesh. • Plastic items vary spatially. • Aquatic ecosystem is contaminated with plastics. • Coastal ecosystem is under hazard category I of plastic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Includes "Introduction to International Perspectives" (Allen); "Volunteerism in the Welfare State: The Case of Denmark" (Habermann); "Grassroots Organizing in Bangladesh" (Chowdhury); and "Volunteerism in Latin America" (Guerra). (SK)

The widespread presence of Microplastics (MPs) is increasing in the indoor environment due to increasing annual plastic usage, which is becoming a global threat to human health. Therefore, this is the first research in Bangladesh to identify, and characterize, MP pollution and its allied threats to human health in the indoor urban environment, where 80 household dust samples were collected from the whole study area. The presence of MPs in household dust of the urban indoor environment was 25.8 ± 6.43 particles/g with a significant variety, whereas the fiber shape (73%), 0.5–1.00 mm ranged MPs size (58%), blue color (21%), and polystyrene polymer (34%) was the most ubiquitous MPs category. The pollution load index (1.61–2.96) indicated significant pollution due to the high abundance of MPs. Besides, other risks evaluating indices including contamination factor (1.00–3.51), and Nemerow pollution index (1.60–3.51) represent moderate to high MP-induced pollution. The polymer hazard index (119.54 ± 70.34) indicated significant risks for the selected polymers to the indoor environment living inhabitants. Machine learning approaches, especially random forest and support random vector machine were effective in predicting the number of MPs, where EC, salinity, pH, OC, and texture classes acted as controlling factors. Children and adults might be ingesting 4.12 ± 1.01 and 2.27 ± 0.57 particles/day through the ingestion exposure route, which has significant health effects. Polymer-associated lifetime cancer risk assessment results show that there are moderate risks for both adults and children, but children tend to be more susceptible to MP risks. The overall study found that Dhaka was the most severely MPs induced risky division among the others. This study reveals that high quantities of MPs in indoor environments could pose a serious health hazard' to different exposure groups. [Display omitted] • Significant number of microplastics (MPs) was found in urban indoor household dusts. • Fibers shape and 0.5–1.00 mm size MPs were dominated in the dust sample. • MPs polymeric toxicity shows considerable polymeric risks (category-III) for exposure groups. • Children are more susceptible to expose MP related health hazard than adults. • Machine learning is promising for predicting MPs from indoor household dust samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangroves play a crucial role in mitigating climate change through carbon (C) accumulation. Developing robust methods for the estimation of long-term C accumulation is essential for monitoring and reporting carbon financing projects under different global mechanisms. Moreover, understanding the effects of climate and habitat on C accumulation is important for developing mangrove management plans and conservation options. In this study, long-term above ground C accumulation in the three most dominated mangrove tree species, Heritiera fomes , Excoecaria agallocha and Sonneratia apetala, was estimated using a dendrochronological approach in two contrasting (low vs high) salinity zones in the Bangladesh Sundarbans. In addition, how climate and habitat (e.g., regulators and soil resources) influence C accumulation was analyzed. For the first time, we estimated C accumulation in mangrove species over their entire lifetime using stem disc-derived tree-ring data. The C accumulation patterns exhibited similar patterns of variation, increasing from pith to bark in each case. C accumulation was significantly higher in the low salinity zone (LSZ) than in the high salinity zone (HSZ) (p < 0.05). The cumulative C accumulation increased with tree age in each case, and C accumulation was influenced mainly by seasonal precipitation, especially during monsoon. General additive modeling (GAM) revealed that soil salinity had a stronger effect on C accumulation variability in the studied tree species. Other regulatory variables (i.e., siltation and elevation) and soil resources (i.e., P and K) had species-specific influences on C accumulation. Tree-ring data show the potential to yield better biomass and C estimations, which could aid frequent and rapid reporting of C accumulation in mangroves. Moreover, the results also suggest that climate and regulatory variables, especially soil salinity, together impact the C cycles in the Sundarbans. [Display omitted] • Long-term C accumulation series are reconstructed using tree-ring data. • C accumulation is mainly enhanced by monsoonal precipitation. • Soil salinity has a stronger influence on C accumulation than soil nutrients. • Mangrove tree rings show the potential for rapid estimation of periodic C accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Follows earlier research that hypothesized and substantiated that, in a society with strong son preference, its effect on fertility would be conditional on the level of contraceptive use. Finds that, if a preference for smaller family size increases, then sex preference will have minimal effect on fertility. (LZ)

Geomorphological changes have had numerous environmental impacts on landscape features, natural resources, landform stability, and ecosystem services on Bhasan Char Island in the Northern Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. Therefore, the present study examines the morphological change of the island and its impacts on landscape features, landform stability, and coastal mangrove forest resources since its evolution. Optical satellite images from Landsat (TM and OLI) spanning from 2003 to 2023 have been used to assess geomorphological parameters using the bio-physical indices NDWI and MNDWI. A hybrid classification method involving unsupervised classification, supervised machine learning, and post-classification refinement was employed to precisely delineate landscape features and evaluate ecosystem services. Indeed, to evaluate forest cover health dynamics, the leaf area index (LAI) was estimated using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform. The study results reveal that the geomorphology of the island was changed by fluvial and marine processes and responses, whereas only 3% of the landscape ages older than 19 years. Results also disclosed that built-up area construction for Rohingya nations drastically lost ∼ 7% of mangrove plantations over the last 8 years, from 2015 to 2023. The current research delivers crucial management strategies regarding further structural development by evading unplanned construction, hastening reforestation, and evolving the green belt along the existing embankment. The study findings will help policymakers, environmental managers, coastal and marine resource planners, ecologists, and geomorphologists take an eco-friendly sustainable development plan and conserve the coastal island and its landscape resources from the risk of fluvial and marine processes. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Unveiling low-temperature stress tolerance-related genomic variations in jute. • Sensitive variety O9897 specific SNPs were present in stress-related pathways. • Tolerant variety acc. 2015 possesses SNPs related to alternative cold tolerance functionalities. • InDels of acc. 2015 have tolerance utilities, but O9897 specific InDels cause ailments. • CNVs with gain of function were observed in cold stress-induced adaptation pathways. Jute (Corchorus sp.), a commercially important and eco-friendly crop, is widely cultivated in Bangladesh, India, and China. Some varieties of this tropical plant such as the Corchorus olitorius. Variety accession no. 2015 (acc. 2015) has been found to be low-temperature tolerant. The current study was designed to explore the genome-wide variations present in the tolerant plant acc. 2015 in comparison to the sensitive farmer popular variety Corchorus olitorius var. O9897 using the whole genome resequencing technique. Among different variations, intergenic Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs) and Insertion-Deletion (InDels) were found in the highest percentage whereas approximately 3% SNPs and 2% InDels were found in exonic regions in both plants. Gene enrichment analysis indicated the presence of acc. 2015 specific SNPs in the genes encoding peroxidase, ER lumen protein retaining receptor, and hexosyltransferase involved in stress response (GO:0006950) which were not present in sensitive variety O9897. Besides, distinctive copy number variation regions (CNVRs) comprising 120 gene loci were found in acc. 2015 with a gain of function from multiple copy numbers but absent in O9897. Gene ontology analysis revealed these gene loci to possess different receptors like kinases, helicases, phosphatases, transcription factors especially Myb transcription factors, regulatory proteins containing different binding domains, annexin, laccase, acyl carrier protein, potassium transporter, and vesicular transporter proteins that are responsible for low temperature induced adaptation pathways in plants. This work of identifying genomic variations linked to cold stress tolerance traits will help to develop successful markers that will pave the way to develop genetically modified cold-resistant jute lines for year-round cultivation to meet the demand for a sustainable fiber crop economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]