Micro Finance with Regard to Beneficiaries Perspective in Conventional and Islamic Paradigm with the Effect of Riba (interest): A Case Study on a Particular area of Bangladesh

We acknowledge that there is an argument in support of Riba and dispute against Riba. Once more the endless journey of “Micro Credit” at its Summit in Washington D.C, 1997 also convey; yet the “Micro Credit” still being one of the powerful tools fights against   poverty but in application it exploit slight improvement in achievement. Moreover, The initiatives of’ Govt. and non Govt Organization, efforts of GRAMEEN BANK comes up with the same end result. The poverty itself arrest the people not only with physical starvation rather causes mental sickness and thereby breaks the social harmony. Where the ends? Then the study is attempt to cover in depth analysis of the beneficiaries of Riba micro financing i.e. conventional, its content, approach in contrast with the modes, approach of  non-Riba i.e. Islamic micro financing incorporating the analysis of few beneficiaries in the local area of Bangladesh. The sample research would certainly explore the brilliant suggestion to Micro Finance of its restructuring for stepping ahead by manufacturing successful milestone to eradicate poverty. Key Words: Riba, Islamic microfinance, Muslim Aid, Grameen Bank, ASA

The Impact of Human Resource Development (HRD) Practices on Organizational Effectiveness: A Review

This paper attempted to review theoretically the HRD and its matrix and revealed to show the positive relationship between HRD and organizational effectiveness. In HRD shows the different variables (outcomes) such as HRD instruments, HRD processes & climate variables and organizational dimensions. HRD affects the organizational goals which may result from higher productivity, cost reduction, more profits, better image and more satisfied customers and stake holders considered as organization dimensions HRD activities, as such, do not reduce costs, improve quality or quantity, or benefit the enterprise in any way. It is the on-the- job applications of learning that ultimately can reduce costs, improve quality, and so forth. In the organizational context, therefore, HRD means a process which helps employees of an organization to improve their functional capabilities for their present and future roles, to develop their general capabilities, to harness their inner potentialities both for their self and organizational development and, to develop organizational culture to sustain harmonious superior-subordinate relationships, teamwork, motivation, quality and a sense of belongingness. The study also analyses the Kliman Model of HRM to show the path of mechanisms which could lead to competitive advantage. Today’s fast changing environment modern organizations are more careful to sustain in the competitive advantage relating to HRD our study has been developed to help the management students, academicians, and professionals to understand the subject properly and enhance their knowledge about HRD network within the organization for its effectiveness

The Biogeochemical Cycle of Cadmium in Subantarctic Water: Studies of Carbonic Anhydrase Enzyme Activity

Carbonic anhydrase is a zinc-containing enzyme that catalyzes the reversible reaction between carbon dioxide hydration and bicarbonate dehydration and is used for inorganic carbon acquisition by phytoplankton. In regions of the oceans where zinc is depleted, diatoms may use cadmium as the catalytic metal centre in carbonic anhydrase. Cadmium carbonic anhydrase (CdCA) readily exchanges cadmium and zinc at its active site (Xu et al., 2008) an apparently unique adaptation to oceanic life (Xu et al., 2008). Although CdCA was initially isolated as a Cd enzyme, it is actually a cabalistic enzyme, i.e. it can use either Zn or Cd for catalysis and spontaneously exchanges the two metals. Cadmium in the open ocean has a labile nutrient-like profile (Boyle et al., 1976; Bruland et al., 1978) in which concentrations are depleted at the surface, increasing to a broad maximum at the bottom of the main thermocline and remain more or less constant at greater depths. This labile nutrient-like profile of Cd is a reflection of its likely involvement in phytoplankton uptake in the surface water followed by an increase with depth because of the decomposition of biogenic particles and subsequent remineralization. The similarity between Cd and the labile nutrients implies that most of the Cd uptake is associated with the more labile organic tissues of the phytoplankton. However, Cd is unusually depleted in certain regions of the ocean, particularly in subantarctic waters close to New Zealand (Frew and Hunter, 1992), apparently because of enhanced seasonal biological uptake. Recent work in our group indicates that Cd levels decline significantly (almost 50-fold) during summer compared to winter (Gault-Ringold et al., 2012) as a result of iron-induced biological growth in Subantarctic waters off the Otago Shelf. This decrease coincides with the drawdown of Zn and macronutrients (NO3–, PO43–, Si(OH)4). This evidence strongly suggests that low Cd concentrations are dependent on biological uptake in this water. In the present study both incubation and field experiments were conducted to determine the biological role of Cd on the growth of phytoplankton and its bio-uptake mechanism into the diatoms. In incubation experiments two axenic diatoms (Thalassiosira pseudonana and Nitzschia sp.) species were grown in chemically defined Zn and Cd manipulated media. The growth results of both species demonstrated a beneficial effect of Cd on the growth of phytoplankton. However CA activity of cultured experiments was also measured to aid the interpretation of the field observations of CA activity of phytoplankton. In the field study, measurements have been made of the factors involved in seasonal Cd cycling along with nutrients, chl-a and trace metals off the southeast coast of New Zealand (Otago transect). We collected water samples along the Otago transect bimonthly over one year. Carbonic anhydrase activity was assayed using spectrophotometric and electrometric methods of all collected field samples. Measured CA activity showed strong identical seasonality with trace metals and nutrient concentrations. High CA activity was observed in the winter and low CA activity in the summer; this trend was the reverse of the trend for chl-a concentrations. Chl-a and other supporting field data strongly suggest the biological uptake of Cd in this study. However CA activity data from the field experiment indicates that the uptake of Cd by phytoplankton in the water along the Otago transect does not involve CdCA. The cadmium uptake mechanism was studied in diatom (Thalassiosira pseudonana) cultures grown in high and low Zn treatment with added same Cd concentration. Cellular Zn and Cd concentrations were measured in diatom pellets grown in both treatments. This showed that Cd uptake was independent of Zn concentrations. Diatom extracts were fractionated using gel permeation chromatography for CA activity, Zn and Cd analysis of pooled fractions. However there was no correlation found between CA activity and Zn or Cd. From these results presented in this thesis, we conclude that Cd has a biological effect on the growth of diatoms. Uptake of Cd is not associated with stimulating CA enzyme activity, and finally, it was confirmed that Cd is taken up independently of Zn

The Biogeochemical Cycle of Cadmium in Subantarctic Water: Studies of Carbonic Anhydrase Enzyme Activity

Carbonic anhydrase is a zinc-containing enzyme that catalyzes the reversible reaction between carbon dioxide hydration and bicarbonate dehydration and is used for inorganic carbon acquisition by phytoplankton. In regions of the oceans where zinc is depleted, diatoms may use cadmium as the catalytic metal centre in carbonic anhydrase. Cadmium carbonic anhydrase (CdCA) readily exchanges cadmium and zinc at its active site (Xu et al., 2008) an apparently unique adaptation to oceanic life (Xu et al., 2008). Although CdCA was initially isolated as a Cd enzyme, it is actually a cabalistic enzyme, i.e. it can use either Zn or Cd for catalysis and spontaneously exchanges the two metals. Cadmium in the open ocean has a labile nutrient-like profile (Boyle et al., 1976; Bruland et al., 1978) in which concentrations are depleted at the surface, increasing to a broad maximum at the bottom of the main thermocline and remain more or less constant at greater depths. This labile nutrient-like profile of Cd is a reflection of its likely involvement in phytoplankton uptake in the surface water followed by an increase with depth because of the decomposition of biogenic particles and subsequent remineralization. The similarity between Cd and the labile nutrients implies that most of the Cd uptake is associated with the more labile organic tissues of the phytoplankton. However, Cd is unusually depleted in certain regions of the ocean, particularly in subantarctic waters close to New Zealand (Frew and Hunter, 1992), apparently because of enhanced seasonal biological uptake. Recent work in our group indicates that Cd levels decline significantly (almost 50-fold) during summer compared to winter (Gault-Ringold et al., 2012) as a result of iron-induced biological growth in Subantarctic waters off the Otago Shelf. This decrease coincides with the drawdown of Zn and macronutrients (NO3–, PO43–, Si(OH)4). This evidence strongly suggests that low Cd concentrations are dependent on biological uptake in this water. In the present study both incubation and field experiments were conducted to determine the biological role of Cd on the growth of phytoplankton and its bio-uptake mechanism into the diatoms. In incubation experiments two axenic diatoms (Thalassiosira pseudonana and Nitzschia sp.) species were grown in chemically defined Zn and Cd manipulated media. The growth results of both species demonstrated a beneficial effect of Cd on the growth of phytoplankton. However CA activity of cultured experiments was also measured to aid the interpretation of the field observations of CA activity of phytoplankton. In the field study, measurements have been made of the factors involved in seasonal Cd cycling along with nutrients, chl-a and trace metals off the southeast coast of New Zealand (Otago transect). We collected water samples along the Otago transect bimonthly over one year. Carbonic anhydrase activity was assayed using spectrophotometric and electrometric methods of all collected field samples. Measured CA activity showed strong identical seasonality with trace metals and nutrient concentrations. High CA activity was observed in the winter and low CA activity in the summer; this trend was the reverse of the trend for chl-a concentrations. Chl-a and other supporting field data strongly suggest the biological uptake of Cd in this study. However CA activity data from the field experiment indicates that the uptake of Cd by phytoplankton in the water along the Otago transect does not involve CdCA. The cadmium uptake mechanism was studied in diatom (Thalassiosira pseudonana) cultures grown in high and low Zn treatment with added same Cd concentration. Cellular Zn and Cd concentrations were measured in diatom pellets grown in both treatments. This showed that Cd uptake was independent of Zn concentrations. Diatom extracts were fractionated using gel permeation chromatography for CA activity, Zn and Cd analysis of pooled fractions. However there was no correlation found between CA activity and Zn or Cd. From these results presented in this thesis, we conclude that Cd has a biological effect on the growth of diatoms. Uptake of Cd is not associated with stimulating CA enzyme activity, and finally, it was confirmed that Cd is taken up independently of Zn

Role of Foreign NGOs in Economic Development of Bangladesh: A Study on Muslim Aid UK-Bangladesh Field Office

Lot of local and foreign NGOs are working in Bangladesh to serve the poor community people, among them some are following Islamic Shariah in their activities where most of the NGOs are conventional. To evaluate the activities of the foreign Islamic NGOs in economic development of Bangladesh this study was conducted. Muslim Aid UK was considered as the sample organization and among the 70,000 beneficiaries of micro-finance program of the said NGO, 50 were interviewed to collect data to study. It is found that most of the respondents have developed their economic conditions with the service of the sample NGO and they are very satisfied with their Shariah based economic activities. On the basis of the findings, for the sample NGO, the researcher here recommends to extend their services to all the poor rural community people as per requirement of the community and other conventional NGOs may follow Muslim Aid to serve the community. Key Words: Foreign NGO, Economic development, Islamic micro finance, Muslim Aid

Continuous improvement: a comparison between Islamic and conventional approaches

Continuous improvement in products/services is one of the vital elements of Total Quality Management (TQM). TQM is not a one-step activity; rather it is a continuous approach and a never-ending process. In order to strengthen competitive advantage in the market, organisations must endeavour to continuously improve quality of products and services. One may call it Jidoka or Kaizan or PDSA or 5-S or 6 sigma or JIT, the purpose is all the same, which is to improve continually either product/service quality or process quality. All of the mentioned models basically focus on the mundane world benefits only. But the proposed NAIS model for continuous improvement is more comprehensive and it focuses benefits in both the worlds –Here and Hereafter. To develop a model of continuous improvement from an Islamic perspective and to find out the distinction between Islamic approach and conventional approaches to continuous improvement are the major objectives of this present study. By nature, the present study is an exploratory one, at the same time it is a theoretical one based on the library research and only the secondary data collected from different relevant literatures, Qur’an and Sunnah are used to realize the objectives

Subverting war narrative in the purview of gender justice:Analysing Bishkanta (2015): A Liberation War documentary from Bangladesh

This article analyses how a Bangladeshi documentary film Bishkanta (The Poison Thorn) (2015) directed by a feminist and cultural activist Farzana Boby negoti-ates the gendered war narrative of Bangladesh and how the film is being used as an enabling platform for the Birangonas (‘war-raped women’) to express their long-time endured suffering and outrage. The Liberation War of Bangladesh (1971) is amongst the most represented themes in Bangladeshi media culture. However, feminist scholars have been critical about the gender blindness of the depic-tions, with women’s experiences encoded only as victims. Hence, a documentary demanding recognition of women’s contributions and enabling space for women to speak about their losses, pains and grievance is an exception. By analysing the narrative techniques (i.e. plot, perspective, language and frames) this article shows how Bishkanta represents the stories of female rape survivors and make a claim for gender justice. Our findings suggest, despite Boby’s good intentions, Bishkanta has been reproducing the mainstream victimhood narrative ascribed to these women and occasionally reinscribing the gendered ideology of Liberation War in the mainstream nationalist discourse.</p

A conceptual model of continuous improvement in total quality management from Islamic perspective

Continuous improvement (CI), one of the vital principles of total quality management (TQM), is now being practiced in almost every organization regardless their natures, shapes, and sizes. After developing the concept of CI in 1930s, Muslims are using the models and approaches developed by the non-Muslim scholars based on their own cultures and beliefs. The main purpose of conducting this particular study is to develop a new model of CI in TQM from Islamic perspective. After an extensive literature review, the researchers have developed a conceptual model of CI in TQM from Islamic perspective which is named as NAMS Cycle (initial letters of the components) where the main components are al-nīyah bil ikhlas, amal, muhāsaba and shukr. All of these components also consist of some other constructs. Both the Muslim and non-Muslim believers will be benefited from this research if they have good faith in the Creator and the Day of Judgment

Implementation of NAMS Cycle Model– a continuous Improvement model from Islamic perspective

The main objective of this research is to develop an implementation process of the newly developed continuous improvement (CI) model – NAMS Cycle. Erecting on the affirmative postmodernism philosophy, fundamental epistemological foundations of this research are the Qur’ān and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the contributions of scholars in Islam. A qualitative methodology is adopted to conduct this research. Data were collected through focus group discussions (FGD) and semi-structured in-depth interviews and were analysed manually. Based upon the data, the researchers have finalised a five-step implementation process of the NAMS cycle started with decision making and followed by education and training, implementation, evaluation, and corrective measures. Departmental Heads and all the employees will be involved to implement the model successfully

A new model of continuous improvement in total quality management from an Islamic perspective

Continuous improvement in products/services is a vital element of Total Quality Management (TQM). To strengthen competitive advantage in the market, organisations must continuously improve quality of products and services. Whether this process is termed Jidoka, Kaizen, PDSA, 5-S, Six Sigma, or JIT, the purpose is to continually improve product/service quality or process quality. However, these models focus solely on mundane benefits. Developing a model of continuous improvement from an Islamic perspective is the major objective of this study. By nature, the study is an exploratory one and theoretically based on library research and is rooted in the Qur’ān and Sunnah. The major outcome of this research is development of a new model of continuous improvement, named NAMS cycle. This cycle is composed of four inter-related components: al-Nīyyah bi al- Ikhlās, al-‘Amal, al-Muḫāsaba and al-Ṣhukr. Having the initial letters of the components the model is named. In turn, each component consists of a number of elements, for example al-Nīyyah bi al- Ikhlās consists of intention, objectives, and planning. Organisations have to fulfil two prerequisites for successful implementation of the model in their premises which are top management commitment and strongly motivated work team