Addressing the migrant skills gap in Bangladesh through mobile and e-learning solutions

Temporary labour migration from Bangladesh to the Middle East is commonplace, but workers are often at risk of being exploited because they don't speak the local language or lack basic skills. The Government of Bangladesh offers training but in the past the time and cost commitments involved have been prohibitive for many aspiring migrants. Here Ayesha Khanom and Shakhwatul Islam discuss how m/e-learning platforms are making the training more accessible to all citizens, particularly women

Community Needs Assessment on Immigrant Bangladeshi Womens Mental Health

This case summary conducted by the Urban Institute and Sapna NYC, a community-based organization serving low-income Bangladeshi women through health and empowerment programs, explores the findings of a community needs assessment focused on the mental health challenges and needs of Bangladeshi immigrant women living in the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn and can help inform practice and policy in New York City. Data from our interviews indicated that the three major contributing factors to the mental health of women in our study were economic and financial insecurity, home life and social networks, and traumatic events. Based on these insights, we propose recommendations for policymakers and funders to better support the mental health of vulnerable and immigrant communities

Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction of the Beauty-Care Service Industry in Dhaka: A Study on High-End Women’s Parlors

Volume 12 (2010-11

Centering Race and Structural Racism in Immigration Policy Research: Considerations and Lessons from the Field

Foregrounding race and racism in immigration research is a critical priority because the majority of immigrants in the US are people of color, and conceptions of race intersect with the lived experiences of immigrant communities at multiple levels. Historical and structural racism have also shaped immigration policies and other policies that lead to disparities in outcomes. Yet the intersections between the US immigration system and racism have been neglected in both policy and policy research circles. This is critical for understanding the experiences of all immigrants of color and their descendants, including Latino immigrants, whose identities have been racialized, as well as Black, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Indigenous, and other immigrants who have received less attention in policy research but constitute a rising share of new immigrant arrivals. These issues were explored in a September 2021 virtual workshop on centering race and structural racism in immigration policy research that convened leaders in policy research and advocacy. Discussions focused on how race and structural racism influence the experiences of immigrants, who policy research has left out, and which policies and issues demand research attention. In addition, the discussion explored how immigration policy researchers can work with community partners and address data limitations. This brief provides key priorities and themes discussed during the workshop and identifies promising practices, ideas, and considerations for better addressing the intersections between immigration, race, and structural racism in policy-oriented research

Evaluation of Different Levels of Nitrogen and Zinc Fertilizer on Morphological Characters and Yield of Rapeseed

Abstract: The experiment was undertaken during rabi season, November 2011 to February 2012 to examine the effects of different levels of nitrogen and zinc fertilizer on morphology and yield of rapeseed Brassica campestris L. variety BARI sarisha 15. In this experiment, the treatment consisted of four different N levels viz. (N0: 0, N1: 60, N2:120, and N3:180 Kg N/ha) and three different levels of Zn viz. (Zn0:0, Zn1:1 and, Zn2:2 Kg/ha) using randomized complete block (RCBD) with three replications. Nitrogen showed significant variations on both morphological characters, yield contributing parameters and yield of rapeseed such as plant height, number of leaves, number of primary branches, length of inflorescence, seed yield and harvest index. Zinc did not show significant difference on morphological characters as nitrogen. But the significant differences were found on yield contributing characters and yield of rapeseed with zinc fertilization. The interaction between nitrogen and zinc showed statistical variations on all characters including morphological and yield contributing parameters and yield of rapeseed. The treatment combination, N2Zn2 (120 Kg N/ha along with 2 Kg Zn/ha) produced the highest seed yield (4.22 t/ha) whereas the lowest seed yield (0.37 t/ha) recorded from N0Zn0 treatment combination with nitrogen and zinc fertigation. Therefore, the experimental results suggested that both nitrogen and zinc have contribution to improve seed yield of rapeseed by altering reproductive characters

B Subgroup: Bx blood Group in a Patient : A Case Report

This is a report of a case of B Sub Group: Bx, first ever detected in Bangladesh, while doing compatibility test of a sample of a patient undergoing cardiac surgery. The patient was referred to the transfusion medicine department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University to do cross-match with 8 proposed donors of same ABO group prior to cardiac surgery. His red cells showed weak agglutination with anti-B, anti-AB and in his serum there was potent Anti-A and weak anti-B which was not detected at 370C. After adsorption with anti-B an elute was prepared from patients cells which agglutinate with B and AB cells but did not agglutinate with A or O cells. The patient could be transfused with B blood but in this situation of cardiac surgery, as he should have to be kept in hypothermic condition, we transfused him with O washed red cell with AB plasma during operation. Patient was released from hospital without any complication. The weak B subgroups are: B3, Bx & Bel. B3 shows a mixed field of agglutination with anti B. Bx shows a weak agglutination and weak anti-B is found in the serum. Bel is not agglutinated with anti-B but is only adsorbed anti-B. With meticulous attention, cell & serum grouping of recipient and proposed donor/s to be done along with 3 phase cross-matching (Saline phase at room temp, at 4 and 37 degree Celsius temp, Indirect Coombs Test phase) to ensure right blood to the right patient at right time.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bsmmuj.v5i1.11032 BSMMU J 2012; 5(1):81-82

The Incidence of Vaso-vagal Reactions Among Whole Blood Donors During or Immediately After Donation

Background: The incidence of vaso vagal reaction among the whole blood donors are common. Few percent of these reaction may progress to syncope. Objectives: To evaluate the incidence of vaso-vagal reaction (VVR) among whole blood donors. Methods: This prospective, observational study was done in the department of transfusion medicine in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University from 01-04-2008 to 31-03-2009. Total 19553 blood donors were observed for vaso-vagal reaction. Results: The incidence of vaso-vagal reaction was 0.37%, in male 0.33% and in female it was 0.67%. Female donors were significantly more prone to develop vasovagal reaction (p=0.001). 78.8% of donors were first time donor and 28.8% were repeat donor. The clinical character of the symptoms according to frequency was- Sweating (86.3%), Nausea/ Vomiting (80.8%), Pallor (67.1%), Dizziness (39.7%), Loss of consciousness and fainting, increased rate of respiration (30.1%), anxiety presented (16.4%) and vertigo (1.4%). Conclusion: Although the incidence of vasovagal reactions in our study is lower than other studies, it is important to follow strict donor selection criteria and ensure careful monitoring during and immediate after the donation process to avoid the fatal consequences. Key words: Vaso-vagal reaction; donor reaction; blood donation. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bsmmuj.v4i2.8640 BSMMU J 2011; 4(2):106-10