WUB Publication 

AN EVALUATION OF SOME SELECTED E-COMMERCE COMPANIES IN BANGLADESH

Written by: ABM SHAHIDUL ISLAM, PhD, MD. RAFIQUL ISLAM, PhD and MUSFIQ MANNAN CHOUDHURY, PhD

E-commerce has opened up a new vista for the national and international business. Ecommerce has simply revolutionized the concept of modern business and registered the burst of growth over the years with easy access, speedy transactions and round-the-clock availability. While all over the world the practice of e-commerce is a booming & creating threats for the established physical markets, such developments is not observed in the context of Bangladesh, a least developed nation. Therefore this study explores the rise of e-commerce enterprises in Bangladesh and examines their practices and patterns of ecommerce.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN BANGLADESH: REGULATORY AND SOCIAL WORK PERSPECTIVES

Written by: DR. MD. FARUQUE HOSSAIN

Bangladesh is a small poor but country with a huge population. Unfortunately this poor country is probably the most disaster prone in the world. Rapid growth in population and a slow rate of growth of the economy have forced a substantial part of the ever increasing population to settle in areas too risky for human habitation, such as in newly emerging chars. A large number of new settlements in coastal areas, in char lands and old settlements situated near fluctuating rivers are all in constant threat of being removed away by the disasters like cyclones, tidal surges and river bank erosion. Almost every year natural disasters occur in Bangladesh and have been create a vulnerable situation for our community people. It is well known to all that nature is beyond control of human being. But the massive loss caused by disasters can be minimized by the proper disaster management. For this reason, disaster management has become recognized as a discipline in the world. This paper discusses about the theoretical aspects, stages, approaches of disaster management, especially regulatory framework and social work perspectives to disaster management in Bangladesh.

IN SEARCH OF SELF IDENTITY AND 'HIGHER INWARD LIFE': MARIAN EVANS AND HER HEROINES

Written by: AMANEE KHANDKER

Desire for exploring self and elevating the inner-self towards spirituality were the most prominent urges that worked in Marian Evans, as the woman and the writer (George Eliot). As the writer, she created Dorothea and Maggie with the same fundamental impulse. However, her heroines never succeeded in their quest like her. Rather, the author, on the basis of her own experience and realizations, emphasized on the general situation of the exceptionally ambitious women. The authorial voice is ever active to highlight that the orthodox social and religious systems are against women's intellectual and spiritual advancement. The ambitious women like Dorothea and Maggie found no other way but to take the path of compromise. This study monitors the stages of development of the lives of Dorothea and Maggie - the two characters created by the author to reflect on the fact that social predominance led them experience struggle and hardships and confront with an ultimate compromise in life. The authorial intention behind allotting such conclusions to the characters' lives was to highlight the power and dominance of social conceptions that were always against women's quest for self knowledge. Though the search of self-identity and, 'higher inward life' made Marian Evans the famous and successful George Eliot, the ambitious and passionate Dorothea became the mother and the wife being Mrs. Ladislaw and the restless and passionate Maggie Tulliver became only a memory for her family and society.

STATE OF LIFE AND LIVELIHOODS IN THE HAOR: A CASE STUDY ON ASHTAGRAM UPAZILA, KISHOREGONJ

Written by:MD. MAHFUZUL ISLAM, MD. WAHIDUZZAMAN and DR. SHEIKH TAWHIDUL ISLAM

The present study analyzes the State of Life and Livelihoods at the Ashtagram in Kishoregonj. Presence and absence of water determines the pattern of life and livelihoods in the area. The water brings many kinds of resources like fishery, nutrient supply for the soil, facilitate easy communication network; while at the same time presence of water in the regional pose many kinds of challenges that undermine the human effort to ensure progress. This study, in this context, aimed to examine both the problems and prospects of haor region so that some remedial measures could be offered as an outcome of this study. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) based on some predefined check-lists and structured questionnaire survey were employed as field level data collection method. The information gathered in this way was examined under different themes. The results of this study suggests that the formal way of managing natural resources in the area go against the benefits of the poor, where poor are becoming ultra-poor. Finally, some recommendations have been suggested in order to ameliorate the situation.

CLIMATE CHANGE INDUCED DISASTERS AND GENDER DIMENSIONS: BANGLADESH PERSPECTIVE

Written by:MD. RAFIQUL ISLAM

Until very recently, gender issues have not been properly addressed in climate change, migration and protection discussions. But this is well recognized that man and women have their different role, responsibilities and consequences in the face of upcoming climate change and its multifarious consequences. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the first attempt to raise the issue of gender dimension and climate change both in the North and South for the gender mainstreaming. In the meantime, many projects in developing countries are now addressing the different situations of men and women to their different vulnerabilities to climate-induced disasters. The case of Bangladesh is not exceptional one even many projects have already been initiated to address the issue of gender dimension of climate change and climatic vulnerabilities. This paper is, thus, an attempt to focus on the theoretical aspect of gender and climate change. In addition, the paper looks into how specific gender characteristics increase women's vulnerability and how the effects of climate change affect women more severely than men. This paper will, finally, look into policies to face the challenges and mainstream gender perspectives in Bangladesh.

CURRENT STATUS AND PROBLEMS OF AGRIPRENEURS IN FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY: A CASE OF BAREILLY DISTRICT IN INDIA

Written by:MOHD. ZUBAIR AHMAD, ASHUTOSH PRIYA and MANISH DUBEY

Food Processing Industry is an important component of economic growth for any country. There is an utmost need to assess this industry's situations so as to come up to some remedial solutions for its existing and prospective problems. In this study, an attempt has been made to assess the current status of Indian food industry and its problems through secondary data search and subsequently the findings have been validated with a primary data research in Bareilly district using "Michel Porter's 5 Forces Industry Analysis Model". Few recommendations to develop this industry have also been proposed.