The genesis of Jatio Sangsad Bhaban at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka

The thesis ‘The Genesis of Jatio Sangsad Bhaban at Shere-Bangla-Nagar, Dhaka’ is an attempt to unravel the socio-political, cultural and spatial components of Jatio Sangsad Bhaban (JSB), the National Assembly Building of Bangladesh. Commissioned in 1962 by Pakistani military dictator Ayub Khan and designed by world renowned architect Louis I. Kahn. This building represents an epic saga that encompasses the rich and dramatic history of Bangladesh. Built as an element of the dictatorial apparatus by the West Pakistani government to placate the nationalist movement of East Pakistan, it symbolises the national identity of an independent nation, Bangladesh. Initiated in the early 1960s during the cold war period, the creation of the JSB is characterised by the political context of the time. With its dominating physical presence, surrounded by space in an overcrowded city, the building serves as a constant reminder of both the nationalist movement that led to the war of independence of Bangladesh and the global political order under which it was created. This thesis explores these themes to understand the JSB as a nationalist product. The two constructs of nationalism, political and cultural, are seen as the main defining features of the thesis — through these lenses the thesis explores the socio-political construction of space that revolves around the building. The theory of architectural critic Lawrence Vale, who incorporates the political and cultural context in his study of symbolic buildings, is used to inform the thesis. The thesis evolved from articles in refereed journals and conference proceedings publications. The articles aimed to shed light on the hidden and less known phenomenon of this iconic building and its place within architectural historiography. Unfolding the subjective meaning of this building, rather than simply describing its physical attributes, evokes a new understanding and knowledge that can be applied to other iconic and symbolic structures

Qualitative Research Framework: Integrating Philosophical and Methodological Assumptions

This study aims to integrate how philosophical assumptions relate to the chosen methodology, methods, research questions, and prospective outcomes. The study shows that the methods of data collection chosen for the research are influenced by the research methodology. In turn, the methodology is influenced by the theoretical perspectives and similarly, the theoretical perspective is influenced by the ontological and epistemological stance. It could be argued that the researcher’s ontological and epistemological stances impact every aspects of the research process. DOI: 10.7176/JPCR/40-0

T-Y Granger Causality Between Stock Prices and Macroeconomic Variables: Evidence From Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE)

This study investigates the direction of the causal relationship between stock prices and macroeconomicaggregates in Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). By applying the techniques of unit root tests, cointegrationand the long run Granger causality test proposed by Toda and Yamamoto (1995), we test the causalrelationships between the DSE Stock Index and the thirteen macroeconomic variables, viz., consumer priceindex, deposit interest rate, foreign exchange rate, export payment, gross domestic product, investment,industrial production index, lending interest rate, broad money supply, national income deflator, foreignremittances and total domestic credit using monthly data for the period 1987 to 2010. The major findingsare that DSI is any way do not granger cause CPI, deposit interest rate, export receipt, GDP, investment,industrial production index, lending interest rate and national income deflator. But unidirectional causalityis found from DSI to broad money supply and total domestic credit. In addition bi-directional causality isalso identified from DSI to exchange rate, import payment and foreign remittances.Keywords: Macroeconomic Variables, Cointegration, T-Y Granger causalit

The Duality of Jatio Sangsad Bhaban and the Notion of Nationalism

Jatio Sangsad Bhaban or Nation Assembly Building or Capitol Complex of Bangladesh, is an iconic building designed by American architect Louis. I. Kahn. It is regarded as the national emblem and the national identity of Bangladesh. It has assumed a symbolic role in the nationalist movement of the Bangladeshi people which lead to the emergence of independent Bangladesh. Drawing on Peter Alter’s theory of nationalism, this paper will argue that his construct of the dual positive and negative character of nationalism aptly fits the role the Jatio Sangsad Bhaban has played from its outset, representing as his four aspects of nationalism: oppression, and at the same time emancipation, the repository of danger, and opportunity

Analyzing the Oppressive Dynamics of Private Tutoring System in Bangladesh

This analytical study explores the oppressive dynamics of private tutoring system in Bangladesh based on the Freirean assumption of ‘‘oppressed/oppressor’’ relationship. The results indicate that private tutoring becomes a system of oppression where the ‘‘oppressed/ oppressor’’ relationship has been and is being occurred. Based on the results, the study characterizes the students as the ‘‘oppressed’’ and the private tutoring (itself)/tutors as the ‘‘oppressor’’. The study also find that the forces of globalization deeply impacts on the ‘‘oppressed/oppressor’’ relationship of private tutoring system. The study suggests that practicing Freirean literacy method (‘‘conscientization’’ and ‘‘dialogue’’) in the formal schooling is a perfect way to liberate the students from private tutoring oppression

Jatio Sangsad Bhaban: Aspiring to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Jatio Sangsad Bhban (JSB) or the National Assembly Building of Bangladesh is an internationally renowned architectural masterpiece designed by eminent 20th-century American architect Louis I. Kahn. Its unique Architectural merit makes it one of the most significant buildings of the 20th century. The impact of this iconic building encompasses all spheres of Bengal life including culture, heritage, ethos and lifestyle. Its architectural values also evoke national identity, symbolizing the hopes and aspirations of the people of Bangladesh. However, despite its international and national material, social and human significance, it is yet to be nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS). This paper argues for the potential of the JSB to become a WHS

Stock Prices and Microeconomic Variables: T-Y Granger Causal Evidence From Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE)

This study examines the long-run equilibrium relationship and the direction of causality between stock prices at Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and a set of four stock market oriented factors technically can be defined as microeconomic variables. Through utilizing the methods of Unit Root tests, Johansen and Juselius (1990) Cointegration test and the long run Granger Causality test proposed by Toda and Yamamoto (1995), we have investigated the long-run equilibrium relationship as well as causal relationships between the DSE all share price index (DSI) and the four microeconomic variables (i.e. market dividend yield, market price-earnings multiples, monthly average market capitalization and monthly average trading volume) using monthly data from the period January 2000 to December 2010. Significant findings include long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables under study. However, DSI, in any way, do not granger cause dividend yield; but DSI has bi-directional causal relation with market price-earning multiples and the first lag of the monthly average trading volume. On the other hand, unidirectional causality is found from DSI to the first lag of monthly average market capitalization but no causality is found from the opposite direction. Keywords: Microeconomic Variables, Unit Root Test, Cointegration, T-Y Granger Causalit

JSB as Democratic Emblem and Urban Focal Point: The Imagined Socio-Political Construction of Space

Jatio Sangsad Bhaban [JSB], more commonly known as the National Assembly Building, or Capital Complex of Bangladesh, was designed by the renowned architect Louis I. Kahn and is an iconic landmark in the urban landscape of Dhaka (Capital of Bangladesh). It was commissioned in 1962, and a site was selected on the northern outskirt of the then Dacca (Dhaka). From the inception of the city, the rapid growth occurred mostly in a spontaneous way, which later occurred surrounding the JSB. JSB has become a central physical focus in Dhaka because of organic growth of Dhaka. JSB, the national assembly building of Bangladesh, can be viewed as a product of Bangladeshi nationalism, a socio-political construct that expresses both the national identity and the democratic spirit of the Bengali people after the country’s tumultuous history of subjugation, occupation. This paper proposes that there exists an imagined, symbolic and metaphorical connection between the spatial construction of JSB as an urban focal point, and its socio-political construction. This imagined nexus is explored in this paper in line with the theoretical framework of Lefebvre’s (1991) groundbreaking treatise on the ‘production of space’. The imagined and real socio-political construction of space is also endorsed by a range of discourses from urban anthropology, urban geography, human and cultural geography

The Failure of the 1917 Geddes Master Plan and 1959 Minoprio, Spencely, Macfarlane Master Plans: Some Reflections

Urban planning is inherently a political process addressing social justice and social coherence concerns. However, planners are fixated with the physical and superficial social aspects of planning, overlooking its deeper interrelationships. This paper discusses two master plans for the city of Dhaka. The first is the 1917 plan by Patrick Geddes, and the second is the 1959 Minoprio, Spencely and Mcfarlane Plan. Both plans were developed after a phase of social upheaval and unrest orchestrated to suppress the desires and wishes of the people of Dhaka. In both instances, the cross cultural planners lack cultural awareness, failing to perceive the then current issues fronting Dhaka. In essence, they work in isolation as planners. These initiatives can be argued as representing ‘planning for planning’s sake’. In this setting, this paper articulates that the failure of the two master plans were due to a lack of awareness of the social and political realities by these ‘foreign’ planners