Bangladesh is a deltaic country with a 710 km coastline and numerous newly accreted offshore islands in the central and eastern coastal regions. Natural mangrove forest (the Sundarbans) occupies about 100 km of coastl...Bangladesh is a deltaic country with a 710 km coastline and numerous newly accreted offshore islands in the central and eastern coastal regions. Natural mangrove forest (the Sundarbans) occupies about 100 km of coastline in the southwest, which protects the lives and properties of the coastal population of that area. The depletion of the forest stock of the Sundarbans was reported in 1875 due to the large-scale clearings by the woodcutters and uncertainty in natural regeneration. The restoration of the Sundarbans in the name of enrichment plantation and assisted natural regeneration was formally introduced in 1959 with Excoecaria agallocha followed by the introduction of mangrove and mainland (non-mangrove) species in the moderate to high saline zone and raised lands in the freshwater zone, respectively in 1975. Chakaria Sundarbans, the second largest natural mangrove forest on the east coast, was highly degraded with the rapid expansion of aquaculture between 1976 and 1989. Tremendous human interferences significantly altered the site condition, interrupting natural recovery. Coastal afforestation was initiated in 1966 with two pioneer mangrove species (Sonneratia apetala and Avicennia officinalis). Some afforested sites require attention for restoration due to natural and manmade causes. Bangladesh Forest Department adopted restoration activities with the technical support of the Bangladesh Forest Research Institute and other agencies. However, all the restoration activities for the Sundarbans, Chakaria Sundarbans, and coastal afforested sites had some success and failure stories. The success and failure of a mangrove restoration activity depends on planning (active or passive restoration), selection of suitable sites and species, planting materials, local community involvement, monitoring, evaluation and plantation management.展开更多
Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a growing health issue in Bangladesh, with significant complications affecting the quality of life (QoL). This study aims to assess long-term complications, treatment patterns, an...Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a growing health issue in Bangladesh, with significant complications affecting the quality of life (QoL). This study aims to assess long-term complications, treatment patterns, and QoL of diabetic patients during COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 385 diabetic patients (aged 18-80) from tertiary hospitals in Dhaka and Mymensingh between May and October 2022. Data were collected via a semi-structured questionnaire on sociodemographics, complications, treatment patterns, and QoL (SF-12 scale). Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and linear regression were used for inferential analysis. Results: The sample predominantly included middle-aged males (41 - 55 years) with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy (34.5%), polyneuropathy (32.2%), and hypertension (52.3%) were the most common complications. Oral medications were used by 59.7% of patients, with 29.1% on insulin. Chi-square analysis showed a significant association between treatment adherence and complications (p β = 0.45, p Conclusion: Complications in diabetic patients significantly affect QoL in Bangladesh. Treatment adherence, especially with oral medications, positively impacts QoL. There is a need for improved access to diabetes care to manage complications and enhance the overall well-being of diabetic patients.展开更多
Agriculture,significantly impacted by climate change and climate variability,serves as the primary livelihood for smallholder farmers in South Asia.This study aims to examine and evaluate the factors influencing small...Agriculture,significantly impacted by climate change and climate variability,serves as the primary livelihood for smallholder farmers in South Asia.This study aims to examine and evaluate the factors influencing smallholder farmers'adaptive capacity(AC)in addressing these risks through surveys from 633 households across Nepal,India,and Bangladesh.The findings reveal that AC is influenced by various indicators categorized under eight principal factors.The first three factors,which explain about one-third of the variance in each country,include distinct significant indicators for each nation:in Nepal,these indicators are landholding size,skill-development training,knowledge of improved seed varieties,number of income sources,access to markets,and access to financial institutions;in India,they encompass ac-cess to agricultural-input information,knowledge of seed varieties,access to markets,access to crop insurance,changing the sowing/harvesting times of crops,and access to financial ser-vices;in Bangladesh,the key factors are access to financial institutions,community coopera-tion,changing the sowing/harvesting times of crops,knowledge of improved seed varieties,and access to agricultural-input information.Notably,indicators such as trust in weather in-formation,changing sowing/harvesting times of crops,and crop insurance were identified as important determinants of AC,which have been overlooked in previous studies.展开更多
The increasing incidence of neurodegenerative diseases(NDs)and the constraints of existing treatment methods have spurred a keen interest in investigating alternative therapies.Medicinal plants,renowned for their long...The increasing incidence of neurodegenerative diseases(NDs)and the constraints of existing treatment methods have spurred a keen interest in investigating alternative therapies.Medicinal plants,renowned for their long-standing use in traditional medicine,offer a hopeful avenue for discovering new neuroprotective agents.This study emphasizes the potential neuroprotective characteristics of edible fruit plants in Bangladesh,specifically focusing on their traditional folk medicine uses for neurological disorders.This study provides an in-depth overview of the different types of edible fruit trees in Bangladesh and their phytochemicals,including flavonoids,terpenoids,and phenolic acids.This work examines the scientific data supporting the neuroprotective properties of bioactive chemicals from plants.It further explores the mechanisms by which these compounds work to counteract oxidative stress,decrease inflammation,and stimulate neurogenesis.Moreover,the study investigates toxicological characteristics and bioactive components of some fruits,emphasizing the importance of further investigation to measure their safety profile comprehensively.This thorough study highlights the potential benefits of Bangladesh's edible fruit trees as a rich source of neuroprotective chemicals.It also shows that additional research might lead to novel approaches for improving brain functioning and preventing NDs.展开更多
Bangladesh's apparel industry needs a sharpturnaround in business diversification.With thegrowing global demand for sweaters,especiallyin European markets,the country has a goldenopportunity to excel in this high-...Bangladesh's apparel industry needs a sharpturnaround in business diversification.With thegrowing global demand for sweaters,especiallyin European markets,the country has a goldenopportunity to excel in this high-value segment.Once considered a seasonal garment,sweatershave evolved into a year-round fashion itemn,fur-ther tncreasing their market potential.展开更多
Coastal Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to various impacts of climate change,including rising temperatures,unpredictable precipitation,cyclones,droughts,and saltwater intrusion.These factors collectively threaten agri...Coastal Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to various impacts of climate change,including rising temperatures,unpredictable precipitation,cyclones,droughts,and saltwater intrusion.These factors collectively threaten agricultural productivity and food security.This study examines the relationship between farmers’perceptions and observable climatic trends,with a focus on the sustainability of food systems and the promotion of adaptable farming techniques in Bagerhat District,Bangladesh.A mixed-methods strategy was employed,incorporating household surveys(a total of 110 purposively selected farmers),focus group discussions,key informant interviews,and climatic data analysis.The Mann-Kendall test,Sen’s slope estimator,precipitation concentration index(PCI),and standardized rainfall anomaly index(SRAI)were employed to analyze climate trends from 1991 to 2020.The findings showed that more than 70.00%of respondents indicated that summers were becoming warmer,over 50.00%reported that winters were becoming colder,and 63.00%stated that yearly precipitation was decreasing.Farmers reported an increase in flood occurrences and a decline in the predictability of precipitation.Between 2011 and 2019,the output of most rice varieties decreased,with the exception of high-yielding Aman rice and hybrid Boro rice.The results also showed that 60.00%of respondents reported experiencing salinity intrusion,and 57.00%attributed significant yield losses to salinity.Planting salt-tolerant rice varieties(such as BRRI Dhan 67 and Binadhan-10),practicing homestead vegetable cultivation,and moderately integrating shrimp aquaculture were also common adaptive measures.To improve long-term food security in coastal Bangladesh,we suggest growing more salt-tolerant crop varieties,promoting vertical and homestead gardening,enhancing seed systems that are resilient to climate change,and educating farmers on the use of climate-smart farming methods.This study highlights the importance of aligning farmers’perceptions with observed climatic data to design effective adaptation strategies.The findings of this study can guide policy-makers and development practitioners in strengthening climate-resilient agriculture and ensuring long-term food security in coastal Bangladesh.展开更多
1|Introduction Climate change is one of the most significant and widespread global issues,contributing to emerging infectious diseases and threatening human physical and mental health[1,2].Bangladesh,one of the most d...1|Introduction Climate change is one of the most significant and widespread global issues,contributing to emerging infectious diseases and threatening human physical and mental health[1,2].Bangladesh,one of the most densely populated countries in South Asia,experiences unpredictable weather and a steady increase in temperature and precipitation.Between 1901 and 2019,Bangladesh saw an average temperature increase of 0.5℃ according to the change in mean monthly temperatures.Warming is more pronounced in winter months,such as January(from 0.6℃ to 1.9℃)and November(1.3℃ to 1.8℃),compared to smaller increase during the monsoon(Figure 1).This reflects uneven seasonal warming,driven by climate change,with winter and pre-winter months experiencing the most significant temperature rises.展开更多
Shrimp farming is a major global aquaculture activity;however,its social and ecological impacts raise sustainability concerns.While previous research has focused on isolated social or environmental aspects of sustaina...Shrimp farming is a major global aquaculture activity;however,its social and ecological impacts raise sustainability concerns.While previous research has focused on isolated social or environmental aspects of sustainability in shrimp farming,integrated assessments of these factors using a social-ecological systems(SES)approach are rare.A framework for assessing the sustainability of shrimp farming-comprising a set of social and ecological indicators-is developed and conceptualized in this study for the first time,using an integrated,interdisciplinary,and empirical SES approach.We first identified key social and ecological indicators and developed a conceptual framework based on SES approach,then surveyed 90 shrimp farms across 3 coastal regions(including Satkhira,Bagerhat,and Cox’s Bazar districts)in Bangladesh.Nearly all farmers in Satkhira(97%)and all in Bagerhat(100%)expressed dissatisfaction with the decreasing pattern of shrimp production and profitability over the last decade.In contrast,nearly all respondents in Cox’s Bazar(97%)reported satisfaction with increasing shrimp production.Except in Cox’s Bazar,equity in labor payment remained a concern for the social sustainability of the shrimp farming system.The changing pattern of shrimp production and profitability,which does not ensure equity,poses a threat to the sustainability of shrimp farming.Most of the surveyed farmers recognized the mutual benefits of mangrove forests and shrimp farming(97%in Satkhira and 77%in Cox’s Bazar),which suggests potential for the development of policy on integrated mangrove-shrimp farming with community-based management.This research could help assess the sustainability of the shrimp farming system and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 2(zero hunger)and 8(decent work and economic growth).By examining existing practices and developing a novel framework,this study highlights informed decision-making and guides methodological discussion on assessing the sustainability of shrimp farming using the SES approach in coastal regions and different aquaculture systems worldwide.展开更多
Bangladesh’s long and multifaceted history has led to a system of education that is viewed as complex and fragmented.To understand what makes this particular system work,one must first explore what different ruling p...Bangladesh’s long and multifaceted history has led to a system of education that is viewed as complex and fragmented.To understand what makes this particular system work,one must first explore what different ruling powers and varying ideological frameworks have done to education in this area over the past millennium.The educational infrastructure has been left behind,populated by successive rulers with their dominant schools of thought and values.This article explores how the past contexts and various ideas,including different ideological perspectives,have given rise to what Bangladesh now has for an education system and how these persist in current definitions.展开更多
BACKGROUND Environmental enteric dysfunction(EED)is a subclinical condition caused by fecal-oral contamination leading to enteric inflammation and dysbiosis.Bile acids serve to facilitate lipid digestion and absorptio...BACKGROUND Environmental enteric dysfunction(EED)is a subclinical condition caused by fecal-oral contamination leading to enteric inflammation and dysbiosis.Bile acids serve to facilitate lipid digestion and absorption,regulate metabolic pathways associated with childhood growth and inflammation,and may be affected by EED.AIM To investigate bile acid metabolism in Bangladeshi children with EED and its association with growth impairment.METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 100 Bangladeshi infants(aged 6-9 months)and quantified serum and fecal bile acids using LC-MS/MS.We compared profiles to a control group of 6 American children(6-12 months)and 80 older Bangladeshi children(aged 2 years).RESULTS Bangladeshi infants had higher levels of plasma unconjugated primary(65.23%vs 44.25%,P=0.003)and sulfated primary bile acids(12.98%vs<0.001%,P=0.01),with lower primary conjugated bile acids(0.69%vs 2.74%,P≤0.001)compared to American children.Stool unconjugated primary bile acids were inversely associated with weight-for-age[regression coefficient(β)=-0.01,P=0.01]and height-for-age Z scores(β=-0.01,P=0.03).Conjugated secondary bile acids were inversely associated with small intestine bacterial overgrowth(β=-1096.68,P=0.05).Fecal myeloperoxidase was associated with sulfated secondary bile acids(β=-0.40,P=0.04).Compared to 2-year-old children,the Bangladeshi infant’s serum had higher levels of unconjugated primary bile acids(65.23%vs 9.20%,P≤0.001)and lower levels of primary conjugated bile acids(0.69%vs 80.38%,P≤0.001).CONCLUSION Our data suggests an age-dependent defect in conjugation of primary bile acids in Bangladeshi children with compensatory hydrophilic shunting.Additionally,bile acid profiles are associated with intestinal overgrowth.展开更多
Social media has emerged as a major global influence on consumer behavior in recent years.User-generated,interactive content is made possible by platforms like Facebook,Instagram,YouTube,and TikTok,and it has a big im...Social media has emerged as a major global influence on consumer behavior in recent years.User-generated,interactive content is made possible by platforms like Facebook,Instagram,YouTube,and TikTok,and it has a big impact on opinions and buying decisions.Therefore,the objective of this research was to examine the influence of social media(online reviews,social media influencers,eWOM,advertisements,social media usage laws,and information)on consumers’purchase decisions of electronic products.Guided by the theory of planned behavior and social influence theory,a quantitative approach was used,with data collected via a structured questionnaire from 150 respondents over four weeks.Analysis was conducted using SPSS 30.SPSS analysis demonstrated that social media usage laws and social media influencers had a strong positive correlation with consumers’purchase decisions,highlighting their pivotal role in shaping preferences and disseminating information.Reliable and accessible product information also emerged as a significant predictor of consumer choices.In contrast,online reviews,eWOM,and advertisements exhibited minimal influence within this context or might have adverse influence.This article provides guidelines for electronic products to prioritize social media strategies,invest in high-quality information dissemination,and leverage influencer partnerships to effectively engage consumers and drive sales.展开更多
Objective:To examine the determinants of emergency contraceptive pill use in Bangladesh.Methods:Data for this cross-sectional study came from 2017-2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey.Characteristics of 906 r...Objective:To examine the determinants of emergency contraceptive pill use in Bangladesh.Methods:Data for this cross-sectional study came from 2017-2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey.Characteristics of 906 reproductive age women who were potential candidates for using emergency contraceptive pill were analysed in this study.Data were analysed using univariate and multivariate analyses.Stepwise binary logistic regression was employed as multivariate analysis.Results:Only 10.9%candidates were found to ever use emergency contraceptive pill.The odds of using emergency contraceptive pill for women visited by family planning field worker was significantly higher than that for those who were not visited by family planning field worker[odds ratio(OR)1.94;95%confidence interval(CI)1.19–3.17;P=0.008],while the odds of using emergency contraceptive pill for women with high socioeconomic status was higher than that for those with low socioeconomic status(OR 3.10;95%CI 1.61–5.97;P=0.001).Additionally,having some media access was linked to an increase in the odds of using emergency contraceptive pill(OR 3.01;95%CI 1.33–6.83;P=0.008).Women empowerment related factors did not show any significant effect on emergency contraceptive pill use.Conclusions:The findings indicate that family planning programme has a great opportunity of playing an important role in increasing emergency contraceptive pill use in Bangladesh by increasing the knowledge and awareness of women about emergency contraceptive pill.展开更多
BACKGROUND:Bangladesh is a densely populated country where about 10 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus(HBV).The aim of the present study was to evaluate the biochemical,virological and hist...BACKGROUND:Bangladesh is a densely populated country where about 10 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus(HBV).The aim of the present study was to evaluate the biochemical,virological and histological characteristics of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B(CHB). METHODS:Patients were included in this study if they were chronically infected with HBV with detectable DNA.The patients who were co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus,hepatitis delta virus or hepatitis C virus,and previously subjected to antiviral treatment,and those with hepatocellular carcinoma were excluded.The study was conducted during the period of January 2001 to December 2007.During this period 2617 patients with CHB were studied.HBeAg-positive cases were included to compare the characteristics.Among them,237 cases underwent liver biopsy. RESULTS:2296 patients(87.7%)were male,with a mean age of 28.9±13.7 years.2375 patients(90.8%)had CHB,and 242(9.2%)were cirrhotic.HBV DNA levels were 7.6±1.5 copies/ml,ALT was 111.3±212.5 U/L,and AST was 91.5± 148.9 U/L.The number of HBeAg-negative CHB cases was 1039(39.7%).HBeAg-negative patients with a lower DNA load were older,and they had more fibrotic changes in the liver than HBeAg-positive patients.The two groups did not differ in necroinflammatory activity,but the former had lower ALT and AST values.Cirrhosis was more common in e-antigen-negative patients.CONCLUSIONS:e-antigen-negative CHB patients are older and have more hepatic fibrosis patients than HBeAg-positive patients,although they have similar necroinflammatory activity.展开更多
The Paleoproterozoic （-1.73 Ga） basement rocks from Maddhapara, Bangladesh show a large range of chemical variations including diorite, quartz diorite, monzodiorite, quartz monzonite and granite. These are composed ...The Paleoproterozoic （-1.73 Ga） basement rocks from Maddhapara, Bangladesh show a large range of chemical variations including diorite, quartz diorite, monzodiorite, quartz monzonite and granite. These are composed of varying proportions of quartz＋plagioclase＋K-feldspar＋biotite＋ hornblende±epidote＋titanite＋magnetite＋apatite and zircon. Amphibole and biotite, dominant ferro- magnesian minerals, have been analyzed with an electron microprobe. The biotite, Mg-dominant trioc- tahedral micas, is classified as phlogopitic nature. Relatively high Mg （1.33-1.53 pfu）, Mg^# （0.52-0.59） and low AIw （0.13-0.25 pfu） contents in the biotite reflect slightly fractionated magma, which might be a relative indicator for the origin of the parental magma. Biotite is also a very good sensor of oxidation state of the parental magma. Oxygen fugacity of the studied biotites estimate within the QFM and HM buffers and equilibrate at about -12.35 and -12.46, which exhibit the source materials were relatively higher oxidation state during crystallization and related to arc magmatism. Whereas, calcic amphi- boles, a parental member of arc-related igneous suite, display consistent oxygen fugacity values （-11.7 to -12.3）, low Al^# （0.16-0.21） with H2Omelt （5.6 wt.%-9.5 wt.%） suggest their reliability with the typical values of calc-alkaline magma crystallization. The oxygen fugacity of magma is related to its source material, which in turn depends on tectonic setting. Discrimination diagrams and chemical indices of both biotite and amphibole of dioritic rocks reveal calc-alkaline orogenic complexes; mostly I-type suite formed within subduction-related environments. Moreover, igneous micas are used as metal- logenic indicator. The biotites with coexisting amphibole compositions show an apparent calc-alkaline trend of differentiation. The study suggests that the trend of oxidized magmas is commonly associated with compressive tectonic and convergent plate boundaries.展开更多
AIM: To establish if a distinct urinary metabolic profile could be identified in Bangladeshi hepatitis-B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients compared to cirrhosis patients and controls.METHODS: Urine samples from ...AIM: To establish if a distinct urinary metabolic profile could be identified in Bangladeshi hepatitis-B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients compared to cirrhosis patients and controls.METHODS: Urine samples from 42 Bangladeshi patients with HCC (39 patients with hepatitis-B HCC), 47 with cirrhosis on a background of hepatitis B, 46 with chronic hepatitis B, and seven ethnically-matched healthy controls were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A full dietary and medication history was recorded for each subject. The urinary NMR data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squared discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) techniques. Differences in relative signal levels of the most discriminatory metabolites identified by PCA and OPLS-DA were compared between subject groups using an independent samples Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test with all pairwise multiple comparisons. Within the patient subgroups, the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare metabolite levels depending on hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) status and treatment with anti-viral therapy. A Benjamini-Hochberg adjustment was applied to acquire the level of significance for multiple testing, with a declared level of statistical significance of P < 0.05.RESULTS: There were significant differences in age (P < 0.001), weight (P < 0.001), and body mass index (P < 0.001) across the four clinical subgroups. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was significantly higher in the HCC group compared to controls (P < 0.001); serum α-fetoprotein was generally markedly elevated in HCC compared to controls; and serum creatinine levels were significantly reduced in the HCC group compared to the cirrhosis group (P = 0.004). A three-factor PCA scores plot showed clustering of the urinary NMR spectra from the four subgroups. Metabolites that contributed to the discrimination between the subgroups included acetate, creatine, creatinine, dimethyamine (DMA), formate, glycine, hippurate, and trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). A comparison of relative metabolite levels confirmed that carnitine was significantly increased in HCC; and creatinine, hippurate, and TMAO were significantly reduced in HCC compared to the other subgroups. HBeAg negative patients showed a significant increase in creatinine (P = 0.001) compared to HBeAg positive patients in the chronic hepatitis B subgroup, whilst HBeAg negative patients showed a significant decrease in DMA (P = 0.004) in the cirrhosis subgroup compared to HBeAg positive patients. There were no differences in metabolite levels in HCC patients who did or did not receive antiviral treatment.CONCLUSION: Urinary NMR changes in Bangladeshi HCC were identified, corroborating previous findings from Egypt and West Africa. These findings could form the basis for the development of a cost-effective HCC dipstick screening test.展开更多
Status of organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), available potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) in three different depths (0-5 cm, 5-15 cm and 15?30 cm) on two hill slopes of 35% and 55% in orange orchard c...Status of organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), available potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) in three different depths (0-5 cm, 5-15 cm and 15?30 cm) on two hill slopes of 35% and 55% in orange orchard cultivated by the Mro tribe of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) were evaluated and compared with those in degraded bush forests, through digging three profiles in each land use. The content of all the five nutrients was found to be higher in the soil of orange orchard than in the soil of forest. But the variation was not consistent for both the slopes. The content varied depth wise also, having the highest value in surface soil in case of both the land uses on both the slopes. A mean available K content was significantly higher in orange orchard than in forest on 55% slope, while it was lower on 35% slope. Surface soil contained the nutrients of K and Ca with the amount of 0.2905-mg·g^(-1) soil and 3.025-mg·g^(-1)soil respectively in the orchard, while 0.1934-mg·g^(-1) soil and 1.6083-mg·g^(-1) soil were respectively in the forest. Organic carbon and total nitrogen were found more or less similar in surface soil on both the land uses showing a slight difference. Available P was found only in orange orchard, and in forest it was too little in amount to detect by the spectrophotometer. The degraded forests were poor in nutrient content due to high rate of soil erosion, which would be possible to be improved by bringing it under tree cover as proved by the adaptation of orange orchard there.展开更多
Landscape of Dhaka city—one of the fastest growing mega cities in the world, is continuously changing due to un-planned urbanization. For example, the wetlands of the city have been shrinking. This study evaluates we...Landscape of Dhaka city—one of the fastest growing mega cities in the world, is continuously changing due to un-planned urbanization. For example, the wetlands of the city have been shrinking. This study evaluates wetland changes in Dhaka Metropolitan Area (DMA), Bangladesh, between 1978 and 2009. Spatial and temporal dynamics of wetland changes were quantified using four Landsat images, a supervised classi?cation algorithm and the post-classi?cation change detection technique in GIS environment. Accuracy of the Landsat-derived wetland maps ranged from 87% to 92.5%. The analysis revealed that area of wetland and Rivers & Khals in Dhaka city decreased significantly over the last 30 years by 76.67% and 18.72% respectively. This changing trend of wetlands makes the drainage system of Dhaka City vulnerable, creating water logging problems and their consequences. Land filling and encroachment were recognized to be the main reasons for shrinking of the wetlands in the city. Development and alteration of the existing water bodies should consider the natural hydrological conditions.展开更多
Homestead forests contribute substantially to the rural econ- omy of Bangladesh. Rural people depend on trees and plants for their energy usage, housing, food and other forms of subsistence livelihood. In order to ide...Homestead forests contribute substantially to the rural econ- omy of Bangladesh. Rural people depend on trees and plants for their energy usage, housing, food and other forms of subsistence livelihood. In order to identify the potential role of forests on homestead dwellers, an empirical field investigation was conducted in the four Upazilas of My- mensingh district of Bangladesh. It was found that land holdings of the respondents within the four sites are the highest in Mymensingh. The study made an important observation that among all homestead vegeta- tion between 5-6 years old, tree species are generally preferred over plants. This is perhaps due to the efforts of the social forestry extension service to demonstrate that planting trees is an important long-term in- vestment. In all four Upazilas, there was a significant correlation between household annual income and homestead forestry, agriculture and fisher- ies practice, suggesting that higher income families tend to have larger holdings of homesteads, farms and pond areas. Three Upazilas displayed a strong positive relationship （nearly 45%） between homestead forest areas and annual family income; however, the Fulbaria Upazila showed a very poor relationship （0.2%） in this regard. The results of this study suggest that homestead forests play a positive role in the rural economy, in addition to helping mitigate the increasing problem of deforestation in Bangladesh.展开更多
文摘Bangladesh is a deltaic country with a 710 km coastline and numerous newly accreted offshore islands in the central and eastern coastal regions. Natural mangrove forest (the Sundarbans) occupies about 100 km of coastline in the southwest, which protects the lives and properties of the coastal population of that area. The depletion of the forest stock of the Sundarbans was reported in 1875 due to the large-scale clearings by the woodcutters and uncertainty in natural regeneration. The restoration of the Sundarbans in the name of enrichment plantation and assisted natural regeneration was formally introduced in 1959 with Excoecaria agallocha followed by the introduction of mangrove and mainland (non-mangrove) species in the moderate to high saline zone and raised lands in the freshwater zone, respectively in 1975. Chakaria Sundarbans, the second largest natural mangrove forest on the east coast, was highly degraded with the rapid expansion of aquaculture between 1976 and 1989. Tremendous human interferences significantly altered the site condition, interrupting natural recovery. Coastal afforestation was initiated in 1966 with two pioneer mangrove species (Sonneratia apetala and Avicennia officinalis). Some afforested sites require attention for restoration due to natural and manmade causes. Bangladesh Forest Department adopted restoration activities with the technical support of the Bangladesh Forest Research Institute and other agencies. However, all the restoration activities for the Sundarbans, Chakaria Sundarbans, and coastal afforested sites had some success and failure stories. The success and failure of a mangrove restoration activity depends on planning (active or passive restoration), selection of suitable sites and species, planting materials, local community involvement, monitoring, evaluation and plantation management.
文摘Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a growing health issue in Bangladesh, with significant complications affecting the quality of life (QoL). This study aims to assess long-term complications, treatment patterns, and QoL of diabetic patients during COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 385 diabetic patients (aged 18-80) from tertiary hospitals in Dhaka and Mymensingh between May and October 2022. Data were collected via a semi-structured questionnaire on sociodemographics, complications, treatment patterns, and QoL (SF-12 scale). Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and linear regression were used for inferential analysis. Results: The sample predominantly included middle-aged males (41 - 55 years) with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy (34.5%), polyneuropathy (32.2%), and hypertension (52.3%) were the most common complications. Oral medications were used by 59.7% of patients, with 29.1% on insulin. Chi-square analysis showed a significant association between treatment adherence and complications (p β = 0.45, p Conclusion: Complications in diabetic patients significantly affect QoL in Bangladesh. Treatment adherence, especially with oral medications, positively impacts QoL. There is a need for improved access to diabetes care to manage complications and enhance the overall well-being of diabetic patients.
基金The Alliance of International Science Organizations(ANSO),No.ANSO-CR-PP-2021-06The Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research,No.2019QZKK0603。
文摘Agriculture,significantly impacted by climate change and climate variability,serves as the primary livelihood for smallholder farmers in South Asia.This study aims to examine and evaluate the factors influencing smallholder farmers'adaptive capacity(AC)in addressing these risks through surveys from 633 households across Nepal,India,and Bangladesh.The findings reveal that AC is influenced by various indicators categorized under eight principal factors.The first three factors,which explain about one-third of the variance in each country,include distinct significant indicators for each nation:in Nepal,these indicators are landholding size,skill-development training,knowledge of improved seed varieties,number of income sources,access to markets,and access to financial institutions;in India,they encompass ac-cess to agricultural-input information,knowledge of seed varieties,access to markets,access to crop insurance,changing the sowing/harvesting times of crops,and access to financial ser-vices;in Bangladesh,the key factors are access to financial institutions,community coopera-tion,changing the sowing/harvesting times of crops,knowledge of improved seed varieties,and access to agricultural-input information.Notably,indicators such as trust in weather in-formation,changing sowing/harvesting times of crops,and crop insurance were identified as important determinants of AC,which have been overlooked in previous studies.
文摘The increasing incidence of neurodegenerative diseases(NDs)and the constraints of existing treatment methods have spurred a keen interest in investigating alternative therapies.Medicinal plants,renowned for their long-standing use in traditional medicine,offer a hopeful avenue for discovering new neuroprotective agents.This study emphasizes the potential neuroprotective characteristics of edible fruit plants in Bangladesh,specifically focusing on their traditional folk medicine uses for neurological disorders.This study provides an in-depth overview of the different types of edible fruit trees in Bangladesh and their phytochemicals,including flavonoids,terpenoids,and phenolic acids.This work examines the scientific data supporting the neuroprotective properties of bioactive chemicals from plants.It further explores the mechanisms by which these compounds work to counteract oxidative stress,decrease inflammation,and stimulate neurogenesis.Moreover,the study investigates toxicological characteristics and bioactive components of some fruits,emphasizing the importance of further investigation to measure their safety profile comprehensively.This thorough study highlights the potential benefits of Bangladesh's edible fruit trees as a rich source of neuroprotective chemicals.It also shows that additional research might lead to novel approaches for improving brain functioning and preventing NDs.
文摘Bangladesh's apparel industry needs a sharpturnaround in business diversification.With thegrowing global demand for sweaters,especiallyin European markets,the country has a goldenopportunity to excel in this high-value segment.Once considered a seasonal garment,sweatershave evolved into a year-round fashion itemn,fur-ther tncreasing their market potential.
基金supported by the Research Grant of Military Institute of Science and Technology,Bangladesh。
文摘Coastal Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to various impacts of climate change,including rising temperatures,unpredictable precipitation,cyclones,droughts,and saltwater intrusion.These factors collectively threaten agricultural productivity and food security.This study examines the relationship between farmers’perceptions and observable climatic trends,with a focus on the sustainability of food systems and the promotion of adaptable farming techniques in Bagerhat District,Bangladesh.A mixed-methods strategy was employed,incorporating household surveys(a total of 110 purposively selected farmers),focus group discussions,key informant interviews,and climatic data analysis.The Mann-Kendall test,Sen’s slope estimator,precipitation concentration index(PCI),and standardized rainfall anomaly index(SRAI)were employed to analyze climate trends from 1991 to 2020.The findings showed that more than 70.00%of respondents indicated that summers were becoming warmer,over 50.00%reported that winters were becoming colder,and 63.00%stated that yearly precipitation was decreasing.Farmers reported an increase in flood occurrences and a decline in the predictability of precipitation.Between 2011 and 2019,the output of most rice varieties decreased,with the exception of high-yielding Aman rice and hybrid Boro rice.The results also showed that 60.00%of respondents reported experiencing salinity intrusion,and 57.00%attributed significant yield losses to salinity.Planting salt-tolerant rice varieties(such as BRRI Dhan 67 and Binadhan-10),practicing homestead vegetable cultivation,and moderately integrating shrimp aquaculture were also common adaptive measures.To improve long-term food security in coastal Bangladesh,we suggest growing more salt-tolerant crop varieties,promoting vertical and homestead gardening,enhancing seed systems that are resilient to climate change,and educating farmers on the use of climate-smart farming methods.This study highlights the importance of aligning farmers’perceptions with observed climatic data to design effective adaptation strategies.The findings of this study can guide policy-makers and development practitioners in strengthening climate-resilient agriculture and ensuring long-term food security in coastal Bangladesh.
文摘1|Introduction Climate change is one of the most significant and widespread global issues,contributing to emerging infectious diseases and threatening human physical and mental health[1,2].Bangladesh,one of the most densely populated countries in South Asia,experiences unpredictable weather and a steady increase in temperature and precipitation.Between 1901 and 2019,Bangladesh saw an average temperature increase of 0.5℃ according to the change in mean monthly temperatures.Warming is more pronounced in winter months,such as January(from 0.6℃ to 1.9℃)and November(1.3℃ to 1.8℃),compared to smaller increase during the monsoon(Figure 1).This reflects uneven seasonal warming,driven by climate change,with winter and pre-winter months experiencing the most significant temperature rises.
基金Prime Minister Fellowship, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, for providing a PhD fellowship to Kazi Atiah TAIYEBIGraduate Research and Travel Awards (GRATA) under the School of Social&Environmental Sustainability, University of Glasgow, for supporting the field work in Bangladesh。
文摘Shrimp farming is a major global aquaculture activity;however,its social and ecological impacts raise sustainability concerns.While previous research has focused on isolated social or environmental aspects of sustainability in shrimp farming,integrated assessments of these factors using a social-ecological systems(SES)approach are rare.A framework for assessing the sustainability of shrimp farming-comprising a set of social and ecological indicators-is developed and conceptualized in this study for the first time,using an integrated,interdisciplinary,and empirical SES approach.We first identified key social and ecological indicators and developed a conceptual framework based on SES approach,then surveyed 90 shrimp farms across 3 coastal regions(including Satkhira,Bagerhat,and Cox’s Bazar districts)in Bangladesh.Nearly all farmers in Satkhira(97%)and all in Bagerhat(100%)expressed dissatisfaction with the decreasing pattern of shrimp production and profitability over the last decade.In contrast,nearly all respondents in Cox’s Bazar(97%)reported satisfaction with increasing shrimp production.Except in Cox’s Bazar,equity in labor payment remained a concern for the social sustainability of the shrimp farming system.The changing pattern of shrimp production and profitability,which does not ensure equity,poses a threat to the sustainability of shrimp farming.Most of the surveyed farmers recognized the mutual benefits of mangrove forests and shrimp farming(97%in Satkhira and 77%in Cox’s Bazar),which suggests potential for the development of policy on integrated mangrove-shrimp farming with community-based management.This research could help assess the sustainability of the shrimp farming system and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 2(zero hunger)and 8(decent work and economic growth).By examining existing practices and developing a novel framework,this study highlights informed decision-making and guides methodological discussion on assessing the sustainability of shrimp farming using the SES approach in coastal regions and different aquaculture systems worldwide.
文摘Bangladesh’s long and multifaceted history has led to a system of education that is viewed as complex and fragmented.To understand what makes this particular system work,one must first explore what different ruling powers and varying ideological frameworks have done to education in this area over the past millennium.The educational infrastructure has been left behind,populated by successive rulers with their dominant schools of thought and values.This article explores how the past contexts and various ideas,including different ideological perspectives,have given rise to what Bangladesh now has for an education system and how these persist in current definitions.
基金Supported by Children’s Hospital Foundation at VCU,No.1K23HD097282(to Donowitz JR)National Institutes of Health,No.5R01AI043596(to Donowitz JR)+6 种基金Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,No.OPP1017093VA Merit Award,No.1I01BX005730VA ShEEP Grants,No.1 IS1 BX004777-01National Institutes of Health Grant,No.2R56DK115377-05A1PIDS Summer Research Scholars AwardVCU SOM Dean’s Summer Research Fellowshipand Research Career Scientist Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs,No.IK6BX004477.
文摘BACKGROUND Environmental enteric dysfunction(EED)is a subclinical condition caused by fecal-oral contamination leading to enteric inflammation and dysbiosis.Bile acids serve to facilitate lipid digestion and absorption,regulate metabolic pathways associated with childhood growth and inflammation,and may be affected by EED.AIM To investigate bile acid metabolism in Bangladeshi children with EED and its association with growth impairment.METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 100 Bangladeshi infants(aged 6-9 months)and quantified serum and fecal bile acids using LC-MS/MS.We compared profiles to a control group of 6 American children(6-12 months)and 80 older Bangladeshi children(aged 2 years).RESULTS Bangladeshi infants had higher levels of plasma unconjugated primary(65.23%vs 44.25%,P=0.003)and sulfated primary bile acids(12.98%vs<0.001%,P=0.01),with lower primary conjugated bile acids(0.69%vs 2.74%,P≤0.001)compared to American children.Stool unconjugated primary bile acids were inversely associated with weight-for-age[regression coefficient(β)=-0.01,P=0.01]and height-for-age Z scores(β=-0.01,P=0.03).Conjugated secondary bile acids were inversely associated with small intestine bacterial overgrowth(β=-1096.68,P=0.05).Fecal myeloperoxidase was associated with sulfated secondary bile acids(β=-0.40,P=0.04).Compared to 2-year-old children,the Bangladeshi infant’s serum had higher levels of unconjugated primary bile acids(65.23%vs 9.20%,P≤0.001)and lower levels of primary conjugated bile acids(0.69%vs 80.38%,P≤0.001).CONCLUSION Our data suggests an age-dependent defect in conjugation of primary bile acids in Bangladeshi children with compensatory hydrophilic shunting.Additionally,bile acid profiles are associated with intestinal overgrowth.
文摘Social media has emerged as a major global influence on consumer behavior in recent years.User-generated,interactive content is made possible by platforms like Facebook,Instagram,YouTube,and TikTok,and it has a big impact on opinions and buying decisions.Therefore,the objective of this research was to examine the influence of social media(online reviews,social media influencers,eWOM,advertisements,social media usage laws,and information)on consumers’purchase decisions of electronic products.Guided by the theory of planned behavior and social influence theory,a quantitative approach was used,with data collected via a structured questionnaire from 150 respondents over four weeks.Analysis was conducted using SPSS 30.SPSS analysis demonstrated that social media usage laws and social media influencers had a strong positive correlation with consumers’purchase decisions,highlighting their pivotal role in shaping preferences and disseminating information.Reliable and accessible product information also emerged as a significant predictor of consumer choices.In contrast,online reviews,eWOM,and advertisements exhibited minimal influence within this context or might have adverse influence.This article provides guidelines for electronic products to prioritize social media strategies,invest in high-quality information dissemination,and leverage influencer partnerships to effectively engage consumers and drive sales.
文摘Objective:To examine the determinants of emergency contraceptive pill use in Bangladesh.Methods:Data for this cross-sectional study came from 2017-2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey.Characteristics of 906 reproductive age women who were potential candidates for using emergency contraceptive pill were analysed in this study.Data were analysed using univariate and multivariate analyses.Stepwise binary logistic regression was employed as multivariate analysis.Results:Only 10.9%candidates were found to ever use emergency contraceptive pill.The odds of using emergency contraceptive pill for women visited by family planning field worker was significantly higher than that for those who were not visited by family planning field worker[odds ratio(OR)1.94;95%confidence interval(CI)1.19–3.17;P=0.008],while the odds of using emergency contraceptive pill for women with high socioeconomic status was higher than that for those with low socioeconomic status(OR 3.10;95%CI 1.61–5.97;P=0.001).Additionally,having some media access was linked to an increase in the odds of using emergency contraceptive pill(OR 3.01;95%CI 1.33–6.83;P=0.008).Women empowerment related factors did not show any significant effect on emergency contraceptive pill use.Conclusions:The findings indicate that family planning programme has a great opportunity of playing an important role in increasing emergency contraceptive pill use in Bangladesh by increasing the knowledge and awareness of women about emergency contraceptive pill.
文摘BACKGROUND:Bangladesh is a densely populated country where about 10 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus(HBV).The aim of the present study was to evaluate the biochemical,virological and histological characteristics of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B(CHB). METHODS:Patients were included in this study if they were chronically infected with HBV with detectable DNA.The patients who were co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus,hepatitis delta virus or hepatitis C virus,and previously subjected to antiviral treatment,and those with hepatocellular carcinoma were excluded.The study was conducted during the period of January 2001 to December 2007.During this period 2617 patients with CHB were studied.HBeAg-positive cases were included to compare the characteristics.Among them,237 cases underwent liver biopsy. RESULTS:2296 patients(87.7%)were male,with a mean age of 28.9±13.7 years.2375 patients(90.8%)had CHB,and 242(9.2%)were cirrhotic.HBV DNA levels were 7.6±1.5 copies/ml,ALT was 111.3±212.5 U/L,and AST was 91.5± 148.9 U/L.The number of HBeAg-negative CHB cases was 1039(39.7%).HBeAg-negative patients with a lower DNA load were older,and they had more fibrotic changes in the liver than HBeAg-positive patients.The two groups did not differ in necroinflammatory activity,but the former had lower ALT and AST values.Cirrhosis was more common in e-antigen-negative patients.CONCLUSIONS:e-antigen-negative CHB patients are older and have more hepatic fibrosis patients than HBeAg-positive patients,although they have similar necroinflammatory activity.
基金Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Ltd. for their kind permission for sampling and supports
文摘The Paleoproterozoic （-1.73 Ga） basement rocks from Maddhapara, Bangladesh show a large range of chemical variations including diorite, quartz diorite, monzodiorite, quartz monzonite and granite. These are composed of varying proportions of quartz＋plagioclase＋K-feldspar＋biotite＋ hornblende±epidote＋titanite＋magnetite＋apatite and zircon. Amphibole and biotite, dominant ferro- magnesian minerals, have been analyzed with an electron microprobe. The biotite, Mg-dominant trioc- tahedral micas, is classified as phlogopitic nature. Relatively high Mg （1.33-1.53 pfu）, Mg^# （0.52-0.59） and low AIw （0.13-0.25 pfu） contents in the biotite reflect slightly fractionated magma, which might be a relative indicator for the origin of the parental magma. Biotite is also a very good sensor of oxidation state of the parental magma. Oxygen fugacity of the studied biotites estimate within the QFM and HM buffers and equilibrate at about -12.35 and -12.46, which exhibit the source materials were relatively higher oxidation state during crystallization and related to arc magmatism. Whereas, calcic amphi- boles, a parental member of arc-related igneous suite, display consistent oxygen fugacity values （-11.7 to -12.3）, low Al^# （0.16-0.21） with H2Omelt （5.6 wt.%-9.5 wt.%） suggest their reliability with the typical values of calc-alkaline magma crystallization. The oxygen fugacity of magma is related to its source material, which in turn depends on tectonic setting. Discrimination diagrams and chemical indices of both biotite and amphibole of dioritic rocks reveal calc-alkaline orogenic complexes; mostly I-type suite formed within subduction-related environments. Moreover, igneous micas are used as metal- logenic indicator. The biotites with coexisting amphibole compositions show an apparent calc-alkaline trend of differentiation. The study suggests that the trend of oxidized magmas is commonly associated with compressive tectonic and convergent plate boundaries.
文摘AIM: To establish if a distinct urinary metabolic profile could be identified in Bangladeshi hepatitis-B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients compared to cirrhosis patients and controls.METHODS: Urine samples from 42 Bangladeshi patients with HCC (39 patients with hepatitis-B HCC), 47 with cirrhosis on a background of hepatitis B, 46 with chronic hepatitis B, and seven ethnically-matched healthy controls were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A full dietary and medication history was recorded for each subject. The urinary NMR data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squared discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) techniques. Differences in relative signal levels of the most discriminatory metabolites identified by PCA and OPLS-DA were compared between subject groups using an independent samples Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test with all pairwise multiple comparisons. Within the patient subgroups, the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare metabolite levels depending on hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) status and treatment with anti-viral therapy. A Benjamini-Hochberg adjustment was applied to acquire the level of significance for multiple testing, with a declared level of statistical significance of P < 0.05.RESULTS: There were significant differences in age (P < 0.001), weight (P < 0.001), and body mass index (P < 0.001) across the four clinical subgroups. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was significantly higher in the HCC group compared to controls (P < 0.001); serum α-fetoprotein was generally markedly elevated in HCC compared to controls; and serum creatinine levels were significantly reduced in the HCC group compared to the cirrhosis group (P = 0.004). A three-factor PCA scores plot showed clustering of the urinary NMR spectra from the four subgroups. Metabolites that contributed to the discrimination between the subgroups included acetate, creatine, creatinine, dimethyamine (DMA), formate, glycine, hippurate, and trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). A comparison of relative metabolite levels confirmed that carnitine was significantly increased in HCC; and creatinine, hippurate, and TMAO were significantly reduced in HCC compared to the other subgroups. HBeAg negative patients showed a significant increase in creatinine (P = 0.001) compared to HBeAg positive patients in the chronic hepatitis B subgroup, whilst HBeAg negative patients showed a significant decrease in DMA (P = 0.004) in the cirrhosis subgroup compared to HBeAg positive patients. There were no differences in metabolite levels in HCC patients who did or did not receive antiviral treatment.CONCLUSION: Urinary NMR changes in Bangladeshi HCC were identified, corroborating previous findings from Egypt and West Africa. These findings could form the basis for the development of a cost-effective HCC dipstick screening test.
文摘Status of organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), available potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) in three different depths (0-5 cm, 5-15 cm and 15?30 cm) on two hill slopes of 35% and 55% in orange orchard cultivated by the Mro tribe of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) were evaluated and compared with those in degraded bush forests, through digging three profiles in each land use. The content of all the five nutrients was found to be higher in the soil of orange orchard than in the soil of forest. But the variation was not consistent for both the slopes. The content varied depth wise also, having the highest value in surface soil in case of both the land uses on both the slopes. A mean available K content was significantly higher in orange orchard than in forest on 55% slope, while it was lower on 35% slope. Surface soil contained the nutrients of K and Ca with the amount of 0.2905-mg·g^(-1) soil and 3.025-mg·g^(-1)soil respectively in the orchard, while 0.1934-mg·g^(-1) soil and 1.6083-mg·g^(-1) soil were respectively in the forest. Organic carbon and total nitrogen were found more or less similar in surface soil on both the land uses showing a slight difference. Available P was found only in orange orchard, and in forest it was too little in amount to detect by the spectrophotometer. The degraded forests were poor in nutrient content due to high rate of soil erosion, which would be possible to be improved by bringing it under tree cover as proved by the adaptation of orange orchard there.
文摘Landscape of Dhaka city—one of the fastest growing mega cities in the world, is continuously changing due to un-planned urbanization. For example, the wetlands of the city have been shrinking. This study evaluates wetland changes in Dhaka Metropolitan Area (DMA), Bangladesh, between 1978 and 2009. Spatial and temporal dynamics of wetland changes were quantified using four Landsat images, a supervised classi?cation algorithm and the post-classi?cation change detection technique in GIS environment. Accuracy of the Landsat-derived wetland maps ranged from 87% to 92.5%. The analysis revealed that area of wetland and Rivers & Khals in Dhaka city decreased significantly over the last 30 years by 76.67% and 18.72% respectively. This changing trend of wetlands makes the drainage system of Dhaka City vulnerable, creating water logging problems and their consequences. Land filling and encroachment were recognized to be the main reasons for shrinking of the wetlands in the city. Development and alteration of the existing water bodies should consider the natural hydrological conditions.
基金financially supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany
文摘Homestead forests contribute substantially to the rural econ- omy of Bangladesh. Rural people depend on trees and plants for their energy usage, housing, food and other forms of subsistence livelihood. In order to identify the potential role of forests on homestead dwellers, an empirical field investigation was conducted in the four Upazilas of My- mensingh district of Bangladesh. It was found that land holdings of the respondents within the four sites are the highest in Mymensingh. The study made an important observation that among all homestead vegeta- tion between 5-6 years old, tree species are generally preferred over plants. This is perhaps due to the efforts of the social forestry extension service to demonstrate that planting trees is an important long-term in- vestment. In all four Upazilas, there was a significant correlation between household annual income and homestead forestry, agriculture and fisher- ies practice, suggesting that higher income families tend to have larger holdings of homesteads, farms and pond areas. Three Upazilas displayed a strong positive relationship （nearly 45%） between homestead forest areas and annual family income; however, the Fulbaria Upazila showed a very poor relationship （0.2%） in this regard. The results of this study suggest that homestead forests play a positive role in the rural economy, in addition to helping mitigate the increasing problem of deforestation in Bangladesh.
