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\"Using the case study of Bangladesh and based on a long term participatory observation method, this book investigates the claims of the success of microcredit, as well as the critiques of it in the context of women's empowerment. It confronts the distinction between women's increasing wealth as a consequence of the success of microcredit programmes and their apparent not-commensurate empowerment, and looks at two organisations operating in two localities in rural Bangladesh in order to discover how these concepts are often confused. The book goes on to establish that the success stories of the microcredit programme are blown out of proportion, and that the dynamics of collective responsibility for repayment of loans by a group of women borrowers - usually seen to be a tool for success of microcredit - is in fact no less repressive than traditional debt collectors. It is a worthwhile contribution to development debates, challenging adherents to more closely specify those conditions under which microcredit does indeed have validity, as well as providing useful research for South Asian Studies and Development Studies\"-- Provided by publisher.

For the study of amyloid beta (Aβ) associated toxicity which is supposed to be the main pathological agent in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), it is important to secure Aβ peptide with appropriate biological activity. However, commercial and synthetic Aβ often have some pitfalls like less cell toxicity, prompt aggregation and excess price, using recombinant technology, these issues can be resolved though the method also suffered from some problems such as low yield, aggregation and prolong time to purify. Thus, we previously developed an easy, economic and convenient method for Aβ42 purification using highly expressed GroES-Ubiquitin-Aβ42 fusion protein. The method was efficient, but further development was performed to improve the procedure and increase the yield. Focus was on the isolation of the fusion protein (GroES-Ubiquitin) from Aβ42 peptide. After a series of systematic testing with several chemicals, we found that methanol could precipitate efficiently the fusion protein, while the Aβ peptide was recovered in the supernatant. By this method, Aβ peptide was easily purified without tedious chromatographic steps which are main obstacles to purify the peptide in the previous method. This method yielded ~20 mg highly pure Aβ42 peptide from 1-liter bacterial culture. Different biophysical characterizations and bioactivity assays indicate that the peptide purified using this method was competitive with others which have been previously reported whereas considering the simplicity, final yield and time of purification, this method is the optimal solution.

This study synthesized eighteen phenyl and furan rings containing thiazole Schiff base derivatives 2(a–r) in five series, and spectral analyses confirmed their structures. The in vitro antibacterial activities of the synthesized analogs against two gram-positive and two gram-negative bacteria were evaluated by disk diffusion technique. Compounds ( 2d ) and ( 2n ) produced prominently high zone of inhibition with 48.3 ±  0.6 mm and 45.3 ±  0.6 mm against B. subtilis , respectively, compared to standard ceftriaxone (20.0 ±  1.0 mm). However, the antibacterial potency of the compounds with furan ring was more notable than that of phenyl ring-containing derivatives. Molecular docking and dynamic study were performed based on the wet lab outcomes of ( 2d ) and ( 2n ), where both derivatives remained in the binding site of the receptors during the whole simulation time with RMSD and RMSF values below 2 nm. In silico ADMET prediction studies of the synthesized compounds validated their oral bioavailability. A more detailed study of the quantitative structure-activity relationship is required to predict structural modification on bioactivity and MD simulation to understand their therapeutic potential and pharmacokinetics.

Introduction Women’s empowerment (WE) has become a central focus for development at a national and global level. There is a need for a comprehensive and updated assessment of the existing evidence on WE and the total number of children ever born (CEB). This paper addresses the association between different dimensions of WE and the total number of CEB among women aged 15–49 years in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods This is a cross-sectional study. Using primary data, two binary and skewed regression models were applied to find the best-fitting model to investigate the association between different dimensions of women’s empowerment and the total number of CEB. Results Based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) principles, the best-fit model was the binary logistic regression compared to other models. The study revealed that higher levels of women empowerment were associated with fewer CEB. Among the four dimensions—economic, psychological, household, and socio-cultural indices- psychological dimensions significantly influenced the number of CEB. Results also showed that age at first marriage, educational attainment of respondents, occupational level, wealth index, and use of contraceptives were found to be negatively associated with the number of CEB. Conclusion The study found that an increase in WE was linked to a reduction in CEB. Other predictors for CEB were age at first marriage, women’s educational attainment, working status, wealth index, and contraceptive use, which were all identified as factors associated with a lower number of children. Policymakers should focus on the dimension-specific and overall level of WE in reducing CEB.

Background Bangladesh has achieved MDG 4, but although post neonatal and child mortality have shown impressive declines, neonatal mortality is still lagging behind. More efforts have to be made to improve this state of affairs. The objective of this paper is to identify the effect of proper antenatal care and social wellbeing on early neonatal mortality in Bangladesh. Methods The data used for this study is the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. This study used several independent variables such as mother’s school attendance, receiving antenatal care, receiving TT injection, place of residence and wealth quintile. Here both bivariate and multivariate analysis have been used. At bivariate level, simple cross tabulation and appropriate measures of association have been used to find out the statistical association between dependent and independent variables. In this study the outcome/dependent variable is early neonatal mortality (children who died within 7 days after birth) which is a binary variable. If early neonatal mortality occurs among the respondents then it is considered as 1, otherwise it is considered as 0. Logistic regression was used to identify the factors which are involved in reducing this early neonatal mortality. Results Women who received antenatal care during their time of pregnancy are likely to have 18% lower odds of experiencing early neonatal mortality (OR = 0.82, CI = (0.71–0.95)) compared to groups who did not receive antenatal care during pregnancy. In terms of social well-being, the woman who comes from the richest family are likely to have 45% lower odds of experiencing early neonatal mortality (OR = 0.55, CI = (0.42–0.720) compared to the poorest one. Conclusion The outcomes of this paper suggest that the women’s antenatal care and social well-being has a significant effect on early neonatal mortality.

Background Traditional cultural norms in Bangladesh often restrict women’s autonomy to decide and voice their opinions regarding fertility. This study tried to understand how Bangladeshi women’s perceptions, views, and experiences regarding women’s empowerment (WE) influence their total number of children, desired number of children, birth spacing, and gender preferences. Methods A qualitative research design was used to investigate the impact of WE on fertility in Dhaka City. The study conducted seven focus group discussions (FGDs) and twenty-nine in-depth interviews (IDIs) with 93 married women aged 15–49 years. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the study participants, and thematic analysis was conducted to identify key patterns and insights. Results The results show that higher levels of Women’s empowerment were associated with a preference for smaller family sizes and delayed childbearing. Empowered women exhibit greater self-confidence and independence in expressing opinions and making decisions in both household and societal settings. Economic empowerment enhances women’s bargaining power and decision-making capabilities regarding the timing and number of children. However, the prevalent preference for sons still significantly impacts these choices. Conclusion The study identified significant sociocultural barriers, including family pressure, gender preference, lack of critical consciousness, and misconceptions about contraceptives that hinder WE toward fertility decisions. Addressing these enduring cultural and societal barriers requires immediate and thorough interventions focused on economic, psychological, and sociocultural empowerment. Increasing autonomy in fertility decision-making is crucial for achieving more equitable reproductive health outcomes. Plain english summary Women’s empowerment enables them to make informed decisions that shape their future in various areas. Fertility is the ability to bear a child. Empowering women is crucial for allowing them to determine their reproductive goals. It has both direct and indirect implications for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of health (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), and economic growth (SDG 8). The study of women’s empowerment and fertility is crucial for investigating how Bangladeshi women’s beliefs, views, and experiences with women’s empowerment influence their total number of children ever born, birth spacing, and gender preferences. We also identified the barriers and facilitators of women’s empowerment and their implications for fertility outcomes. However, there have been few qualitative investigations on this topic in Bangladesh. The primary data was gathered through in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). The study was conducted in various urban areas to ensure diversity in terms of income, educational level, and cultural background. This study found that higher levels of women’s empowerment were associated with a preference for smaller family sizes and delayed childbirth. Economic empowerment gives women more bargaining power and decision-making ability when it comes to the timing and quantity of children. Understanding women’s empowerment in fertility decisions is a critical problem in Bangladesh, and it is consistent with global measures to promote gender equality and improve reproductive health outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where similar sociocultural constraints exist.

In this report, we discussed rapid, facile one-pot green synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles (AuNPs and AgNPs) by using tuber extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, and evaluated their antibacterial activity. AuNPs and AgNPs were synthesized by mixing their respective precursors (AgNO3 and HAuCl4) with tuber extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius as the bio-reducing agent. Characterization of AuNPs and AgNPs were confirmed by applying UV-vis spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). From UV-vis characterization, surface plasmon resonance spectra were found at 530 nm for AuNPs and 446 nm for AgNPs. XRD data confirmed that both synthesized nanoparticles were face-centered cubic in crystalline nature, and the average crystallite sizes for the assign peaks were 13.3 nm for AuNPs and 22.48 nm for AgNPs. FTIR data evaluated the characteristic peaks of different phytochemical components of tuber extract, which acted as the reducing agent, and possibly as stabilizing agents. The antibacterial activity of synthesized AuNPs and AgNPs were examined in Muller Hinton agar, against two Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria through the disc diffusion method. AuNPs did not show any inhibitory effect, while AgNPs showed good inhibitory effect against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Protecting against riverbank erosion along the world’s largest rivers is challenging. The Bangladesh Delta, bisected by the Brahmaputra River (also called the Jamuna River), is rife with complexity. Here, an emerging middle-income country with the world’s highest population density coexists with the world’s most unpredictable and largest braided, sand-bed river. Bangladesh has struggled over decades to protect against the onslaught of a continuously widening river corridor. Many of the principles implemented successfully in other parts of the world failed in Bangladesh. To this end, Bangladesh embarked on intensive knowledge-based developments and piloted new technologies. After two decades, successful, sustainable, low-cost riverbank protection technology was developed, suitable for the challenging river conditions. It was necessary to accept that no construction is permanent in this morphologically dynamic environment. What was initially born out of fund shortages became a cost-effective, systematic and adaptive approach to riverbank protection using improved knowledge, new materials, and new techniques, in the form of geobag revetments. This article provides an overview of the challenges faced when attempting to stabilize the riverbanks of the mighty rivers of Bangladesh. An overview of the construction of the major bridge crossings as well as riverbank protection schemes is detailed. Finally, a summary of lessons learned concludes the impressive progress made.

Obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder, and its prevalence in Bangladesh is increasing at an alarming rate. Previous reports have suggested a significant association between Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and obesity, but with inconsistent results. The purpose of our study was to investigate the association between two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (Apal, rs7975232, and Taql, rs731236) of the VDR gene and the risk of obesity in the Bangladeshi population. Moreover, we looked at serum VDR levels and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in people with obesity (n = 124) and healthy controls (n = 126). Genotyping was performed using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). General linear model and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (OR) along with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and P-values. Serum VDR level was downregulated in people with obesity compared to healthy controls (P < 0.0001) along with significantly lower levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (P < 0.0001). For the ApaI rs7975232 (C > A) polymorphism, the CA Heterozygous genotype carried a 1.93-fold higher risk of developing obesity (OR=1.93, 95% CI = 1.10-3.41, P = 0.023). On the contrary, for TaqI, rs731236 (T > C), no significant association was found for both heterozygous and mutant homozygous genotypes. We report the downregulation of serum VDR levels and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in people with obesity. Moreover, a polymorphism of Apal (rs7975232 C > A) in the VDR gene increases the risk of developing obesity in the Bangladeshi population.

This study aimed to analyze price instability in Bangladesh’s primary staple crops, rice, and wheat, focusing on (1) the effects of food price volatility and inflation on food security and; (2) the importance of prioritizing food price stability in national policy. Using data from the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS), the Ministry of Food, and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), we examined price trends, seasonality, volatility, consumer price index, and food inflation. Our findings show that medium-grade rice in Dhaka experienced frequent price spikes and volatility, with coarse-grade rice showing similar trends. Wheat prices were generally more stable compared to rice. Despite increased rice production over the years, significant price instability and seasonal fluctuations continue in production, imports, and pricing. Seasonality has a limited effect on rice prices, while the private sector dominates imports of both rice and wheat. The consumer price index (CPI) demonstrates that food inflation is gradually rising in rural areas and corresponds with the trend in urban Bangladesh. A review of national policy reveals that food stability, a key pillar of food security, is often overlooked, with no structured system for monitoring market prices. Integrating agricultural and climate policies could enhance resilience and productivity in agriculture. To combat hunger and support sustainable development, the government should monitor both global and local food markets, accounting for demand, scarcity, and market instability. To achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger) and ensure food security, the government must update existing policies to address market contradictions.