Investigating the Validity of Export-Led and Import-Led Growth Hypothesis in Bangladesh

Examining the contributions of export and import is crucial in the context of an emerging country like Bangladesh that has long been experiencing unfavorable balance of payment. This study attempts to investigate the effects of export and import on GDP of Bangladesh using time series data ranging from 1971 to 2015. Ordinary Least Square is used to determine the possession of export and import on economic growth and Johansen co-integration test in to detect the long- run relationship between the variables. The results indicate that export, import, and economic growth have a long run relationship, and to test this we developed the hypothesis that there exists no long-run relationship. The long run and short run causality results support the unidirectional causality from export to economic growth and bidirectional causality between import and GDP. Overall, the results validate the export-led growth hypothesis but do not support the import-led growth hypothesis. These findings suggest the importance of export promotion and import well-ordered policies for Bangladesh. Keywords:  Export, Import, Co-integration, VECM, Causality, Economic Growth

An Assessment of the Factors Affecting the Consumer Satisfaction on Online Purchase in Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Internet user has been increased in Bangladesh day by day and many companies have already started their online businesses.  This paper sets out to develop an overview of online consumer behavior and the satisfaction criteria’s in Bangladesh. The main objective of this research is to study, especially what are the factors affecting the consumers directly for online shopping. To this end, a survey was conducted and the 75 questionnaires were distributed among the people of different areas in Dhaka City. The replies have been analyzed by means of frequency distribution, average and chart analysis. The result of the survey analysis has shown that most of the respondents are male and their numbers are 48.The numbers of online consumers are 62 who have completed their graduation and prefer to make their purchases online. There are some factors such as satisfied with price and product quality has a positive impact on consumer satisfaction. Keywords: consumer buying behavior, online shopping, consumer satisfaction, internet, et

The relationship between conversion factors and health: evidence from the ready-made garment workers in Bangladesh

This study examined the association between health condition and conversion factors(i.e. environmental, individual and social) among workers in the ready-made garment(RMG) industry in Bangladesh. It used data gathered from a cross-sectional survey of 775 RMG workers in the Dhaka and Narayanganj districts. Using multiple logistic regression, the study found that: (i) achieving good health among RMG workers is hindered by various factors including high job-related demands, high noise levels,workplace crowding, heavy workloads, and low level of educational attainment; (ii)job-related rewards and marital status have contributed to achieving good health; (iii)health condition of workers is worse for women than for men; and (iv) poor health condition was more prevalent among the oldest age group than in the lowest age category. The main contributions of this research are: (i) this study develops a comprehensive framework to determine the factors affecting the health condition of manufacturing workers in general, and RMG workers in particular; and (ii) this study examines the effects of both psychosocial and physical working conditions on the health of RMG workers

Significance of Agro-Textiles and Future Prospects in Bangladesh

Agro-textile is a crucial and emerging sector among all the twelve sectors of technical textiles. It covers all the textile products from horticulture application to fishing and animal husbandry application. However, the significance of agro-textiles can be stated substantial all over the world. Also in Bangladesh, some application of agro-textiles products have shown great extent of outcomes and it has positive impacts on growth and production of various crops, vegetables. The main purpose of this research is to deliver an overview and importance of agro-textiles and to indicate the prospect of agro-textiles in future of Bangladesh. For this research some market analysis has been done, which implies some indication about the rise in utilization and also in local production of agro-tech. An alternate intention of this study to make the industrialists, the businessmen and the entrepreneurs comprehend about this sector and to encourage them in investment

Variations in Sense of Belonging in Undergraduate Computing Students Through the COVID-19 Pandemic

Student sense of belonging, or belongingness, is important and has been associated with motivation, persistence, and other outcomes. However, belongingness varies according to factors such as race/ethnicity and gender [2]. In previous work, there have been statistically significant differences in the belongingness of computing students identifying as women and as part of a minority [2]. During the COVID-19 pandemic there was a reduction in the belongingness of students identifying as men, and those not identifying as being part of a minority, and an increase in the belongingness of women identifying as a minority [3]. Our current work shows that the belongingness of men and women not identifying as being part of a minority has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, despite returning to campus, and a further statistically significant drop in the belongingness of men who identify as part of a minority. This work shows that further efforts need to be made to restore student belongingness to pre-pandemic levels and may yield insight into how events affect belongingness

Response of morphological and biochemical traits of maize genotypes under waterlogging stress

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereal crops cultivated around the world. Waterlogging stress is a major production constraint of maize production in rain-fed agricultural systems. The main objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of continuous waterlogging on morphological and biochemical traits of maize genotypes at the vegetative stage. Ten maize genotypes were treated under no waterlogging (control) and continuous waterlogging of five centimeters depth for 10 days. The treatments were applied to the plants at their 45 days of age. Visual leaf injury scores from Leaf 4 (youngest leaf is the reference point) to Leaf 7 separated tolerant and susceptible genotypes. Waterlogging stress significantly reduced the total number of live leaves and chlorophyll content in leaf tissues in susceptible genotypes. The anatomical study revealed that tolerant maize genotypes produce a large number of aerenchyma cells under waterlogging stress compared to susceptible genotypes. The enzymatic activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and peroxidase (POD) exhibited a greater increase in tolerant genotypes than susceptible genotypes whereas the contents of reactive oxygen species (H2O2) greatly increased in susceptible genotypes than tolerant genotypes under waterlogging stress compared to control. Principal component 2 (PC2) indicated that increasing plant height in the genotypes BHM-14, BHM-13 and BHM-9 was associated with waterlogging tolerance. The findings of this experiment will add value to maize breeding to screen out maize genotypes for waterlogging stress tolerance

The Effect Of Umbilical Cord Milking In Reducing ROP Of Preterm Babies.

Background: Recent advances in neonatal care in the last decade have improved the survival rates for premature infants. Consequently, the incidence of ROP has increased in parallel. ROP is under constant epidemiological study around the world. Prematurity, low birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome, mechanical ventilation, prolonged oxygen treatment and blood transfusion increase the risk of ROP. Umbilical cord milking reduces the incidence of ROP in preterm infants by reducing the need for blood transfusions in preterm infants. Objective: To observe effect of ROP with umbilical cord milking. Methodology: This prospective observational study was carried out on neonates, in the Department of Neonatology, BSMMU after approval from IRB. Neonates admitted into neonatal intensive care unit of BSMMU satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria was enrolled for the study. A written informed consent was taken from parents and assurance about confidentiality was given. Neonates born before 37 weeks of gestation was assigned to either umbilical cord milking or non-milking group at a 1: 1 ratio according to a computer generated randomized sequence. After delivery of a baby umbilical cord milking was performed by holding the infant at the level of the placenta. First eye evaluation for ROP was done at 20 days of age for gestational age less than 30weeks & weight below 1200gm & at 30 days of age for gestational age more than 30 weeks & above weight 1200gm. Follow-up was continued until retinal vascularization was completed. The follow-up schedules were organized depending on the retinal findings. The retinal finding was evaluated according to the International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity. The patients were grouped as no ROP, mild ROP (stages I-II ROP without plus disease, showed regression), and severe ROP (zone 1 or zone 2, stage III, aggressive ROP without stages, stage II with plus disease who required treatment). Data were recorded in a preformed questionnaire and data were analyzed by statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results: 114 newborns were enrolled in this study. Then among 114 preterm neonates 57 were randomized to umbilical cord milking group and 57 were randomized to no milking group. Baseline characteristics were almost similar between the two groups. There were significant increase is hematocrit level 57.3 ±3.5 V 47.4 ± 4.5 (P value less than 0.001), reduction in need of blood transfusion 3.5% V 42.1% (P value less than 0.001) & reduction in ROP 3.5% V 19.3% (P 0.007). Conclusion: This study concluded that umbilical cord milking after delivery improves hematocrit level, reduces need of blood transfusion & reduces the incidence of ROP in preterm infant

Sense of Belonging of Undergraduate Computing Students: A Comparative Analysis of University Entry Routes

Sense of Belonging (SoB) is an individual’s personal conviction as to their acceptance as a valued member of an academic community. The importance of SoB lies in correlations with motivation, persistence, and other outcomes. However, SoB is subject to variations influenced by factors such as race/ethnicity and gender. We examine the impact that entry route into university has on SoB by comparing that of students who entered our College of Science, including the School of Computer Science, via the traditional school leaving route or one of several alternative access routes