Papers by M.M.Rezaul Islam
NGOs, Social Capital and Community Empowerment in Bangladesh, 2016
This chapter looks at the major limitations and challenges of NGOs’ capacities for social capital... more This chapter looks at the major limitations and challenges of NGOs’ capacities for social capital and community empowerment approaches. This chapter highlights the evidence of the two NGOs—Practical Action Bangladesh and Proshika—that we discussed in Chaps. 6 and 7. A growing number of critical assessments suggest that the operational impact of NGOs in development activities was less than claimed. NGOs may pursue a ‘service delivery’ paradigm, where the provision of services is strictly separated from engagement in the broader polity. In reference to this connection, NGOs become providers of goods to the poor ‘consumers’ rather than the ‘facilitators’ of collective action and empowerment (Rahman 2006, 452). This growing predominance of service delivery programmes among NGOs is problematic for the goals of empowerment and poverty alleviation. Based on the evidence and literature, this chapter shows that the NGOs could not archive their development targets because of the local dynamics and global pressures. There are a number of local dynamisms such as local context, political issues, NGOs’ conventional role, NGOs’ monolithic development approach and lack of accountability. A number of global pressures were noted such as the lack of local funding and donor dependency, global development frameworks and decentralised management system.
Field Guide for Research in Community Settings, 2021
This study explored the prevalence and causes of child abuses e.g., physical, emotional, and sexu... more This study explored the prevalence and causes of child abuses e.g., physical, emotional, and sexual abuse of child domestic workers in Bangladesh. This study used a mixed method approach. Data sources were 849 child domestic workers, 849 house owners, and 15 development practitioners and experts. A household survey was carried out in three different areas in the Dhaka city. The study employed semistructured interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and observation methods. The results showed that the prevalence of child abuses was very high and manifested physically, emotionally, and sexually among the studied child domestic workers. This was noted as a violation of Bangladesh law and of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The findings of this study could be an important guideline to the policy makers, human rights practitioners, and international human and child rights organisations in seeking to alleviate these violations.
Children are the most vulnerable members of society. They are considered vulnerable since they ar... more Children are the most vulnerable members of society. They are considered vulnerable since they are at a stage where there is greater reliance on others to get things done. They don't have knowledge of this world and wouldn't know right from wrong etc so someone can easily maltreat a child. Child maltreatment is the general term used to describe all forms of child abuse and neglect. There is wide range of variation about the definition of child maltreatment and unfortunately, there is no single, universally applied definition of child abuse and neglect. The literature gives an overwhelming explanation about child maltreatment. In many cases, child maltreatment has been defined with the spectrum of child abuse.
Advances in Library and Information Science, 2019
This is an example of a PhD proposal based on a qualitative case study. This PhD proposal was com... more This is an example of a PhD proposal based on a qualitative case study. This PhD proposal was completed by the author at the UNESCO Centre for Comparative Education and Research, Faculty of Education, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. This proposal describes the main elements of a research proposal. First, it provides a background and introduction of the proposal, and then discusses research problem, objectives and research question, significance of the study, conceptual and theoretical aspect. Finally, this proposal outlines the methodology of the study briefly. The proposal also includes a long list of the references used in the study. This will help the students to understand the qualitative study.
In Bangladesh, the level of implementation and enforcement of legislations particularly related t... more In Bangladesh, the level of implementation and enforcement of legislations particularly related to juvenile justice is far away from expectation. Attempt has been made to conduct a research to find out the weaknesses and shortcomings of these legislations and also the implementation mechanism. Collecting data mainly from secondary sources such as national and international legislations, conventions and partly taking feedback from relevant focus group discussion (FGD) and key informant indicator (KII) the issue was examined and analysed. From the study it is found that the legislations are not suitable and updated for an effective Juvenile Justice System. The machinery to enforce these legislations and to provide optimum service to the juveniles is not appropriate. Hence it is recommended that along with other laws the Children Act 1974, the most important law relating to juvenile justice should be updated keeping conformity with the international standard. Juvenile courts in all dis...
Natural Hazards, 2021
In the context of commonly limited research on the subject, this study intended to (i) identify t... more In the context of commonly limited research on the subject, this study intended to (i) identify the types, magnitude and impacts of disasters in the char land communities in Bangladesh, and (ii) unfolded their water, sanitation and hygiene practices. A quantitative research approach was employed for this study, where a survey method was used. Data were collected through a face-to-face structured interview from 392 household heads in 32 char lands from three northwest districts in Bangladesh. The results claimed that the char people were faced all common disasters that damaged their properties and increased low livelihoods and health problems. Though the households used safe water in all purposes, they had to depend on government, community or sharing water. They had to go a far way to collect water and that was a matter of the women security. The sanitation and hygiene facilities were found very poor in the char areas. The findings would be a useful guideline to the policymakers, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, health workers and development practitioners.
International Journal of Community Well-Being, 2020
This commentary looks at the social stigma as a barrier to Covid-19 responses to community well-b... more This commentary looks at the social stigma as a barrier to Covid-19 responses to community well-being in Bangladesh. The Covid-19 in Bangladesh particular the way the people respond this has many dimensions to view from sociological perspective. The main objective of this commentary is to analysis how this response is related to social stigma. Gathering information from the recent literature, results showed that there are number of causes around such stigma that include misinformation, feeling of insecurity, fear of responsibility, administrative malfunction, and lack of trust on treatment. These causes of stigma have number of forms such as humor-prone stigma, residential stigma, organizational stigma, community-stigma, and apathetical stigma. Results also show that there are many effects of stigma such as health-risks, harassment, discrimination, life-insecurity, psychological disorder, loss of social capital and emotional capital, shattering family bond and social solidarity that work as barrier to community well-being. This commentary recommends to overcome the barriers through strengthening and decentralization of the COVID-19 medical facilities including testing, tracing, formal quarantining, and special treatment for coronavirus in coronavirus hospitals by allocating a large figure of the state budget and also by taking initiatives of public-private partnership for health management.
Global Social Welfare, 2020
Local Development & Society, 2020
We explore the COVID-19 pandemic in the way South Asian poor local communities experience health ... more We explore the COVID-19 pandemic in the way South Asian poor local communities experience health and income hazards and whether they prioritize their lives or put their lives on the line to earn a living. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the World Organizations' data, and a content analysis of health-and-incomerelated documents. Analysis revealed the number of COVID-19 patients and deaths is increasing in South Asia, with the presence of inconsistent lockdown measures. Major health risks (community transmission, depression, poor emergency preparedness, and inadequate acute care) and income concerns (job losses and living cost) influence the poor communities' psychosocial approach to life and livelihood. In many cases the poor communities do not follow lockdown and take matters into their own hands since the governments provide no welfare support. Our study highlights the importance of effective exit-strategy from lockdown, adequate acute care access, and food and income security for the community.
SN Social Sciences, 2020
Environment and disaster are two important concepts that have wide implications in our daily live... more Environment and disaster are two important concepts that have wide implications in our daily lives. This kind of education is more important to the children for ensuring their protection. This education helps them participate in decision-making processes in different stages of their lives that will ultimately impact their future. We identify the numbers and sizes of the titles, elements, and learning outcomes related to the environment and disaster curricula used in the Secondary School (grades VI to X) in Bangladesh, and find the cross-cutting issues, gaps of the curricula, and finally, provide some suggestions. We use content analysis, focus group discussions, and interviews with key informants' interviews for data collection. Our results show that there are a total of 115 titles on the environment and disasters in the secondary school curricula. Disaster-related titles are numerous than those related to the environment. We record 210 items of contents focus on the environment and 145 disasters. However, some overlap is noted. The highest number of contents (133) focuses on the natural environment followed by 46 on social issues and 31 on physical themes. According to the grade-wise distribution, the highest numbers of contents are found in grade IX-X followed by 62 in grade VII, then 47 in grade VI with the lowest 19 in grade VIII. The subject-wise data analysis showed that the highest 95 contents were found on Agricultural Studies followed by 65 in English For Today, 54 in Science, and 36 each in Geography and Environment and Bangladesh and Global Studies in all classes. The study found some gaps and limitations in terms of its sequence regarding the learning outcomes of the curricula. We propose that an urgent review is needed to assess the whole curricula to reconsider and rearrange as needed for fetching the sequence across the subjects and grades. Our findings are of relevance to policymakers, education specialists, education practitioners, and school teachers.
Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, 2018
This paper attempts to unfold the dynamics and nature of the socioeconomic threats and livelihood... more This paper attempts to unfold the dynamics and nature of the socioeconomic threats and livelihood resilience among the climate change and natural disaster affected people in the SouthEast Asia. The study captures the nature of the socioeconomic threats of the climate change and natural disasters, and unearths the process and underlying causes of livelihood resilience among the local communities in the SouthEast Asian region. Based on a qualitative interpretative meta-synthesis, it finds that a huge number of people in the SouthEast Asian countries are displaced and migrated from place of origin, and subjected to resettlement elsewhere with manifestly low level of livelihood resilience. This displacement is largely determined by the underlying vulnerability of people to shocks that compel them to leave their homes and livelihoods for mere survival. The article concludes by offering selected policy lessons, and with an exhortation for further research on this relatively less explored subject.
International Sociology, 2017
The main objective of this study was to explore the types and nature of climate induced human dis... more The main objective of this study was to explore the types and nature of climate induced human displacement and migration, and their socioeconomic consequences in the agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh. The study followed a qualitative research design, where six agro-ecological zones were selected purposively from different parts of Bangladesh. A multi-method data collection method was applied, where the study conducted six participatory rural appraisals (PRAs), eight focus group discussions (FGDs), 24 key informant interviews (KIIs) and 12 in-depth case studies. Data were collected in 2012, and the study used a thematic approach for data analysis. Results showed that the dramatic onset disasters usually caused mass displacement, while the slow onset disasters affected the environment, local ecosystem services and employment opportunities that forced people to undergo routine economic migration at first, followed later by permanent migration. This permanent migration had long-term n...
NGOs, Social Capital and Community Empowerment in Bangladesh, 2016
Social capital and community empowerment are two important domains for NGOs’ development activiti... more Social capital and community empowerment are two important domains for NGOs’ development activities. Social capital is the quality and quantity of relationships, networks and norms among people and organisations that facilitate collective action. The objectives are bonding strategies that build trust and cooperation among individuals and within communities; bridging strategies that break down barriers across groups and communities and enable collaborative action on shared objectives; and scaling up strategies that connect communities in collective action for social change and development at the policy and/or systems levels. On the other hand, community empowerment is a broad term that involves social action processes, and individual and collective efforts and outcomes. It refers to individuals, families, organisations and communities gaining control within the social, economic and political contexts of their lives in order to improve equity and their quality of life. The objective of this domain is to promote development by providing motivation, education and proper cognitive, democratic and social skills; increase communities’ capacities and resources to bring people together around common goals and interests; increase participation of the communities in decision-making and problem-solving processes; enhance exchange and partnership with local, regional and international communities and groups; and build-up social capital. This chapter elucidates the complex intersection between social capital and community empowerment. The chapter provides a solid theoretical discussion about different aspects of NGOs’ development and then examines how social capital and community empowerment are widening where NGOs’ role is significant.
NGOs, Social Capital and Community Empowerment in Bangladesh, 2016
This chapter discusses NGOs’ capacity for social capital development with the evidence of two NGO... more This chapter discusses NGOs’ capacity for social capital development with the evidence of two NGOs: Practical Action Bangladesh (PAB) and Proshika working with two smith communities such as blacksmiths and goldsmiths located at Mostafapur Bazar, Faridpur, and Mirpur (1) Market, Dhaka, Bangladesh, respectively. The findings looked at the two programmes: the Markets and Livelihoods Programme (of PAB) and the Small Economic Enterprise Development (of Proshika) programme. Data were collected through a qualitative case study, where a multi-method data collection procedure, such as semi-structured interview, social mapping, participant observation, in-depth case study, focus group discussions and documentation survey, was employed. The Practical Action (formerly Intermediate Technology Development Group) was established by E. F. Schumacher, the author of the book Small Is Beautiful (1973). It started working in Bangladesh in the early 1980s in response to requests from a number of prominent national NGOs. In 1990, a Bangladesh country office was formally established with its head office in Dhaka. From 1997, PAB began implementing large-scale programmes in the technology areas of food production, agro-processing, small enterprise development and light engineering. The vision of the organisation is ‘a world free of poverty and injustice in which technology is used to the benefit of all’. The mission aims ‘to eradicate poverty in developing countries by developing and using technology, and by demonstrating results, sharing knowledge and influencing others’. On the other hand, Proshika is one of the largest NGOs of Bangladesh, which started out in a few villages of Dhaka and Comilla districts in Bangladesh in 1975, although the organisation formally took its first step in 1976. The central ethos of Proshika is human development and empowerment of the poor, who gradually stand tall to achieve freedom from poverty by themselves. The working areas of Proshika cover most parts of Bangladesh. The main activities of Proshika are people’s organisation building, human development training, practical skill development training, universal education, urban poor development, development policy analysis and advocacy, employment and income generation, small economic enterprise development, organic agriculture, livestock development, fisheries development, social forestry, irrigation and tilling technology service, sericulture development, housing, health infrastructure building, health education, development support communication, people’s culture, disaster management and preparedness, policies for risk and vulnerability management, integrated multisectoral women’s development, computer in development, assistance to other organisations, research and demonstration project, and legal aid services.
NGOs, Social Capital and Community Empowerment in Bangladesh, 2016
NGOs have become an important development agent in Bangladesh. This sector is increasingly becomi... more NGOs have become an important development agent in Bangladesh. This sector is increasingly becoming important because of claims that they are efficient and effective; they are innovative, flexible, independent and responsive to the problems of poor people at the grass-roots level (Bagci 2007). The growth of such NGOs over the past four decades in Bangladesh has given an increasingly important role and has led them to forming a distinctive sector within civil society. Over this time, NGOs have been engaged in all sectors of social life like relief, rehabilitation, health, education, development programmes, peace, human rights, environment, and so on. They have been using finance raised from voluntary, private sources and donor agencies, and managing themselves autonomously at local, national and international levels (Bagci 2007; Gauri and Galef 2005). In the last chapter, we have seen that NGOs vary widely according to size, sector of activity, religious orientation, their functions (service providers, social movements, networks or apex organisations), their relationships to donors, their organisational sophistication and other factors. The effects of ‘massive proliferation’ are perhaps nowhere more evident than in Bangladesh, which has one of the largest and most sophisticated NGO sectors in the developing world (Gauri and Galef 2005). It is said that over 90 % of villages in the country had at least one NGO (Fruttero and Gauri 2005), and foreign assistance to the country channelled through NGOs has been above 10%. This chapter provides a discussion on the emergence of NGOs for development. It also highlights the main parameters of NGOs. The chapter attempts to integrate various relevant debates of NGOs’ activities in the socio-economic, political and cultural development paradigms. It was found that the NGOs have abrasive relationships with state and donors, on the one hand, and global versus local development debates, on the other. The chapter shows how the development challenges might be resolved through consulting both local and global knowledge approaches, so that the NGOs can achieve participatory-oriented development interventions according to the choices of the rural people in Bangladesh. The chapter also explains the determinant factors of how NGOs have become homes for Bangladesh and why Bangladesh bothers NGOs.
Social Work in Public Health, 2016
The objective of this study was to know the status of the foreign workers' access to public healt... more The objective of this study was to know the status of the foreign workers' access to public health services in Malaysia based on their utilization pattern. The utilization pattern covered a number of areas, such as frequency of using health services, status of using health services, choice and types of health institutions, and cost of health treatment. The study was conducted on six government hospitals in the Klang Valley area in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Data were collected from 600 foreign patients working in the country, using an interview method with a structured questionnaire. The results showed that the foreign workers' access to public health services was very low. The findings would be an important guideline to formulate an effective health service policy for the foreign workers in Malaysia.
Global Social Welfare, 2015
This paper presented two non-governmental organizations' (NGOs') social capital development initi... more This paper presented two non-governmental organizations' (NGOs') social capital development initiatives for social welfare in Bangladesh. This study was based on a qualitative case study approach using a multi-method data collection procedure, where a semi-structured interview, social mapping, participant observation, in-depth case study, focus group discussion (FGD), and documentation survey were employed. The study selected two NGOs such as Proshika and Practical Action Bangladesh (PAB) working with two indigenous communities, e.g. blacksmiths and goldsmiths. This paper considered the application of the main elements of social capital such as collective actions, social trust, coordination and cooperation of mutual benefits, and sharing norms and values. The findings showed that in many cases, NGOs' social capital development initiatives for social welfare were successful. The findings would be useful for the social workers, policy makers, development practitioners, and NGO managers.
This paper discusses the methodological challenges on education for safe motherhood in Bangladesh... more This paper discusses the methodological challenges on education for safe motherhood in Bangladesh with two interventions such as health monitoring and advocacy. This is a case study. Dhaka Ahsania Mission (a non-governmental organization (NGO) implemented these interventions at Hatibhanga Union (the lowest administrative unit) of Dewanganj Upazila in Jamalpur District in Bangladesh. Data were collected through a number of qualitative data collection methods on how local level monitoring and advocacy can ensure safe motherhood. The paper illustrated a number of methodological challenges that we faced during the data collection period. These challenges are analysed here into two main headings; commune level challenges and procedural level challenges. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate how these challenges limit the utilization of qualitative research tools and techniques on this particular case study. The research paper argues that the challenges were much more influential ...
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Papers by M.M.Rezaul Islam