The reasons behind the absence of a comprehensive Shariah Governance Framework of Islamic banks in Bangladesh

Purpose: The main objective of the study is to examine the reasons behind the absence of a comprehensive Shariah Governance Framework (SGF) of Islamic banks in Bangladesh. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study has covered 17 respondents through semistructured interviews from the Islamic banks and the Central Bank of Bangladesh with a combination of Shariah supervisory board members, Shariah department executives, Central Bank executives, and banking experts. Findings: Based on findings, this study outlines that the knowledge gap of management, unqualified Shariah supervisory boards members, executives in Central Bank and Islamic banks, and intention of the regulators, policymakers, Shariah experts, government executives, Islamic bankers, Board of directors, stakeholders and civil societies are responsible for the absence of a comprehensive SGF. Practical Implications: The study has significantly contributed to the national regulators, government, and the Central Bank of Bangladesh on the subject for developing a comprehensive Shariah Governance Framework. Originality/Value: The study highlights the reasons for the absence of a comprehensive Shariah Governance Framework which was unexplored for more than 30 years.peer-reviewe

Technologies Enabling Sustainability in the Built Environment

Energy conservation is among society’s greatest challenges, and the built environment has a concentrated impact on our natural environment, economy, and health. Fundamental understandings of how energy is consumed, monitored, and controlled are key prerequisites for an energy conservation process. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of real-time energy monitors (RTM) to influence behavior change in residential consumers. A methodology for remote identification of load types along the electrical circuitry where they (load) are being consumed is also presented. The load type and status (on, off, standby) are determined both remotely and in a non-intrusive manner using Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring Methods. A bottom-up approach to real-time energy monitoring by integrating virtual and physical domains to increase user awareness on where, when, how and why aspect of energy to make inform decisions regarding energy consumption, optimization and conservation is proposed. A virtual 3-D environment is developed to display actual space/zone/building real-time power consumption information and to allow users to easily locate equipment/loads that are in standby/inefficient and causing energy waste in the real/physical environment. The proposed system using wireless ZigBee based monitoring system is demonstrated via a prototype board virtually integrated with a real world test environment. The results establish a promising tool in this filed

Shariah governance practices and regulatory problems of Islamic insurance companies in Bangladesh

This paper aims to explore the current practices and problems in the Shariah governance framework of Islamic insurance in Bangladesh. The study reveals that the governance system of Islamic insurance companies in Bangladesh is largely based on voluntary initiatives by itself and there is an absence of full-fledged Shariah governance framework. All Islamic insurance companies in Bangladesh have their own SSB who performs the Shariah audits and review activities. Based on the critical review, it provides some suggestions for the improvement of the Shariah governance framework of Islamic insurance. In order to improve the Shariah governance system of Islamic insurance companies, Bangladesh government should enact a law for its operations and rulings. Moreover, the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority of Bangladesh (IDRA) should improve its guidelines for Islamic insurance operations to comply with Shariah principles and may recognize the Central Shariah Council for Islamic Insurance of Bangladesh (CSCIIB) so that, they can supervise and monitor the overall activities of Islamic insurance companies in Bangladesh

The Impact of Transformational Leadership Effects on Innovative Work Behavior by the Moderating Role of Psychological Empowerment

The study is an endeavor to analyze the relationship between transformational leadership (TFL) and innovative work behavior (IWB) of bank employees in commercial banks of Bangladesh. This paper examines whether psychological empowerment influences the above causal relationship. Data from 372 bank employees were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling and Partial Least Squares (SMART PLS). Our key findings suggest that there is a significant positive relationship between TFL and IWB. The results also indicate the employees who are highly psychologically empowered, like to work under TFL and this shows that when the level of psychological empowerment of employees is high, TFL impact IWB positively. From the leadership perspective, our findings suggest that the role of psychological empowerment in the relationship between TFL and IWB should not be underestimated by the leaders or the managers of the commercial banks

The effect of staff satisfaction in developing employee work performance and their retention moderating role of knowledge sharing (an empirical study of a Business School in Bangladesh)

Employees are a substantial part of the set-up of any organisation. They play a key role as the workforce provides expertise in developing value and are one of the basic resources needed in every production process. This study includes IBAIS University which making a policy to achieve a long term vision to be a “world-class institution” by 2025. It focuses on the condition of the Bangladeshi higher education industry, which from the early nineties has been competing with local public and foreign universities to provide educational services to society. As a result, it is of significant importance to maintain employee satisfaction with their commitment and involvement in supporting the effort to sustain long-term targeted achievement. This research purpose is to analyse the effect of employee satisfaction moderated by knowledge sharing towards employee work performances and retention. The participants of this study are all employees of the institution, with the data gathering techniques applied including questionnaires and multiple regression analytical methods with moderating variables. The results of this study show that employee satisfaction has a significant effect towards employee work performance and retention. On the other hand, knowledge sharing doesn’t appear to have a significant effect on employee work performance or retention

Shariah supervisory boards of Islamic banks in Bangladesh: expected duties and performed roles and functions

Purpose The main aim of this research is to ascertain the expected duties and performed roles and functions of the Shariah supervisory boards (SSBs) of Islamic banks in Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach A semi structured face-to-face interview was applied to accomplish the research objectives. In total, data was collected from 17 respondents with a combination of regulators, SSBs, Shariah department executives and experts from the central bank and Islamic banks in Bangladesh. Findings This study finds that the expectations of Islamic banks toward SSB members are to provide opinions on Shariah issues, guidelines and decisions regarding the modern banking, practices and delivering of fatwas on the contemporary issues offered by the management to fulfil the demand of the numerous stakeholders. In addition, they can develop Shariah governance (SG) policies and implement those guidelines, approve and develop new products, observe and monitor banking functions, identify problems and outline solutions as well as they should ensure Shariah principles and compliance. The SSBs members perform roles and functions in monitoring and reviewing overall banking activities and functions; reviewing products, services and contracts; preparing SG guidelines; ensuring Shariah principles and compliance; providing opinions on existing SG practices and finally, delivering Shariah resolutions on the overall functions. Research limitations/implications This study significantly contributed to the national regulatory bodies by providing suggestions that the existing SG system should be improved to enhance the overall monitoring of SSB and ensure more Shariah compliance in the overall operations of the Islamic banks in Bangladesh. Originality/value This is the first research to the best of authors’ knowledge that explores the expected duties and performed roles and functions of the Islamic banks concerning Bangladesh. This study also contributes to the agency, legitimacy and stakeholder theories by outlining the expected and performed roles of SSBs to the Islamic banks and stakeholders

Green And Sustainable Technologies For The Built Enviornment

Energy conservation is among society’s greatest challenges, and the built environment has a concentrated impact on our natural environment, economy, and health. Fundamental understandings of how energy is consumed, monitored, and controlled are key prerequisites for an energy conservation process. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of real-time energy monitors (RTM) to influence behavior change in residential consumers. A methodology for remote identification of load types and the locations along the electrical circuitry where they (load) are being consumed is also presented. The load type and status (on, off, standby) are determined both remotely and in a non-intrusive manner using Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring Methods. A bottom-up approach to real-time energy monitoring by integrating virtual and physical domains to increase user awareness on where, when, how and why aspect of energy to make inform decisions regarding energy consumption, optimization and conservation is proposed. A virtual 3-D environment is developed to display actual space/zone/building real-time power consumption information and to allow users to easily locate equipment/loads that are in standby/inefficient and causing energy waste in the real/physical environment. The proposed system is demonstrated via a prototype board virtually integrated with a real world test environment. The results establish a promising tool in this filed

Talent management: an escalating strategic focus in Bangladeshi banking industry

The aim of this study is to justify the talent management (TM) system in a Bangladeshi Commercial Bank. Hence, previous research articles have been reviewed and primary data relating to selected bank have been collected from semi-structured interviews and some reliable and updated secondary sources for selected Bank’s website and other sites of Bangladesh Central Bank to achieve the aim of the study. The study finds several key practices of TM that includes recruitment, talent development, knowledge management, social media, performance management, and rewards. The limitation of this study is that this study is not empirically tasted. The scope of the study focuses on banking sector in Bangladesh. The study recommends that HR managers should embrace TM practices of the case bank to effectively manage their workforce. This study is the first study to uphold TM in banking sector of Bangladesh

Human resource development research in tourism and hotel: a review of current literature and suggestions for future

The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of human resource development literature from the points of view of both human resource development and hospitality and tourism. The paper provides a critical, qualitative, and comparative review of HRD research literature on human resource development and hospitality and tourism, providing insights into emerging research trends and pointing to the gaps in the literature. The review result showed six streams of research from the hospitality and tourism literature: training design and work performance, individual factors and work performance, job satisfaction as a mediator, and qualitative reviews of the hospitality and tourism HRD literature. This review also points to the gaps between the two bodies of literature and gives recommendations for future research

Groundwater quality and hydrogeological characteristics of Malacca state in Malaysia

Groundwater quality and aquifer productivity of Malacca catchment in Peninsular Malaysia are presented in this article. Pumping test data were collected from 210 shallow and 17 deep boreholes to get well inventory information. Data analysis confirmed that the aquifers consisting of schist, sand, limestone and volcanic rocks were the most productive aquifers for groundwater in Malacca state. GIS-based aquifer productivity map was generated based on bedrock and discharge capacity of the aquifers. Aquifer productivity map is classified into three classes, namely high, moderate and low based on discharge capacity. Groundwater potential of the study area is 35, 57 and 8% of low, moderate and high class respectively. Fifty two shallow and 14 deep aquifer groundwater samples were analyzed for water quality. In some cases, groundwater quality analysis indicated that the turbidity, total dissolved solids, iron, chloride and cadmium concentrations exceeded the limit of drinking water quality standards