Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into Regional Planning of Least Developed Countries: Strategy Implications for Regions in Bangladesh

The purpose of the study is to assess the search for mainstreaming climate change adaptation into regional planning of least developed countries (LDCs) and draw strategy implications for regions in Bangladesh. The findings of the study revealed that national adaptation programme of action (NAPAs) in least developed countries were being gender-blind and failed to be properly implemented. Least developed countries should therefore do more to prepare for ongoing and future climate changes focusing on actions that are no-regrets, multi-sectoral and multi-level, and that improve the management of current climate variability. Strengthening capacities to use climate information, enabling locally appropriate responses, screening climate risks, assessing risks and adaptation options, starting with existing policies and plans, broadening constituencies beyond environment agencies, managing strategy conflicts, learning from projects and recognizing their limitations, monitoring and learning are the foreseen strategic actions by regions in Bangladesh for effective mainstreaming of climate change adaptation into regional development planning in the years to come. Keywords: Climate Change, Adaptation, Bangladesh, Least Developed Countries, Mainstreamin

Cinderella and the Missing Slipper: Gender Dynamics in Water Management in the Coastal Region of Bangladesh

The water world is socially constructed, reflecting continuous gender inequalities and discrimination by those who hold dominant perspectives on water. This qualitative study was conducted in coastal areas of Bangladesh i.e. Bajua and Laodob union of Dacope upazilla of Khulna district. This study explored the gendered roles, responsibilities, and inequalities of access to and control over water management in the household, irrigation and agriculture. Results of this study lightened the importance of taking into account the complexity of power and negotiation in local water structures within women’s social realities. This study observed that there are considerable gender imbalance with regard to household activities, income generating activities, participation and mobility, ownership and control of resources, decision making power and involvement in different activities in the water management. The distinct roles and the relations between men and women may give rise to gender inequalities where one group is systematically favored and holds advantages over another. Therefore, gender mainstreaming in the water management is an integral dimension to bringing to light the concerns and experiences of both men and women. The study is convinced that dissemination of information with regards to the role of women in the water management and benefits of a gendered approach in the water sector has been neglected. There were inadequate research materials, especially locally in relation to gender, water management and women empowerment, indicating that there either has been not much research conducted to explore the top or there has been no proper documentation of research papers pertaining to the same. Possible areas of further research may include evaluating the gender mainstreaming strategies in the water and agriculture management in the southwest coastal regions of Bangladesh. If strategies are there and people are enlightened, where is the missing link? Lastly, further research is needed to focus on how women knowledge in water management can be translated to community and national benefits

Build up Environmental Citizenship through Environmental Education and Consciousness in Bangladesh

Today’s environmental problems are structurally anchored in our societies and our ways of life. Nowhere has this issue been so pronounced than in developing countries. In Bangladesh, rural people are arsenic contaminated and urban people are mostly exposed to the polluted water and air, recurring natural disasters and a dwindling natural resource base. It is one of the poorest countries of the developing world, with a low resource base, a very low land-man ratio, and is threatened by both natural hazards and overexploitation. However this resource base is under see threat and environmental planning is necessary to signal any hope for survival with dignity and sustainability. This collective action problem stems from years of public insensitivity and lack of genuine consciousness for environmental justice. In this paper, it is argued that, for Bangladesh to truly achieve sustainable environmental quality and protection, a formal environmental citizenship education and consciousness program should be established. In addition to poor and/or ineffective environmental regulations, it is further argued that lack of citizens’ consciousness of certain environmental risks could be blamed, in part, for the country’s poor environmental awareness education. A consciousness of environmental risk factors could galvanize citizens to capitalize on their social capital as a vehicle to address issues of environmental quality. Any environmental citizenship education and awareness program should be designed with the ultimate goal of promoting responsible environmental behavior. Keywords: Environment, Bangladesh, Environmental Education and Consciousness, Environmental Behavior, Environmental Citizenshi

Community’s Perception and Involvement in Co-management of Bhawal National Park, Bangladesh

Natural forests in Bangladesh have been severely degraded due to over exploitation, encroachment, fire, uncontrolled and wasteful commercial logging, illegal felling, overgrazing, and the collection of fuel wood to support the energy needs of a large population. This paper investigated the livelihoods of local people and their involvement in management of Bhawal National Park. Based on primary and secondary data, it revealed that community in the study area was heavily dependent on forestry-related activities to support livelihoods.  Local community participation in ecotourism activities and resource protection and in protected areas can be pursued through collaborative management. At present, the natural resources of the park are degrading due to indiscriminate use by the locals and visitors mainly in the form of encroachment and tourism incompatible activities. The local community was left out in decision making process where the core problem still not addressed. This study also investigated the problems that affected natural resources and local community involvement in management to mitigate such problem. Results showed that the relationship between the local community and park administration is not significant where their participation in the management is minimal. In overall the study provides the premises where the local community supported their participation in the decision making process and participate in management for a better stewardship of the park. Keyword: Community, Perception, Co-management, Bhawal National Park, Banglades

Towards Urban City with Sustainable Buildings: A Model for Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Dhaka has experienced high economic growth escorted by rapid urbanization. Physical infrastructures of Dhaka city growing day by day with the swiftness of rapid urbanization. It revealed that most of the physical infrastructures i.e. buildings of Dhaka city did not follow the characteristics of sustainability resulting significant threats to well beings.  In this perspective, ensuring sustainability in building is time worthy issue in Bangladesh. This paper tried to address the issues of sustainable building as well as propose a sustainable and smart design which will swathe criteria of environment, social and economic sustainability for Dhaka city. If the majority of the objects of proposed design are met, the building will be more probable to meet the changing requirements of the settlers, as well as make it a more sustainable, protected, secure, efficient and environmentally friendly place in which to stay. Keywords: Dhaka city, Smart materials, Sustainable design, Sustainable building

Indoor Air Pollution and Prevalence of Acute Respiratory Infection among Children in Rural Area of Bangladesh

This study was undertaken in the village Shalchura under Nalitabari Thana in Sherpur district where total of 145 study populations (Children) were selected by systematic random sampling. Prevalence of acute respiratory infection (ARI) was seen in 76.6% of study children during last one year most of whom were found to be in the age group 0-5 years. The difference in the prevalence of acute respiratory infection (ARI)  in 0-5 years group compared to prevalence of 6-18 years group were found to be statistically significant. Having a poor or lower medium class socio-economic background, majority of the family used mixture of biomass fuel like wood, crop-residue, cow-dung, saw dust, leaves etc. for cooking purpose. Association with disease symptoms to poor ventilation condition of the house and kitchen were also found to be significant. Another important factor for acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms was exposure to biomass fuel at daily cooking time. The disease symptoms tend to increase in 0-5 years group and the children who spent more time in cooking were more exposed to indoor air pollution as they have been showed more incidences of acute respiratory infection (ARI). It was revealed that due to smoking habit of family members and did that inside the living room, increased the occurrence of acute respiratory infection (ARI) among children.  It was also found that use of mosquito’s coils and poor living space increased the incidences of acute respiratory infection (ARI) among children. It was revealed that among the children with exposed (ARI) 41(28.8%) were liberated gases enter into their living room during cooking compared to 8 (23.5%) children in the unexposed (non ARI) group. Keywords: Indoor Air Pollution, Acute respiratory infection, Children, Sherpur, Banglades

What Leadership Qualities and Challenges are Required to Respond to Natural Disaster? – Cases of Emergency Response Leaders in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is widely known as a land of natural disasters and remains classified as one the most vulnerable countries in the world. Over the last thirty years, Bangladesh has experienced nearly 200 natural disasters accounted for damage of asset, property and, livelihoods and over thousands of death toll. In this connection, effective leadership is critical in order to make disaster response system operative in an effective and efficient manner. This study explores the disaster leadership with a view of identifying the essential leadership qualities that are essential for leaders to effectively respond in the aftermath of disaster. The study method is qualitative and forty employees (male- 20 and female- 20) who are working as full-time managerial position in the disaster management sectors in different NGOs and governmental organization have been selected conveniently to know and explore leadership quality, experience, perception and challenges about disaster response activities in Bangladesh. Noted that these forty studied people participated in different natural disasters response activities such as Cyclone Sidr, 2007; Cyclone Aila, 2009 and Cyclone Roanu, 2016 where they played critical leadership roles. This study revealed that some key essential leadership qualities such as intuitiveness, decisiveness, communication, networking, accountability, and learning are essentially required to respond disasters effectively. Keywords:Disaster, Response, Leadership Quality, Experience, Challenges DOI: 10.7176/DCS/12-5-01 Publication date:May 31st 202

E-Waste In Bangladesh: Evaluating The Situation, Legislation And Policy And Way Forward With Strategy And Approach

Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest-growing pollution problems worldwide given the presence if a variety of toxic substances which can contaminate the environment and threaten human health, if disposal protocols are not meticulously managed. In Bangladesh almost 2.7 million metric tons of e-waste generated per year. Of this amount only 20 to 30 percent is recycled and the rest of the waste is released in to landfills, rivers, drains lakes, canals, open spaces which are very hazardous for the health and environment. Since Bangladesh is in the stream of rapid technological advancement, it is seldom to take necessary steps to avoid the future jeopardized situation because of e-waste. The current practices of e-waste management in Bangladesh suffer from a number of drawbacks like the difficulty in inventory, unhealthy conditions of informal recycling, inadequate legislation and policy, poor awareness and reluctance on part of the corporate to address the critical issues. The paper highlights the associated issues and strategies to address this emerging problem, analyses the policy and its gaps. Therefore, this paper also suggest that e-waste policy development may require a more customized approach where, instead of addressing e-waste in isolation, it should be addressed as part of the national development agenda that integrates green economy assessment and strategic environmental assessment as part of national policy planning. Finally this work also suggests some alternative strategies and approaches to overcome the challenges of e-waste

THE JEOPARDIZED SITUATION OF ELECTRONIC WASTE IN BANGLADESH: CAN CUSTOMIZED POLICY APPROACH SOLVE THE CHALLENGE?

Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest-growing pollution problems worldwide given the presence if a variety of toxic substances which can contaminate the environment and threaten human health, if disposal protocols are not meticulously managed. In Bangladesh almost 2.7 million metric tons of e-waste generated per year. Of this amountonly 20 to 30 percent is recycled and the rest of the waste is released in to landfills,  rivers, drains lakes, canals, open spaces which are very hazardous for the health and environment. Since Bangladesh is in the stream of rapid technological advancement, it is seldom to take necessary steps to avoid the future jeopardized situation because of e-waste. The current practices of e-waste management in Bangladesh suffer from a number of drawbacks like the difficulty in inventorisation, unhealthy conditions of informal recycling, inadequate legislation and policy, poor awareness and reluctance on part of the corporate to address the critical issues. The paper highlights the associated issues and strategies to address this emerging problem, analyses the policy and its gaps. Therefore, this paper also suggest that e-waste policy development may require a more customized approach where, instead of addressing e-waste in isolation, it should be addressed as part of the national development agenda that integrates green economy assessment and strategic environmental assessment as part of national policy planning. Finally this work also suggests some alternative strategies and approaches to overcome the challenges of e-waste

Towards Urban City with Sustainable Buildings:A Model for Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Dhaka has experienced high economic growth escorted by rapid urbanization. Physical infrastructures of Dhaka city are growing day by day with the swiftness of rapid urbanization. It revealed that most of the physical infrastructures such as buildings of Dhaka city did not follow the characteristics of sustainability thereby resulting in significant threats to the well-being of the people. In this perspective, ensuring sustainability in buildings is a time-worthy issue in Bangladesh. In this article, we have tried to address the issues of sustainable building and propose a sustainable and smart design which will swathe the criteria of environment, social and economic sustainability of Dhaka city. If the majority of the objectives of proposed design are met, the building will be more probable to meet the changing requirements of the settlers and make it a more sustainable, protected, secure, efficient and environmentally friendly place to stay