Critical analysis of micro enterprise policy development in developing countries: A case of Bangladesh

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.MEs are considered as the major sources of employment creation. Global experiences show that an efficient ME sector is conducive to industrial growth and a flexible industrial structure, which are the cornerstones of a vibrant entrepreneurial economy. The contributions of MEs to the national economy can be measured in terms of some inter-related issues: economic (income generation), social (poverty reduction) and political (wealth redistribution). Current studies show a strong link between entrepreneurship and economic development (ED). The impact of entrepreneurship on ED depends on the level of business performance, and economy is an affect for which entrepreneurship is the cause. ED theories generally emphasise on employment creation by industrialisation with the use of advanced technology. Thus economic histories of the developed countries show the notion that ED has benefited from widespread large scale entrepreneurial activity. However, developing countries (DC) have begun to realize the necessity of encouraging entrepreneurship to achieve their ED goals. But, they in reality can’t achieve these goals like the developed countries, because they don’t have sufficient capital and advanced technology. As a result they need to depend on small scale enterprise development by exploiting available resources, small capital, and indigenous technology. It indicates a strong link between micro enterprise development (MED) and entrepreneurship development. Therefore, national ED policies of DCs should focus on linking MED, entrepreneurship development and ED. Despite these recognized importance, MEs face severe problems and challenges in DCs. They lack appropriate policies and programmes to promote MEs towards ED. This study critically examines the existing MED Policies (MEDP) and the role of different MED Organizations (MEDOs) with a view to articulating appropriate policy recommendations. Based on the objectives and literature review four themes (state of affairs of MEDPs, support services to MEs, financing MEs and networking of ME stakeholders) were identified to establish the interview protocols. This study employed a qualitative inductive approach, case study strategy and in depth interviews with semi-structured protocols to collect primary data based on phenomenology. Thirty five respondents from different ME stakeholders (policy makers, implementing agencies, and the recipients) were interviewed and interpretative phenomenological analysis technique was used for data analysis. The findings confirm that there are fragmentations and incoherency in existing MEDPs, as a result, they failed to achieve the goals of MED. Specifically, support services and infrastructural facilities to MEs are not well designed, financing systems are not fully supportive to all the MEs, and networking of ME stakeholders are very floppy. Overall a favourable entrepreneurial culture to MED is absent in Bangladesh. The government has failed to plan realistically to mobilize the resources, to exercise control over factors of MED and to give appropriate direction to the developmental process. This study offers a list of practical recommendations to formulate a coherent and comprehensive MEDP based on solid evidences. Especially, a model for appropriate government intervention to MED by linking the main three concepts of this study MED, entrepreneurship development and ED, and an alternative model for ‘interest free ME financing’ are proposed. This study hopes that these recommendations will provide appropriate inputs to the policy makers and concerned ME stakeholders in the DCs, particularly Bangladesh and more generally to the MED literature.The Charles Wallace Trust and SHA Ziauddin Trust, UK

Metabolic Syndrome in Ischemic Stroke Patients at Liaquat University Hospital

Objective:  To determine the metabolic syndrome in patients with ischemic stroke at Liaquat University Hospital.  Study design: Cross sectional study  Place and Duration: Department of Medicine, Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad from January 2015 to July 2015. Methodology: A total of 184 patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke age of 30 to 80 years either gender were included. A blood sample was drawn from the patients in fasting state and was sent to the laboratory for serum triglyceride, serum HDL, and LDL cholesterol and fasting glucose level. Patients were diagnosed as metabolic syndrome on the basis of National Cholesterol Education Program – Third Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP ATPIII, 2001) criteria. Results: Mean age of the patients was 51.1±9.04 years. Male were in majority 96(52.17%). Metabolic syndrome in patients with ischemic stroke was observed in 39.67% (73/184) cases. Patients with age of >50 years were significantly on risk of metabolic syndrome as compared to those having age less than 50 years p-value 0.001. No significant impact of gender was found on metabolic syndrome p-value 0.78. Conclusion: It is concluded that metabolic syndrome was in 39.67% of the patients presented with ischemic stroke. Old age individuals were on more risk of development of metabolic syndrome.&nbsp

Burden of Hepatitis B and C Infection According to Socioeconomic Status

Objective: To determine the burden of hepatitis B and C infection according to socioeconomic status.Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at medicine department of Peoples University of Medical and Health science study duration was 1 year from March 2016 to February 2017. All the hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infected patients with all age groups either gender were included in the study. All the selected patients were interviewed regarding history of previous surgeries, needle pricking history, tattooing, barber’s shaving and birth history to know the suspected transmitted risk factors. All the patients were also interviewed regarding socioeconomic status. All the data was recorded in predesigned proforma.Results: Total 200 cases were studied, most of the cases 110(55.0%) were found with age group of 31-45 years. Male were most common in this study 120(60.0%). Almost all of the male patients had a history of barber shaving, on other hand extra uses of needles/syringes were most common in both male and female as 125(63.5%) out of total study population. Hepatitis C infection was most common at 71.0%, hepatitis infection was 23.5%, while only 5.5% patients were with co-infection of HCV and HBV. The poor population is mostly infected by hepatitis B and C 48.0%. Patients having poor socioeconomic status were found significantly associated with hepatitis C infection p-value 0.001. No significant difference was in hepatitis B infection according to socioeconomic status p-value 0.282.Conclusion: It is concluded that poor socioeconomic status was significantly associated with hepatitis C infection. Socioeconomic status not a direct risk factor of hepatitis B and C, but it is significantly responsible to develop the other risk factors.&nbsp

Penerapan Amar Putusan Penuntutan Tidak Dapat Diterima pada Putusan (Studi Putusan Nomor 1984/Pid.Sus/2020/PN Plg)

Dalam proses peradilan di pengadilan pada praktiknya sering dijumpai permasalahan, yaitu salah satunya terdakwa yang melarikan diri dalam proses persidangan. Hal ini dapat dijumpai permasalahan tersebut pada Putusan Nomor: 1984/Pid.Sus/2020/PN Plg atas nama terdakwa Joko Zulkarnain tidak dapat dihadirkan kembali dalam persidangan hingga pembacaan putusan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui dasar pertimbangan hakim dalam penjatuhan amar putusan penuntutan tidak dapat diterima pada putusan dan untuk mengetahui akibat hukum terhadap penjatuhan putusan tersebut. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode pendekatan yuridis normatif dengan spesifikasi penelitian preskriptif. Penelitian ini menggunakan data sekunder yang dikumpulkan dengan studi kepustakaan kemudian dianalisis dengan metode analisis kualitatif dan disajikan dengan teks deskriptif. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, dasar pertimbangan hakim dalam menjatuhkan amar putusan penuntutan tidak dapat diterima pada putusan Nomor: 1984/Pid.Sus/2020/PN Plg itu sudah benar, karena meskipun pemeriksaan perkaranya telah memenuhi dua alat bukti yang sah disertai juga barang bukti, namun terdakwa tidak dapat dijatuhkan pidana karena bertentangan dengansyarat formil yaitu asas kehadiran terdakwa dalam persidangan dan asas pemeriksaan hakim yang langsung dan lisan. Akibat hukum dengan penjatuhan amar putusan tersebut Majelis Hakim mengembalikan berkas perkaranya kepada Kejaksaan dan perkara dapat diajukan kembali oleh Penuntut Umum ke Pengadilan Negeri apabila terdakwanya telah ditemukan

Critical analysis of micro enterprise policy development in developing countries : a case of Bangladesh

MEs are considered as the major sources of employment creation. Global experiences show that an efficient ME sector is conducive to industrial growth and a flexible industrial structure, which are the cornerstones of a vibrant entrepreneurial economy. The contributions of MEs to the national economy can be measured in terms of some inter-related issues: economic (income generation), social (poverty reduction) and political (wealth redistribution). Current studies show a strong link between entrepreneurship and economic development (ED). The impact of entrepreneurship on ED depends on the level of business performance, and economy is an affect for which entrepreneurship is the cause. ED theories generally emphasise on employment creation by industrialisation with the use of advanced technology. Thus economic histories of the developed countries show the notion that ED has benefited from widespread large scale entrepreneurial activity. However, developing countries (DC) have begun to realize the necessity of encouraging entrepreneurship to achieve their ED goals. But, they in reality can’t achieve these goals like the developed countries, because they don’t have sufficient capital and advanced technology. As a result they need to depend on small scale enterprise development by exploiting available resources, small capital, and indigenous technology. It indicates a strong link between micro enterprise development (MED) and entrepreneurship development. Therefore, national ED policies of DCs should focus on linking MED, entrepreneurship development and ED. Despite these recognized importance, MEs face severe problems and challenges in DCs. They lack appropriate policies and programmes to promote MEs towards ED. This study critically examines the existing MED Policies (MEDP) and the role of different MED Organizations (MEDOs) with a view to articulating appropriate policy recommendations. Based on the objectives and literature review four themes (state of affairs of MEDPs, support services to MEs, financing MEs and networking of ME stakeholders) were identified to establish the interview protocols. This study employed a qualitative inductive approach, case study strategy and in depth interviews with semi-structured protocols to collect primary data based on phenomenology. Thirty five respondents from different ME stakeholders (policy makers, implementing agencies, and the recipients) were interviewed and interpretative phenomenological analysis technique was used for data analysis. The findings confirm that there are fragmentations and incoherency in existing MEDPs, as a result, they failed to achieve the goals of MED. Specifically, support services and infrastructural facilities to MEs are not well designed, financing systems are not fully supportive to all the MEs, and networking of ME stakeholders are very floppy. Overall a favourable entrepreneurial culture to MED is absent in Bangladesh. The government has failed to plan realistically to mobilize the resources, to exercise control over factors of MED and to give appropriate direction to the developmental process. This study offers a list of practical recommendations to formulate a coherent and comprehensive MEDP based on solid evidences. Especially, a model for appropriate government intervention to MED by linking the main three concepts of this study MED, entrepreneurship development and ED, and an alternative model for ‘interest free ME financing’ are proposed. This study hopes that these recommendations will provide appropriate inputs to the policy makers and concerned ME stakeholders in the DCs, particularly Bangladesh and more generally to the MED literature.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceCharles Wallace TrustSHA Ziauddin Trust, UKGBUnited Kingdo

Activated carbon-alginate beads impregnated with surfactant as sustainable adsorbent for efficient removal of methylene blue

A cost-effective and sustainable Calligonum polygonoides biomass based activated carbon (AC) was synthesized. The prepared AC was utilized in the fabrication of carbon-alginate beads for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) textile dye from aqueous solution. The surface morphology, surface functional groups, elemental analysis and thermal behavior of the prepared beads were investigated using different analytical techniques. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to investigate the adsorption capacity of the beads. Effect of different parameters such as initial pH of MB solution, dose of adsorbent, contact time, initial concentration of MB and temperature were evaluated. The kinetic studies identified pseudo-second order model. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied and fitted to the experimental equilibrium data. The beads showed a maximum adsorption capacity of 769 mg/g in basic pH at 30 °C while using 400 mg·L-1 of MB solution. The adsorption process was found to be endothermic and spontaneous as confirmed by the thermodynamic data. The fabricated beads were subjected to recycling which exhibited same adsorption efficiency after six regeneration cycles. The results showed that the AC-alginate beads impregnated with SDS have high adsorption capability and would be used for the efficient removal of cationic dyes from wastewater

Treatment of palm oil mill effluent using electrocoagulation powered by direct photovoltaic solar system

High commercial electricity consumption is one of the disadvantages in the operation of lengthy electrocoagulation processes. To cater to this problem, this study develops an integrated photovoltaic-electrocoagulation system in treating oil palm mill effluent (POME). This system has successfully reduced 23,837 mg/L of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 15,153 mg/L of biological oxygen demand (BOD) in 8 h. It was found that the higher solar radiation harvested by photovoltaics produces a higher current intensity, which in turn generates more in-situ coagulants into the wastewater. This relates to COD and BOD removal's significance from 150 to 390 min, where the current intensities are in the maximum range (between 153–181 mA). The first-order kinetic models of COD and BOD are in good correlation coefficient, which is 0.9873 and 0.9837, respectively. Overall, this study findings recommend the possibility of sustainable operation in the actual wastewater pond

TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT (TQM) IN ISLAM AND THE WEST: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Management plays an important role in the efficient performance of an organization. Many resource-poor countries in the world enjoy a high degree of development because of their efficient and quality management in their resource allocation, production, marketing and distribution, among other things. On the other hand many resource-rich countries suffer from under-development and poverty due to the inefficiency of management among other things. So efficient management is necessary for the development of any organization as well as any country. Efficiency in modern management is measured in terms of productivity that is considered as an engineering relationship between input and output. Here the emphasis is on quantity rather than quality. But in Islam quality is more important than quantity. It does not imply that quantity does not considered or counted. Here quantity counts if it passes the criterion of quality. On the other hand Total Quality Management (TQM) emphasizes also on quality, which is a recent phenomenon in the west. But in Islam the concept of TQM is emphasized and practices from the very beginning of its inception. This article is an attempt to critically analyze the concept of TQM from the western and Islamic perspective comparatively

Burden of Hepatitis B and C Infection According to Socioeconomic Status

Objective: To determine the burden of hepatitis B and C infection according to socioeconomic status.Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at medicine department of Peoples University of Medical and Health science study duration was 1 year from March 2016 to February 2017. All the hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infected patients with all age groups either gender were included in the study. All the selected patients were interviewed regarding history of previous surgeries, needle pricking history, tattooing, barber’s shaving and birth history to know the suspected transmitted risk factors. All the patients were also interviewed regarding socioeconomic status. All the data was recorded in predesigned proforma.Results: Total 200 cases were studied, most of the cases 110(55.0%) were found with age group of 31-45 years. Male were most common in this study 120(60.0%). Almost all of the male patients had a history of barber shaving, on other hand extra uses of needles/syringes were most common in both male and female as 125(63.5%) out of total study population. Hepatitis C infection was most common at 71.0%, hepatitis infection was 23.5%, while only 5.5% patients were with co-infection of HCV and HBV. The poor population is mostly infected by hepatitis B and C 48.0%. Patients having poor socioeconomic status were found significantly associated with hepatitis C infection p-value 0.001. No significant difference was in hepatitis B infection according to socioeconomic status p-value 0.282.Conclusion: It is concluded that poor socioeconomic status was significantly associated with hepatitis C infection. Socioeconomic status not a direct risk factor of hepatitis B and C, but it is significantly responsible to develop the other risk factors.&nbsp