Bangladesh Journal of Administration and Management

Covid-19

Saroar Ahmed Saleheen — 2022-06-01

Since January 2020, the effects of the outbreak of the pandemic began to be felt in different sectors of the
economy of Bangladesh. Timely and appropriate steps taken by our government through field administration
and their effective implementation, Bangladesh has been able to successfully overcome the catastrophic
situation created by the Covid-19 pandemic. We know Covid-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus has
so far infected countless people worldwide and caused about 6.3 million deaths. The whole world was
devastated by the economic crisis caused by the pandemic. Field administration, under the leadership of Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina, has provided many humanitarian services during the pandemic period as well as
adopted various services including coronavirus vaccination program for all and thus saved Bangladesh from
massive loss of lives. As directed by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the Government formulated a comprehensive
program with short, medium, and long-term goals consisting of four main strategic blocks to address the crisis
and its adverse effects on the economy which was implemented through field administration. This study
investigates the performance appraisal of Field Administration from the service receivers’ point of view,
impacts of service delivery in terms of maintaining good health, food security, fight against Covid-19,
overcoming poverty, generating employment opportunity etc. It is worth mentioning that finally, this study finds
positive perception and supportive response from grassroots people due to services provided to them during
pandemic by the field administration.

Achieving Sustainable Development Goal-16 in Bangladesh

Esrat Jahan — 2022-06-01

This study intends to evaluate the success of local governments in Bangladesh in meeting the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) targets by comparing them to current measures taken by the government. It also
looks at the institutional obstacles that come with implementing the SDGs. Goal 16 was created to foster peace
and create a more inclusive society. The significant thing to note here is that in the most recent UP Act of 2009,
GOB endorsed several of those pilot ideas, such as Ward Shava, Open Budgeting, and Standing Committees,
which ensure bottom-up planning at UPs. According to the Local Government (Union Parishad) Act of 2009,
several methods finally become dominant actors to promote peace, fairness, and strong institutions.To build a
framework for incorporating the SDGs into local government activities, the study adopts an exploratory
approach. Secondary data was gathered from books, articles, websites, and newspapers, among other sources.
The existing literature on SDG implementation issues, institutional weaknesses, public policy flaws, and legal
framework was examined to gain a better understanding of the data collected and to establish an analytical
methodology. To enable effective decision-making, the government, international organizations, the academic
community, and our development agencies must build new connections with local politicians and civil society.

Financial Autonomy of Union Parishad

Md. Abdullah Al Mahfuj — 2022-06-01

Local Government Institutions in Bangladesh are a crucial domain for democratic practice, political
empowerment, and public service provision to the citizens. The Constitution empowers Local Government
Institutions, yet they fail to achieve their autonomy and are heavily dependent on the central government's
directions. This study aimed to assess the impact of financial autonomy on strengthening the financial resources
management capacity of Union Parishad (UP) through the convergence of central-local policy and strategy. The
exploratory sequential design was used to investigate the objectives under which 20 IDIs, 10 KIIs, and 134
surveys were conducted from different unions of Meherpur Sadar Upazila. The study result showed that
insufficient financial supply, limited local revenue base, and unwillingness to collect tax for maintaining
popularity has created a burden in performing the responsibilities for UP. This situation gotten worse when the
Local Government Act 2009 created more dependency on the central government. Yet newly formed
participatory avenues like Open Budgeting and Wardshava have created some form of transparency in the UP
by expanding citizens’ involvement and empowerment in financial management. In these circumstances,
liberalisation of the central government’s control and massive involvement of citizens in UP activities can
restore the true nature of local self-government and ensure financial autonomy in UP

Health Impacts of Disaster

Rajeeb Kumar Sarkar — 2022-06-01

In recent years Bangladesh has made significant progress in disaster management. This article examines the
health impacts of disaster in the context of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh. Due to its geographical location,
topography, high population density and poverty Bangladesh is considered to be highly vulnerable to natural
disasters in the world. The coastal part of the country is the most vulnerable and the southwestern part of the
coastal area is identified as environmentally handicapped by natural disasters. Natural disasters pose a threat to
the very existence of people’s lives and livelihood in Bangladesh. There are direct health effects through various
vector and waterborne diseases, but arguably more important indirect effects as well. So far, little is known
about natural disasters and their impact on human health in Bangladesh. This study is based on the cyclone Sidr
that hit Bangladesh in November 2007. This article aims to assess the impact of natural disaster on the health
of the coastal population of Bangladesh. This article concludes that natural disasters largely affect human health
in Bangladesh. Natural disasters are affecting the general and mental health of the population of the affected
areas. Prevalence of diarrhoea, skin diseases, and other infectious diseases has increased after the cyclones. This
article emphasizes on the importance of a wellplanned preparedness program to address the challenges of
natural disasters. The experience of Sidr demonstrates the visible action of Bangladesh government to mitigate
the risks of health. However significant changes in the national and international level are required to reduce
health risks caused by natural disasters.

Uncovering the Workplace Violence and Intention to Leave Among Women Employees

Mohammad Rashed Hasan Polas — 2022-06-01

The purpose of this study is to determine which factors lead to intention to leave workplace due to workplace
violence among women employees in the Bangladesh based SMEs. Workplace violence is a prevalent
occurrence all around the world. Women have been disproportionately victimized by workplace violence in
recent years. In order to achieve the study objectives, the researchers developed four hypotheses. The study
results were obtained from a sample of 274 women employeesfollowing the stratified random sampling at
various SMEs in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A positivist research approach was adopted, which allows deducing
empirical knowledge from data-driven hypotheses. All items used to measure constructs were adopted from
past studies.The data was analysed using SPSS v25. The researchers investigated whether there is a positive and
significantconnection between employee conflict, workplace pressure, employee family conflict and
managerial issue with intention to leave due to workplace violence. The study demonstrated that there is a
positive and significant connection between employee conflict, workplace pressure, and managerial issue with
intention to leave due to workplace violence. There is no established linkage between employee family
conflictand intention to leave dueto workplace violence. This study explored that workplace violence is a major
issue in Bangladesh in recent years. This study claims that gender parity is regarded as a critical objective to
achieve, as well as a fundamental human right and an economic imperative of progress and social fairness. This
study will assist policymakers and legislators in enacting legislation that promote a work-friendly environment
for women in the Bangladesh based SMEs

Safe Drinking Water Crisis and its Consequences on the Kaliganj Upazila, Satkhira

Md Zahidul Islam — 2022-06-01

For a long time, the people of south-western Bangladesh, particularly the residents of Kaliganj, Satkhira have
been suffering from a safe drinking water crisis. This study tries to look into the actual safe drinking water crisis
and its consequences on the Kaliganj Upazila as well as the assessment of the role of the Nobo-Jatra Project
(NJP) in mitigating the crisis and finding a sustainable solution based on both primary and secondary sources
of data. This study followed a qualitative approach to uncover exploratory issues of the respondents' bitter
experiences and opinions related to the safe drinking water crisis and its socio-economic and health
consequences in the Kaliganj Upazila. The majority of residents in the study area lack access to safe drinking
water. They are frequently affected with illnesses such as diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, gastric, jaundice, and
arsenicosis, and they suffer economic and social losses as a result. Nobo-Jatra Project (NJP) is contributing to
ensure the sustainable solution to the safe drinking water crisis in the study area through their different kinds of
initiatives like the installation of water points by using modern water technology, capacity building, and
management & monitoring. Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE) is also working to ensure
safe drinking water in the study area. Despite various initiatives taken by NJP and DPHE, there is still some
shortage of safe drinking water in Kaliganj Upazila and more initiatives need to be taken in this regard. DPHE's
capacity in terms of manpower and technology is now restricted, and it should be expanded as quickly as
possible. As per the respondent’s opinion, The NJP should be continued for several more years, or a monitoring
cell should be established on behalf of World Vision Bangladesh to monitor and manage the project's initiatives
to ensure the sustainability of NJP contributions. The government, non-governmental organizations, and local
communities should work together to address the safe drinking water crisis immediately. A coordinated and
integrated approach needs to be incorporated into the future sustainable water policy.