Value Web: Perspective of Cellular Phone Industry of Bangladesh

Cellular phone is the one of revenue generating sector in Bangladesh. 100 million subscribers milestone has been achieved in 2013. Significant development and availability of Internet brought new scope to add value to the customer which facilitates companies to redesign existing business process and fabricating new value web. Value web is a collection of independent firms that use information technology to coordinate their value chains to produce a product or service for a market collectively. It is more customers driven and operates in a less linear fashion than the traditional value chain. In this paper the author investigated and explained the role of information system to develop value and the extent of value web in telecommunication industry of Bangladesh. Keywords: Value web, cellular phone industry of Bangladesh, Information syste

Agricultural Credit in Bangladesh: Present Trend, Problems and Recommendations

Economic theory undoubtedly proved the crucial importance of agricultural sector of a country in case of it’s economic transition. A timely flow of agricultural credit can meet farmers demand to ensure agricultural productivity. The purpose of this study is to explore the pattern of present trend of agricultural credit flow over the recent years, specially from the formal sector banking institutions. This study reveals that formal sector has flourished in recent years in disbursing agricultural credit where previously informal sector dominated the rural credit market for agriculture. NGOs have a stronger network throughout the country and many local private commercial banks and foreign banks use these channel to provide agricultural credit. Although PCBs (which includes domestic and foreign commercial banks) contributes a significant amount to total agricultural credit from formal sector, their percentage contribution to agricultural credit remain almost stagnant since the time they started to disburse agricultural loan.  It will also entail discussion about the problem involved in case of agricultural loan disbursement as well as some policy recommendation that may minimize the leakage in agricultural credit distribution to the rural farmers. Keywords: Agricultural Credit, Formal Sector, PCBs, NGOs, SCBs, SBs, Bangladesh

Vermicompost induced growth and yield performance of capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) at sustainable rooftop farming system

Rooftop farming is gaining rapid popularity in urban areas, especially since the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic. For housebound people rooftop farming is not only a way of   potentially management of their time but also the execution of creativity. For rooftop farming vermicompost (VC) can be the most sustainable media for growing high value fruits and vegetables crops. In this regard, an experiment was carried out as a rooftop farming system at Charfassion upzila in the Bhola district of Bangladesh to observe the growth and yield performance of capsicum (Capsicum annuum) grown in different combinations of vermicompost in the winter season (2020-2021). Different agronomic and yield parameters were measured at the intervals of 30, 60, and 90 days and at the final harvest of 120 days after sowing. Among the measured parameters a mixed type of performance was achieved from varied doses of vermicompost applications and inorganic fertilizer treatment. Among the measured valuable parameters; the highest fruit length (8.85 cm), fruit diameter (10.3 cm), no. of fruits (9.51 plant-1), total wt. of fresh fruits (405.32 g/plant), fresh fruits yield (11.26 t ha-1), no. of branches (30.0 plant-1), stem girth (6.3 cm), root fresh wt. (8.80 g/plant), stem fresh wt. (23.35 g/plant),  petiole fresh wt. (6.09 g/plant), total fresh biomass (65.54 g/plant), dry wt. of fruits (76.91 g/plant),  dry wt. of total fruits: biomass ratio (7.35) and benefit-cost ratio (12.40), respectively, were observed in T5 (20t VC ha-1). So, from the overall findings of this study T5 with 20t VC application ha-1 is recommended to achieve better growth and yield of capsicum through the sustainable way of rooftop and urban farming systems and to improve soil fertility status

Prospects and Challenges of Green Marketing in Bangladesh

Green marketing is a latest addition in the field of business. Consumers are now very much careful due to information and communication technology in choosing products. Food scientists are also helping the marketers to develop green products. Green marketing is a popular concept in recent times. This concept is expanding not only in asia but also around the world. There is a huge prospect of green marketing in Bangladesh. Green marketing is the ethical marketing considering the environment that ensures safety of the consumers. It can bring new dimension in the field of business with proper implementation of green marketing policies and strategies. Keywords: Green Marketing, Marketing mix, Business environment

Mineralogical Characterization of Uranium Ores, Blends and Resulting Leach Residues from Key Lake Pilot Plant, Saskatchewan, Canada

The production and storage of uranium mine mill tailings have the potential to contaminate local groundwater and surface waters with metals and metalloids. As such, an understanding of the solids reservoirs for potential contaminants in uranium ore blends and leach residues (solid wastes generated by the milling of ore) is required to predict long-term controls on these contaminants in tailings porewaters. This study characterized the distribution of the elements of concern (EOCs; As, Mo, Ni, and Se) in uranium ores and waste rock used to blend the mill feeds in the milling process and leach residues from the Key Lake mining operation, Saskatchewan. This study also evaluated the alteration of the clay minerals in these uranium ores, waste rocks and leach residues. X-ray diffraction, electron micro-probe, and mineral liberation analyses showed that the reservoirs for As, Mo, Ni, and Se (in ores and ore blends) were dominated by sulphides including cobaltite, gersdorffite, molybdenite, pyrite, galena and chalcopyrite, secondary Ni-arsenates (annabergite?), Fe-arsenate (scorodite?) and Ni-Co/Ni-sulfates. The secondary arsenates and sulfates present in special waste were identified as major As, Mo, Ni, and Se bearing minerals and most likely the product of oxidation of arsenide-bearing sulphide minerals within the special waste rock. Analyses also showed that sulphides and arsenates occurred in trace amounts in the ores and special waste rock (0.5 to 1.0 wt %). Data showed that 55 to 90% pyrite, 36 to 51% chalcopyrite, 23 to 37% molybdenite, and 52 to 70% galena remained unleached in the leach residues after milling of the ore blends. The percentages of unleached minerals varied between mill feeds and were dependent on the grain-size distribution and the degree of mineral liberation. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) analysis indicated an increase of the CEC values in the leach residues suggesting possible evolution of 2:1 layers into high-charge layers during the milling

Tourism in Bangladesh: A Prospects Analysis

Tourism has become a great source of foreign exchange earning in Bangladesh. It is playing an important role to create an employment opportunities in a large scale. Bangladesh has become now a new tourist zone on the map of the world. The tourism sector in Bangladesh has been gradually growing from mid-nineties to till now. It has a great potentiality to develop tourism sector by applying new policies and strategies. This research has identified the prospects of tourism industry in Bangladesh, identifies the SWOT analysis, constraints and suggests remedial measures of tourism sector. Keywords: Tourism, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, SWOT Analysis

Current Practices of Green Marketing and Consumers’ Attitude towards Green Consumption: A Case Study of Some Selected Plastic-Bottled Soft Drinks Producing Firms

In today’s global economy, organizations are increasingly called upon to demonstrate sound management of economic, social and environmental issues. A focus on these issues results in advantages in financing, insurance, marketing, regulatory treatment, and other areas. Business today is not just about selling a product or service to a customer around the corner. In the rapid evolution to a global market-place, having a set of common rules is critical to facilitating trade. Increasingly in this single world market, an organization needs to be able to demonstrate sound business management that includes concern for the environment. This would obviously results in advantages in financing, insurance, marketing, regulatory, and other areas of operations. An Environmental Management System (EMS) provides a solid framework for meeting environmental challenges and realizing the benefits. EMS is a structured approach to addressing the environmental bottom line. Development and implementation of EMS requires careful concentration, otherwise it would be an overwhelming task. Major global firms and international industry associations have historically been leaders in the areas of corporate environmental performance and voluntary initiatives for global environmental management. On the other hand, Bangladeshi firms are seriously lagging behind. Multinational companies as well as larger associations must come forward to help their smaller counterparts in development and implementation of a successful EMS for the betterment of the business sector and the environment as a whole. Keywords: China insurance industry, Foreign fund, Challeng

Overseas Employment and Remittance Inflow in Bangladesh

Bangladesh met with regular and enormous labor migration to overseas from 1960s and it is still one of the most remittance gaining countries among the developing ones in Asia. Like overseas employment, remittances flow has been increasing every year with its increased share in GDP and export earnings which becomes vital elements for accelerating economic growth in Bangladesh. In this study, we found that there is a significant relationship between inflows of foreign remittances and overseas employment. Our analysis also reveals that unskilled manpower, insufficient government initiatives for exploring new overseas market for labor, employees’ reluctance to use legal channel for sending money are some of the reasons that inhibits the remittance inflows in Bangladesh. In this context, we think proper training, raising awareness and government active role will be suffice in ensuring inflows of foreign remittances. Keywords: Migration, Employment, Overseas, Remittance, Development

Biological and pathobiological processes of human endometrium: endometrial receptivity, glucose metabolism, and cell migration

In adolescents and young adult women with endometrial cancer, maintaining fertility is a crucial aspect in preserving a high quality of life. This cumulative thesis summarizes three published studies on the biology of endometrial cancer and endometrial receptivity. A deeper understanding of both may facilitate the development of a fertility-sparing treatment of endometrial cancer. The first study (Alauddin et al., 2020b) describes how annexin A7 (ANXA7), a phospholipid binding protein, affects fertility and embryo implantation. In this study, we performed in silico analysis of transcriptome data, in vivo experiments on AnxA7−/− and WT (AnxA7+/+) mice as well as in vitro measurements using human endometrial stromal cells. As a result, endometrial tissue expressed ANXA7 that rose in a time-dependent manner following decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs). Silencing of ANXA7 reduces expression of canonical decidual marker genes, while increasing cyclooxygenase 2 and prostaglandin E2 levels. Moreover, number of implantation sites and litter sizes significantly increased in mice with genetic knockout of AnxA7. Furthermore, the study of human endometrial biopsies revealed that ANXA7 mRNA and protein levels are lower in women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) during the midluteal window of implantation compared to subfertile individuals. In summary, our data suggests critical roles of ANXA7 in the regulation of endometrial receptivity and implantation. The second study (Zeng et al., 2020) investigated whether the endometrial bleeding related factor LEFTY2 physiologically involved in closure of the implantation window during menstrual cycle, may regulate the glucose metabolism of endometrial adenocarcinoma. Beyond fuelling glycolysis, glucose is used for glycogen synthesis for long-term storage. Reportedly, cancer cells may utilise Na+ coupled glucose transporter-1 (SGLT1; SLC5A1) for cellular glucose uptake. Here, we analysed the effect of LEFTY2 on SGLT1 expression and activity, as well as on glycogen synthesis in endometrial Ishikawa and HEC1a adenocarcinoma cells. LEFTY2 increased transcript and protein abundances of SGLT1 and glycogen synthase-1 in both cell lines. In LEFTY2-stimulated Ishikawa but not in HEC1a cells, uptake of the glucose analogue 2-NBDG and cellular glycogen levels were significantly increased as compared to unstimulated cells. Co-treatment with TGF-β blunted these LEFTY2 effects, suggesting that LEFTY2 may upregulate glycogen synthesis in endometrial adenocarcinoma in a TGF-β dependent manner. Finally, the third published study to be included in this cumulative thesis (Alauddin et al., 2020a) analysed the possible effects of the ellagic acid metabolite Urolithin A on the progression of endometrial adenocarcinoma in vitro. To this end, the impact of Urolithin A on actin dynamics, proliferation and cell migration as well as the signalling underlying observed effects were determined. The data indicate that Urolithin A inhibited actin polymerization, cell proliferation and migration of endometrial adenocarcinoma cells likely by interfering with Rac1 and PAK1 expression and signalling suggesting a tumoristatic action of ellagic acid-rich diet