Identifying factors that influence access to banking services in Bangladesh: A household level analysis

This study, employing a logistic regression model seeks to identify the important factors that influence household’s access to banking services. The result shows that about 31.7% households have bank account while the remaining 68.3% households have no such account. The result found that with the increase in age of household’s head access to banking services increased gradually. As observed, female headed household have greater access to banking services as compared to male headed household. More so, formerly/ever married headed households have less access to banking services by comparison with never married headed households. The result also shows that access to banking services gradually increased with increasing education level of household’s head. It is found that poor households have very less access to banking services as compared to non-poor households. Increased land ownership of household allowed gradual increase in the access to banking services. The result also mentions that nonowner homestead households have less access to banking services as compared to own homestead households. According to the logistics regression analysis, comparing with the rural households it has been found that the urban households have more access to banking facilities.Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 30(1&2): 81-89, December-2017

Long term carrying over effects of basic slag, soil aggregate size and groundwater treatments for the reclamation of acid sulfate soils

A pot experiment was conducted to study the carrying over effects of soil aggregate size, groundwater level and basic slag treatments in acid sulfate soils of Badarkhali and Cheringaseries which were examined for the reclamation during 1998-2001. Initially the soils were very strongly acidic (pH 3.9 for Badarkhali; 3.6 for Cheringa) and very strongly saline (ECe 23 mS/cm for Badarkhali) to moderately saline (10.3 mS/cm for Cheringa). Application of these treatments exerted remarkable improvement in soil fertility and plant growth on these soils after 18 years of occasional cultivation. In 2016, pH at different treatments in these soils ranged from 6.2 to 7.4 for Badarkhali, 5.2 to 7.1 for Cheringa and ECe from 1.7 to 3.2 mS/cm for Badarkhali, 1.5 to 8.75 for Cheringa soils. At the same time in Badarkhali soil, organic matter content (1.3 - 2.8%), total N (0.02 - 0.11%), available N (2.69 - 18.29 mmol/kg), available P (0.78 - 5.08 mmol/kg) were determined and almost similar values of these parameters were recorded in Cheringa soil. Available S contents were found to decrease and ranged from 0.06 - 0.18 cmol/kg in Badarkhali and 0.08 - 0.21 cmol/kg in Cheringa soils. In spite of using basic slag, the concentrations of lead and cadmium in the studied soils were determined below (highest value of Pb was 2.07 mg/kg and Cd 1.8 mg/kg) the normal contents (Pb 70 mg/kg and Cd 10 mg/kg) in the agricultural soils.Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 30(1&2): 69-79, December-2017

In vitro evaluation of selected fungicides and some plant extracts against seed-borne fungi of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

not availableBangladesh J. Sci. Res. 30(1&2): 91-95, December-2017

Petroleum system of Srikail gas field using sequence stratigraphy

A sequence stratigraphic analysis was carried out on the sedimentary packages of parts of the Bengal Basin hydrocarbon province. This paper focuses on the identification of petroleum system of Srikail Gas Field within eastern folded belt of Bengal basin using sequence stratigraphic concept. Three strike and five dip seismic lines are used in this work and data analysis is done using Petrel 2015 software. Seismic line-2 (SK-2) of Srikail is good in resolution and is used here only for identifying potential petroleum system. Seven sequence boundaries were identified on the basis of onlap and reflection truncation. The result of the interpreted sequence boundary has revealed that all the elements which are required to generate a potential prospect are present in the study area. Fine grained sediments deposited during the rising and lowering of sea level might act as a potential source rock. Time contour maps of the study area have revealed that the NWSE trending anticlinal Srikail structure is largely affected by shale filled channel in the crestal and western flank. The channel filled shale is later acting as a seal on north and western part of the structure. Erosional remnants truncated against shale fill canyon is acting as prospective reservoirs in the Srikail gas field. The NW-SE trending anticlinal structure and shale fill canyon help this sand as potential traps for hydrocarbon accumulation. Hence the petroleum system of the study area become very prospective in terms of hydrocarbon accumulation.Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 30(1&2): 1-9, December-2017

Effects of rice hull, rice straw and saw dust application on the primary nutrients of rice plants grown under variable moisture conditions in a saline soil

The study was conducted at Kuakata of Patuakhali to evaluate the impacts of indigenous organic amendments such as rice hull, rice straw and saw dust alone and in combination under variable moisture conditions (moist and saturated) on the primary nutrients (N, P and K) of BRRI dhan64 grown in a coastal saline soil. The individual application of rice hull, rice straw and saw dust at the rate of 0, 4 and 8 t/ha and their combined effects were found to be significant (p ≤ 0.05) for N content in the rice plants. Effects of the treatments on phosphorus content alone and in combination were slightly additive but not significant. The maximum P content in the plant tissues was determined at saturated condition with the increased rate of the treatments (T27 = RH8RS8SD8), while the lowest content of P was recorded in control (T1 = RH0 RS0 SD0). The K content in plant tissues increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) with the increased rate of application of rice hull, rice straw and saw dust. The higher K contents were found under saturated condition of soil. Under moist condition of soil, the highest contents of N, P and K were 21.3, 1.45 and 15.67 g/kg, respectively and under saturated condition, the highest contents of N, P and K were 23.4, 1.78 and 15.87 g/kg by the combined application of rice hull, rice straw and saw dust, respectively at the rate of 8 t/ha, suggested that the primary nutrition of rice had better response under saturated moisture condition in saline soil, which received rice hull, rice straw and saw dust.Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 30(1&2): 11-21, December-2017

A study on disaster management practices for vulnerable rural communities in Bangladesh

The current disaster knowledge and practices of disaster affected rural people in Bangladesh were investigated. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaire from 216 rural households. About 83% of the respondents perceived knowledge that brings about an increase in household income followed by learning new skills that contribute to reduction in disaster vulnerabilities (75%) and knowledge that helps in the decision making process (67%). A total of 91% of respondents, irrespective of literacy, are practicing tacit or oral knowledge sharing in their day to day lives. The sample respondents acquired disaster knowledge from different sources, including neighbors and relatives (82%), social workers (50%), mass media (45%), religious institutions (38%) and the village markets (32%). For those that received their knowledge from the village market, the information is mainly gathered by the literate people (37%) as opposed to those that are illiterate (26%). In updating acquired knowledge, 76% respondents validated through self observations and 58% by consultation and communication with family members or neighbors. Interestingly, more than 74% respondents reported that an inadequate financial resource is an important barrier to gaining improved knowledge on disaster management in rural areas. About 69% of the respondents stated that the early warning messages provided by various agencies are ‘very useful’, whereas 23% believed them to be ‘useful’ and 8% as ‘partially useful’. Posters, booklets and leaflets were identified as the most available and important disaster knowledge materials (82%). The study results suggested that the establishment of the rural information and knowledge centre and an easily understandable forecasting system would be very useful to improve the disaster knowledge for the rural poor.Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 30(1&2): 55-67, December-2017

Importance of maternal education on antenatal care visits in Bangladesh

An attempt has been made to examine whether maternal education influences the antenatal care (ANC) visit in Bangladesh using sequential logistic regression models with an interaction between maternal education and place of residence. For the purpose of analysis, Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), 2014 data set have been used. The findings emerged from the study show a significant increase of adequate ANC visits among pregnant women with the increase in maternal education level. Moreover, interaction between maternal education and place of residence provides a significant effect on complete ANC visits. The finding justifies an influential impact of maternal education on ANC visits over place of residence. Female participation in the education programs needs to be increased because maternal education signifies a strong positive association with ANC visits.Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 30(1&2): 23-33, December-2017

Silt content approximation of Neogene Surma group mudrocks, Sitakund anticline, Bengal basin

Petrography of the Neogene mudrocks in this study incorporates laser particle size analysis, thin sections and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Ten representative mudrock samples were collected from outcrops of the Sitakund structure. From the studies, it is evident that mudrocks of Sitakund structure are characteristically silty. The silt content, as estimated by laser grain size analysis, of the mudrocks ranges from 39 to 77% with average of 58%. Significant amount of granular silt with the platy clay minerals is also evident from the SEM micrographs. The silts are mainly quartz, feldspar and micas. The high silt content in the Neogene mudrocks implies an enormous flux of silty sediments with a very high rate of sedimentation allowing little time for a more selective sorting. This supports the geologic history that the uplifting and erosion of Himalaya was at the peak during Miocene and the Ganges mega delta received highest rate of sedimentation and growth rendering shale consistently silty.Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 30(1&2): 35-43, December-2017

Under-five child mortality in Bangladesh: Classical and Bayesian approaches to Cox proportional hazard model

This study examines the determinants of under-five child mortality in Bangladesh using the data extracted from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), 2011 and 2014. Product-Limit method and Log-Rank test have been used for bivariate analysis. Cox proportional hazard model has been employed under both classical and Bayesian approaches. Cox regression analysis reveals that region (Barisal and Sylhet), maternal education (higher education), mother’s membership of NGO have significant impact on child mortality. The results obtained using Bayesian Cox PH model are almost similar except one key finding. Under Bayesian analysis, child’s size at birth appeared as potential determinant of under-five mortality whereas it has insignificant effect on child survival when classical Cox model has been applied.Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 30(1&2): 45-54, December-2017

Professor Dr. Aminul Islam

not availableBangladesh J. Sci. Res. 30(1&2): -, December-2017