A MARKET MODEL FOR WATERMELON WITH SUPPLY UNDER RATIONAL EXPECTATIONS: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON BANGLADESH

The aim of this paper is to know the cultural practices and market model of watermelon in Bangladesh. The paper also attempts to identify the best model that may be used for forecasting purpose. Three models namely Naive, Cobweb and Rational Expectations (RE) have been considered by using time series agricultural data for a period of 2001/02 to 2012/13. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and Two Stage Least Square (2SLS) estimation procedures have been used for estimation purpose. Reliable parameter estimates of the Naive, Cobweb and RE model with minimum standard errors, high explanatory power have been obtained in this research. Comparing all the models the RE is the best model, because most of the signs are expected and the results are plausible

Determination of Traffic Induced Noise Pollution and its Impact on City Dwellers in the Chittagong City Area

Chittagong, the port city of Bangladesh, is one of the nosiest cities of the country. Extreme noise is very inimical for human health and environment. Noise pollution implies a discomfort and restlessness caused to humans by unwanted high intensity sound. Motorized traffic is one of the major sources of producing noise in Chittagong city. The present paper deals with determining the level of the noise pollution in Chittagong city area and its impact on city dwellers. In this study noise levels have been measured with digital sound level meter at eight different places of Chittagong city from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm during working days. Time weighted average noise level has been measured at the road side. The data have been analyzed to compute the average, maximum and minimum noise level in decibel (dB) with respect to traffic volume. From the study it was observed that the highest noise level in the road side in Chittagong city was 112 dB found at New Market and 2 No gate traffic area, which for exceeded the acceptable limit of 60 dB set by the Government of Bangladesh and minimum sound level 67 dB was recorded at GEC traffic area. The highest average value is 109.66 dB found at 2 No gate traffic area and lowest average value is 68.7 dB found at GEC traffic area. Questionnaire survey was done during the study to determine the health impact on the city dwellers. Most of the common problems, the dwellers suffering from noise pollution are headache, bed temper, sleeplessness, aggravation, hearing problems etc

Catalytic Cracking of Waste Plastic: Conversion of Plastics to Gasoline Fuel Using Zeolite Catalyst

In recent days fuel production from waste plastics has gained much attention because of the increasing number of generation of waste plastics and its non-biodegradability

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Foreign Remittance Beneficiaries in Bangladesh

The global economy has halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, leaving thousands of migrant Bangladeshi workers jobless and creating pressure on foreign exchange reserves. Remittance is multiple sources to influence the national economy. Additionally, remittances directly affect the lives of the migrants’ families as remittances increase consumption and help investment, education, health, and other productive activities. Remittances have impacted the social status of the families of migrants by improving the lifestyle, sending children to standard educational institutions and helping them to explore new income generating activities. The main purpose of this study is to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on foreign remittance beneficiaries’ buying behavior and living standard in Bangladesh. This study has been used quantitative research method mainly a survey technique. Questionnaire were designed by using Likert scale for collecting data from the respondents. Total 385 sample has taken and sample size were determined by using statistical method. Descriptive statistics, McNamara chi-square test, Economic situation index (ESI), Ordinary least square (OLS) regression was used as a data analysis tools. Conclusion was drawn based on the findings of the study. The study concludes that COVID-19 pandemic has a direct financial, social, and psychological impact on remittance beneficiaries. The result also shows that the amount of remittance inflow was severely reduced during this period of time. As a result, householder’s expenditure is badly affected. Key words:  COVID-19, Foreign remittance, Households, Living standard DOI: 10.7176/JESD/13-14-09 Publication date:July 31st 202

Application of Length-Based Assessment Methods to Elucidate Biological Reference Points of Black Pomfret Stock in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh

The black pomfret (Parastromateus niger) is one of the high-income-generating carangid fish species and the only known member of its genus. This study aims to identify existing gaps in stock status and population demography of this species and provide viable management recommendations to enhance the sustainability of this fishery. Therefore, three methodological approaches have been used in this study; TropFishR to present the current exploitation status, the length-based spawning potential ratio (LB-SPR) to quantify stock spawning biomass, and Froese’s sustainability indicators (LBI) to establish a basic standard for sustainable management of the fishery. In the length-weight relationship of black pomfret, an allometric growth pattern (b = 2.19) was found. The VBGF life history parameters for black pomfret were L∞ = 55.25 cm, K = 0.54 year−1, and based on LCCC analysis, the total mortality (Z = 1.61 year−1), natural mortality (M = 0.69 year−1) and fishing mortality (F = 0.91 year−1) are calculated. The result reveals that this fishery is currently suffering from overexploitation and the stock’s spawning biomass (SPR = 13%) is below the limit reference point because most of the catch (82%) was found to be under the maturity level. Based on the results, this study recommended strictly maintaining the mesh size of the net to ensure not to catch immature fish with a length smaller than 30.63 cm, recommended the length to catch be between 29 and 35 cm, and reducing fishing pressure by one-third to ensure the sustainability of the black pomfret fishery

Level, pattern, and determinants of polypharmacy and inappropriate use of medications by village doctors in a rural area of Bangladesh

Objective: Village doctors, informal health care providers practicing modern medicine, are dominant health care providers in rural Bangladesh. Given their role, it is important to examine their prescription pattern and inappropriate use of medication. Methods: These cross-sectional study data were collected through surveys of patients seen by village doctors during 2008 and 2010 at Chakaria, a typical rural area of Bangladesh. Categorization of appropriate, inappropriate, and harmful prescriptions by disease conditions was based on guidelines defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Government of Bangladesh. Analytical categorization of polypharmacy was defined when five or more medications were prescribed for a patient at a single visit. Findings: A total of 2,587 prescriptions were written by village doctors during the survey periods. Among the prescriptions were appropriate (10%), inappropriate (8%), combination of appropriate and inappropriate (63%), and harmful medications (19%). Village doctors with more than high school education were 53% less likely (odds ratio [OR]: 0.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26–0.86) to give polypharmacy prescriptions than those with less than high school education. While exploring determinants of prescribing inappropriate and harmful medications, this study found that polypharmacy prescriptions were six times more likely [OR: 6.00, 95% CI: 3.88–9.29] to have harmful medications than prescriptions with <5 medications. Conclusion: Village doctors’ training and supervision may improve the quality of services and establish accountability for the benefit of the rural population

Stock Assessment and Rebuilding of Two Major Shrimp Fisheries (Penaeus monodon and Metapenaeus monoceros) from the Industrial Fishing Zone of Bangladesh

The two economically important shrimp species in Bangladesh are the tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, and the brown shrimp, Metapenaeus monoceros. However, a continuous decline in the landing of these species from the industrial trawling made it critical to assess their stock biomass status to explore their response to the present degree of removal. Given the minimum data requirement and robustness, this study employed the depletion-based stock reduction analysis (DB-SRA) to assess these fisheries rigorously. For the industrial fishing zone (beyond the 40 m depth in the EEZ of Bangladesh), the estimated historic mean carrying capacity (K) was 5015 metric tons for the Penaeus monodon and 35,871 metric tons for Metapenaeus monoceros. The estimated overfishing limits (OFL), which were much smaller than the reported catches throughout the time series, indicate the overfishing status of these fisheries. As a result, the estimated biomass for the reference year (B2020) for both species was lower than BMSY, indicating that these fisheries are not producing MSY. Therefore, for the rebuilding and sustainable management of these stocks, this study recommended a catch limit of 100 metric tons for P. monodon and 750 metric tons for M. monoceros for the next ten years from biomass projections

Corporate Governance Mechanisms and Capital Structure Decision of Textile Companies in Bangladesh

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of corporate governance mechanisms on capital structure decisions of Textile Companies in Bangladesh. In particular, the paper examines the degree to which internal corporate governance mechanisms and an external corporate governance mechanism affect Bangladeshi textile firms’ capital structure. Methodology of the Study: The paper uses a multiple regression analysis to examine the effect of corporate governance and capital structure for a sample of 10 Bangladeshi textile firms listed in DSE during period from 2011 to 2017.Board size, Board composition, Board meetings &amp; Board ownership were used as corporate governance variables and Return on Assets (ROA) also used as control variable and debt ratio used as the measure of capital structure. This study also used different statistical tools like descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and multiple regressions. Findings: The findings indicate that the relationship of Debt Ratio with Board Size &amp; Board Composition is positive and highly significant, a less significant or moderate positive relationship between Debt Ratio &amp; Board Ownership, insignificant and negative relationship between Debt Ratio &amp; Board Meetings and the Debt Ratio is negatively related to Return on Assets that is significant.CG mechanisms (Board Size &amp; Board Ownership) are significantly and positively impact on firms Capital Structure/ Debt Ratio (DR) and (Board Composition &amp; Board Meetings) are also positively impact on firms Capital Structure but that is statistically insignificant and Return on Assets is highly significant &amp; negatively impact on firms Capital Structure/ Debt Ratio (DR) of Listed Textile Companies in Bangladesh. [Keywords: Corporate Governance (CG), Capital Structure (CS), Debt Ratio (DR)] DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-20-02 Publication date:October 31st 201

Stock Assessment and Rebuilding of Two Major Shrimp Fisheries (Penaeus monodon and Metapenaeus monoceros) from the Industrial Fishing Zone of Bangladesh

The two economically important shrimp species in Bangladesh are the tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, and the brown shrimp, Metapenaeus monoceros. However, a continuous decline in the landing of these species from the industrial trawling made it critical to assess their stock biomass status to explore their response to the present degree of removal. Given the minimum data requirement and robustness, this study employed the depletion-based stock reduction analysis (DB-SRA) to assess these fisheries rigorously. For the industrial fishing zone (beyond the 40 m depth in the EEZ of Bangladesh), the estimated historic mean carrying capacity (K) was 5015 metric tons for the Penaeus monodon and 35,871 metric tons for Metapenaeus monoceros. The estimated overfishing limits (OFL), which were much smaller than the reported catches throughout the time series, indicate the overfishing status of these fisheries. As a result, the estimated biomass for the reference year (B2020) for both species was lower than BMSY, indicating that these fisheries are not producing MSY. Therefore, for the rebuilding and sustainable management of these stocks, this study recommended a catch limit of 100 metric tons for P. monodon and 750 metric tons for M. monoceros for the next ten years from biomass projections