National Identity Card: Opportunities and Threats

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A Chronicle of the Global Movement to Combat Violence against Women: The Role of the Second-Wave Feminist Movement and the United Nations: The Perspective of Bangladesh

Violence against women strikes countless women in epidemic proportions across the globe. At present, it is treated as the most pervasive violation of human rights and a serious impediment for development. Shockingly, for many years, a huge culture of silence was associated with the acts of violence of men against women. The second-wave feminist movement of the late sixties and early seventies brought the issue into public discourse, provided a theoretical foundation to analyse the problem and commenced an all-out campaign to redress the problem. For the second-wave feminist movement, patriarchy or unequal power relations between men and women is considered as the root cause of violence. Influenced inextricably by the influx of the second-wave feminist movement and its analytical framework, the United Nations (UN) has put the issue formally on the global agenda and set off a series of strategies and programmes to eliminate the problem. Hereafter, violence against women is no more a matter of silence. This paper, through the content analysis method, offers a chronological account of the whole gamut of the journey from ‘silence to outbreak’ concerning violence against women. Then again, it critically scrutinises the implications of this global journey at the local level. As such, it takes Bangladesh as a case and finds that despite having lots of interventions in place, violence against women is a serious problem for women. It is because of the throttlehold of patriarchy that confronting violence against women seems to be somehow arduous. Nonetheless, evidence shows that the influx of second-wave feminism and subsequent proceedings of the UN concerning the issue of violence against women have had some kind of influences on Bangladesh as well. Understandably, the global movement to combat violence against women has a local appeal as well. Nevertheless, the movement to combat violence against women is a continuous process. Sensitising men and boys for developing healthy gender relations and involving them in the movement are some of the suggestions given in this paper

Suicidal Behaviour in South Africa and Bangladesh: A Review of Empirical Work

Suicidal behaviour is as significant a public-health concern in the global South as it is worldwide. In this article we offer a review of studies on suicidal behaviour in two countries in the global South – one in Asia (Bangladesh) and one in Africa (South Africa). A total of 20 South African and 16 Bangladeshi articles published between 2008 and 2018 were selected using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Only empirical, research-based articles with an explicit focus on the prevalence and causes of suicide in both countries were screened and selected for this review. The review confirms that in both countries suicidal behaviour tends to be higher among certain younger age groups and people of low socio-economic status. In South Africa, non-fatal suicide attempts are more evident among females, whereas fatal suicidal behaviour is more common among males. In Bangladesh, both fatal and non-fatal suicidal behaviour are more evident among females than males. Mental-health-related problems are prominently reflected as strong factors associated with suicidal behaviour in South African literature, while social factors such as marital disharmony, violence, and family problems pervade the Bangladeshi literature. From studying the extant literature, we propose that while large-scale surveys and observatories are needed, it is equally necessary for researchers to conduct more in-depth qualitative research, specifically taking into account gender, to have a richer and more nuanced appreciation of the psychosocial issues and socio-cultural contexts of suicidal behaviour. Comparative, transnational research between the two countries is also recommended. The development of national and subnational databases and surveillance systems, the extension of mental-health support, reduction of gender and economic inequalities, and promotion of social cohesiveness are some of the critical intervention strategies necessary to prevent suicidal behaviour in both South Africa and Bangladesh

Analizando la Masculinidad desde la Óptica Teórica y Buscando Vínculos con la Violencia de Género

In recent years, masculinity has become an imperative and influential academic discourse in the domain of gender studies. Despite having been explained and theorised from a number of perspectives, it lacks overall clarity and vary widely across different social and cultural contexts. Keeping that perspective in mind, this study drawing a rigorous review of the literature and reflexive analysis has synthesized prominent and pertinent theoretical issues concerning masculinity with the objective of having a succinct as well as methodical understanding of masculinity. This study also aims at developing the linkage between masculinity and violence against women. Despite being viewed as a cause of violence against women; theoretical notions of masculinity and its relation with violence against women remain largely understudied. Overall, the findings of the study confirm that masculinity as a concept is expressed through certain socially accepted ideologies and practices and there are at least three major theoretical developments concerning masculinity. When applied, each of these theories can individually stand as a reason for violence against women. The nexus between masculinity and violence against women is very proximate, and masculinity appears to be a very dominating force for perpetuating violence against women. Nonetheless, further wider empirical studies on masculinity and its relation to violence against women can draw new insights on the issues and enrich the gender studies discipline.En los últimos años, la masculinidad se ha convertido en un importante e influyente discurso académico en el campo de los estudios de género. A pesar de haber sido explicado y teorizado desde muchas perspectivas, carece de claridad general y varía ampliamente en diferentes contextos sociales y culturales. Teniendo esta perspectiva en mente, este estudio se basó en una revisión rigurosa de la literatura así como el análisis reflexivo sobre cuestiones teóricas importantes y pertinentes relativas a la masculinidad con el objetivo de tener una comprensión clara y metódica de la masculinidad. Este estudio también tiene como objetivo profundizar sobre el vínculo entre la masculinidad y la violencia contra las mujeres. A pesar de ser vista como una causa de violencia contra las mujeres; las nociones teóricas de la masculinidad y su relación con la violencia contra las mujeres siguen siendo ampliamente estudiadas. En conjunto, los resultados del estudio confirman que la masculinidad como concepto se expresa a través de ciertas ideologías y prácticas socialmente aceptadas y hay por lo menos tres desarrollos teóricos importantes concernientes a la masculinidad. Cuando se aplican, cada una de estas teorías puede ser individualmente una razón para la violencia contra las mujeres. El nexo entre la masculinidad y la violencia contra las mujeres es muy próximo y la masculinidad parece ser una fuerza muy dominante para perpetuar la violencia contra las mujeres. Sin embargo, otros estudios empíricos más amplios sobre la masculinidad y su relación con la violencia contra las mujeres pueden traer nuevas aportaciones al tema

The Informal Sector in Bangladesh: A Case Study of Rural and Urban Street Vendors

he informal sector contributes significantly to the overall economy of many countries including Bangladesh. Heightened unemployment rate coupled with widespread poverty has led street vendors progressively to become a prevalent informal group in Bangladesh. Studies on street vending in Bangladesh are very limited. The present study was carried out to address some important gaps in the existing literature. Principally, it examines the socio-demographic features of the street vendors in Bangla desh. Then, it portrays an economic sketch of the street vending profession. Finally, it looks at the threats, insecurities and sup ports associated with street vending in Bangladesh. A structured questionnaire survey was administered in both rural and urban areas of 33 districts (out of 64). The size of the sample was 777. It was found that mostly the illiterate younger males with a larger family size are predominantly engaged in different trades of street vending. Despite having potentials, street vending cannot be la beled as decent entrepreneurship as investments, income and savings of the vendors are minimal. The government does not have any specific measure for supporting their entrepreneurship development rather it often adopts harsh measures against street vendors. Few recommendations have been put in place to over come the obstacles in this sector.Institute for Social and Health Studies (ISHS

Manufacturing of agricultural machinery in Bangladesh: opportunities and constraints

Despite numerous limitations, agricultural machinery (AM) manufacturing sub-sector inBangladeshis growing quite satisfactorily and has potential to make substantial contribution to much needed non-farm economic growth, employment generation, mechanization of on and off-farm agricultural activities, and as a whole orientation in the national development.  This study made an attempt to take account of AM manufacturers, importers, traders/wholesalers and retailers, their associations, assess market potential and identify serious bottlenecks associated with this sub-sector.  Stratified random sampling technique was used for identifying respondents in quantitative survey, while focus group discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were conducted for qualitative investigation.  In recent years, there are about 70 foundries, 800 agricultural machinery manufacturing industries and workshops, 1,500 spare parts manufacturing workshops, and about 20,000 repair and maintenance workshops are engaged in AM sub-sector of the country.  The annual estimated market size of AM and spare parts in the country is about US$802.3 million with an US$ 105.2 million annual repair and maintenance service market, estimating an annual total AM market size of about US$907.5 million of which local production market share is about     US$ 402.7 million.  The spare parts market size in the country is about US$309.3 million of which domestic production of spare parts is estimated US$ 237.9 million.  The significant shift in the supply of spare parts in the country underlines the growth potential of the local spare parts manufacturing sub-sector and potential for substitution of imported spare parts.  Bogra has emerged as the center of manufacturing AM and spare parts especially for irrigation pumps, threshers, maize shellers, piston, liner and numerous spare parts of small diesel engines and machines, casting of machine components etc. and contributing about 80% of the local production in the country.  However, infrastructures for production of AM and spare parts in Bogra and elsewhere in the country are still inadequate. The study recommends declaration of Borga and Jessore as ‘Agri-machinery districts’ and establishment of special ‘Agri-machinery Production Zones (APZ)’ in these areas.  To promote export market to Indian subcontinent and other developing countries, tariff and non-tariff restrictions would be waved on AM through bilateral negotiations and border markets (hats) withIndiato be allowed for AM sales. 

Socio-economic situational analysis of tea plantation workers: a case study from Lubachhara Tea Garden, Sylhet

Tea is the second most highly consumed beverage in the world. The British colonial rulers introduced tea plantation in the early 1830s in the Indian subcontinent. Since then, it has been cultivated and consumed in enormous quantities. In Bangladesh, the first tea plantation was launched in the Sylhet district. Tea is an important cash crop in Bangladesh. , It is widely consumed locally and exported to a few countries. The present study was carried out in Lubachhara tea garden, Sylhet as a case to examine the socio economic situation of the tea plantation workers. Using a mixed method approach with a sample of 252 workers, the study explored the state of the workers with respect to some basic needs, such as health, sanitation, housing, nutrition, education, wages, and service benefits which were found to be very deplorable and inhumane. Based on the findings of the study, some courses of actions are suggested to improve the socio-economic situation of the workers.Institute for Social and Health Studies (ISHS

Masculinity and Suicide in Bangladesh

Suicide is a serious but under-researched public health problem in Bangladesh. In light of this, we sought to explore the association between masculinities and suicide. We interviewed 20 family members/friends of men who died by suicide across 12 rural areas of the Jhenaidah district, Bangladesh. We found that male suicide was attributed to men’s inability to fulfil hegemonic masculine demands such as financial provision and meeting the sexual needs of their spouses. Suicide was also linked to men’s loss of self-respect and respect from others. Some participants mentioned that men committed suicide as an act of self-sacrifice, while others cited mental and physical illness. As a result of these findings, we propose that addressing socio cultural and religious issues associated with men’s troubles may help to prevent suicide. At the same time, changing the restrictive gender roles and masculinity related ideals is also needed to counter the problem.Institute for Social and Health Studies (ISHS

Prenatal early food and multiple micronutrient supplementation trial reduced infant mortality in Bangladesh, but did not influence morbidity.

AIM: A previous maternal and infant nutrition intervention in rural Matlab, Bangladesh, showed that prenatal nutrient supplements improved child survival, but had no effect on size at birth. This secondary analysis examined whether prenatal multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS), on their own or combined with an early invitation to receive prenatal food supplements, affected child morbidity. METHODS: This randomised trial enrolled 4436 pregnant women from November 2001 to October 2003 and allocated them to early or standard invitations to food supplements, in the ninth and 20th weeks of pregnancy, respectively, and supplements of either the standard 60 mg iron with 400 μg folic acid, 30 mg iron with 400 μg folic acid or MMS. Quasi-Poisson regression was used to analyse morbidity. RESULTS: There were 3560 single live births and 3516 had morbidity data. The incidence rates of fever, diarrhoea and acute lower respiratory tract infection were 15.3, 3.6 and 2.3 episodes per person-year, respectively. The separate or combined interventions had no effect on morbidity up to 24 months. CONCLUSION: Early invitations to prenatal food supplements or prenatal MMS had no effect on common infections in rural Bangladesh, suggesting that earlier findings on improved child survival were not mediated by an effect on child morbidity