Mr.. Sheikh Morphed Johan Course Instructor: Bangladesh Studies ABA Program Prepared by: Institute of Business Administration University of Dacha July 3, 2013 Knowing one’s motherland is the most responsible and patriotic thing that can be and should be done by every citizen of that country. Bangladesh studies help students know Bangladesh from different angles, different dimensions. So, Bangladesh Studies is a course which should be included in all type of academic syllabus of this country.
Topics covered in the course Live and Livelihood realities’ velveteen in rural Bangladesh: This course was first started with a micro or individual level of focus. Students were required to go to their own village and observe the changes in different aspects of rural people’s life and livelihood that were brought about by various factors. Mainly, Changes in education, health, social, political, cultural and economic perspectives were the main focus and ten Doctors Tanat Drought tout Ana are still Drilling tout tons change. Success story on agriculture: a success story of any agricultural product in Bangladesh was the next individual focus of the course. Any recent success story of any products in agriculture, the factors that made the success possible, the factors which are hindering the success, what the demand of that particular product to stay successful and what are the future prospects of that product were the focus or purpose of the study. Market failure scenario: another individual study was an incident of any market failure scenario in Bangladesh.
The reasons behind the market failure incident, what should have been done to avoid it, what should be done to avoid a repetition of the same problem in the future, what are the different stakeholders hinging about the failure and how are they coping with it etc. Were the focus of the study. All the previous three studies was from the view point of individual or micro level, with a micro level perspective. As a group, students then focused on the same things but from a larger perspective, from the macro level view point.
Changes life and livelihood realities in rural Bangladesh (group effort): this same study then was done by groups. By this, students were able to focus on the key changing patterns or points that took place and are still taking place in rural Bangladesh. By merging all he individual study reports on the same topic, the members weeded out the individual changes that took place in one or two villages and which are not a part of the overall integral changing process.
By doing this, the students got an integrated picture of the whole scenario, learned about the reasons that are bringing these major changes throughout the entire Bangladesh, are these changes positive or negative in terms of acquiring a better standard of living, how GOB (Government of Bangladesh) facilitate these changes, what should be done to facilitate the positive changes and thwart the negative ones etc.
Millennium Development a PROPS AT Bangles: I nee Millennium Development Goals (Meds) are eight international development goals that were officially established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. All 189 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve these goals by the year 201 51 . Bangladesh has achieved many of the sub goals of the Meds, some goals are on their way to meet their objectives but others are way far behind their target.
This course focused on the factors that help these goals meet their targets, the factors that are impeding the goals to reach their marks etc. Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PROPS) Bangladesh was also a major focus of the course. After learning about the individual and then over all changing patterns, purpose of the PROPS study was to accumulate what the students learned about the changes in the first hand basis and the policies that are supposed to brought about or at the least facilitate these changes, the policy frameworks, the disadvantages or the problems with the policies and how or what is the best way to overcome them.
Recent tragedy of SAVER Ran plaza was also an important topic for the course. The reason behind Ran plaza incident, the parties responsible, and finally the probable solution and preventive measures were discussed from 5 different perspectives; they are: buyer, seller, laborer, manufacturer and government. Map Bangladesh: this particular study of the course actually focused on letting students know about different facts about Bangladesh.
The information on the transportation system (air, water, road, and railway), major products and their production amount, areas/ strict that are on top of the list in producing major agro goods, top remittance earner districts, most populated districts, etc. Were the focus of the 2nd big project ” Map Bangladesh”. Business Bangladesh: this topic mainly focused on the value chains, value chain members, their share of profits, OTF, the level of wastage of some major agro products (fish, vegetables, fruits) of Bangladesh.
The business opportunities which are now present in the wastage section of value chain, the weakness of the overall value chin and value sharing system are also part of this topic. MAJOR BUILDING BLOCKS The course followed a motion throughout the semester. It started its Journey by measuring changes in the rural areas of Bangladesh. Then individual data were merged into a group report and the students could observe the key changes and changing trends. Then the Meds and PROPS were introduced. MEG and PROPS are all about goals, targets, target achievement, policies facilitating these goals and targets, strategies, and policy frame works.
Then comes the necessity of information, hence, factual information of Bangladesh and to connect it all with a business school’s course, the last block emerges as the business environment of Bangladesh. . Goals, policy, strategy and policy frame work The first and foremost building block of Bangladesh Studies course is the goals and targets set by GOB and the millennium summit and strategy, policy framework of BIB Maids are B major goals set In ten millennium summit Walt many toner sun goals and targets.
It’s really delighting to note that Bangladesh has been able to achieve many sub goals in the past 12 years and is on its way to achieve others. Though Bangladesh still is lagging behind in the environmental MEG, it has caught already up and is catching up to poverty, maternal health, child mortality, CA emission issues etc. GOB is the main praiseworthy body for the achievement of these goals as GOB relentlessly acted to achieve the goals. The poverty reduction strategy paper (PROPS) discuss and presents the poverty reduction strategy framework to alleviate poverty in Bangladesh.
This framework is based on the reality of multidimensionality of poverty and takes into account the dynamics of the socio- economic factors that reinforce and perpetuate poverty in the country. These frameworks and strategies often merges with the Meds. Under this building block, MEDS, PROPS 2005, 2013 and application of PROPS and MEDS the saver Ran Plaza incident are included . 2. Changes (Past, Present & Future ” should be” changes) Changes can be seen in our own villages. 15- 20 years back, the education system, political, economic, social and cultural system were very much different than it is now.
If this changes are seen only from micro/individual perspective, then it would seem, that this particular village has experienced a drastic wind of change. But, if all the individual villages’ changing patterns are merged then it can be seen that, not only one particular village, but rather all the villages are experiencing change in the same dimensions of life. Though, level of change may vary from village to village (slow change or quick change) but changing pattern is the same. This changes are not only affecting day to day lives but also rural people’s livelihood patterns and lifestyle.
In this building block, this individual perspective of change was observed and discussed and focus was given on the reasons behind these change, the overall effect of the change etc. 3. Knowing Bangladesh (Factual Information about Bangladesh) The last two blocks focused on the goals, policy & strategies and how they are changing people’s day to day life, livelihood patterns etc. Now comes some factual information about Bangladesh. This block actually focus on letting students know about the major resources, districts, divisions of the country. These are the study topics under knowing Bangladesh: A.
Administrative, Land Features & Transportation: All districts, divisions, Railway, National highways, Major rivers & water ways, Major airports, seaports and river ports. B. Agriculture: Top 5 districts by rice, potato, maize, Jute, cultured fish, poultry, livestock, banana, mango, pineapple output. C. Population & Others: most populous districts, districts with highest literacy rate, foreign remittance raring and top industrialized districts. 4. Business Environment of Bangladesh This block talks about what Bangladesh has to offer to an entrepreneur.