The present research examined the extent of adoption of improved farm practices by the farmers of Northern Bangladesh and determined the influencing factors for adopting these practices. This study was carried out in purposively selected Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur district and Sherpur upazila of Bogra district as a representative of the northern Bangladesh. Data were collected from randomly selected 218 farmers through pre-tested interview schedule. Various descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were applied for getting meaningful results. Findings portray that most of the respondents belong to middle age group with a mean age of 47.02 years. The highest 37.2 percent of the respondents completed secondary level of education. Agriculture is the primary occupation of 89 percent of the respondents. The farmers have very low level of participation in various organizations. Contact with various communication media is very low for Sherpur compared to Parbatipur. The farm practices adopted mainly by the farmers are modern varieties, line sowing, power tiller, optimum tillage, balanced fertilizer, STW/DTW, IPM, balanced irrigation, rice weeder, sprayer and threasure. Among all practices, ‘power tiller’ adoption is the highest and ‘line showing’ is the lowest. Mean adoption score is 70.60. Results of multiple regression model indicates that communication score, total cultivable land, and socio-economic score have significant positive relationship, and total land area affected due to drought has significant negative relationship with adoption of improved farm practices by the farmers. Moreover, logistic regression model portrays that technology adoption is 1.49 times lower for Sherpur compared to Parbatipur. Finally, we can say that socio-economic factors influencing adoption of improved farm practices may be taken into consideration while accelerating the face of technology adoption under farming system.J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 13(2): 291-298, December 2015

An understanding of past, from which we learn, and present, through which we observe, population dynamics is necessary for development planning for a country. This paper studies this present facts of and past trends in population dynamics paying particular attention to the major demographic variables of population, fertility, mortality, and migration profiles in the last two decades with an assessment of various demographic data sources in Bangladesh. In doing so various literatures were reviewed and secondary data were generated mostly from international sources, like database of the United Nations, Population Reference Bureau, US Census Bureau etc., and partly from national sources, like population census, Bangladesh demographic and health survey etc., which are the major sources of demographic data for Bangladesh. The study observes that the demographic indicators of Bangladesh have shown considerable development during the last two decades. Though the population increased in size but growth showed a declining trend. The total fertility rate declined from 3.96 children per woman during 1990-1995 to 2.36 during 2005-2010, and infant mortality and under-five mortality rates almost halved during the same period. Life expectancy at birth recently reached to 69 years from 56 years in 1990. Moreover, international outmigration showed an increasing trend with a very low rate for female.

The study was an attempt to analyse the economic, social and health conditions of women garment workers as well as their livelihood pattern. Three garment factories from Mirpur area under Dhaka district were selected purposively. The sample consisted of 90 women workers taking 30 randomly from each of the three garment factories. Data were collected through personal interviews with the selected samples. It was found that most of the respondents migrated to Dhaka because of their extreme poverty or insolvency. Few respondents had brought positive changes in their financial capital, decision marking and empowerment etc. The study revealed that 63.33 percent respondent's livelihood pattern has improved after involving in garment factory. Some diseases like eye trouble, headache, ear ache etc to be more prevalent among the women garment workers due to their involvement in garment factories. Incidence of physical weakness among the garment workers was very high. Women are exploited easily due to lack of technical knowledge and training. The employers do not pay any heed to this exploitation.

International migration from Bangladesh has become a defining characteristic of the country. Especially since 1980s, large scale labour migration has become a common phenomenon of Bangladesh. This paper examines the various issues of international migration and remittance flows of Bangladesh on the basis of the secondary data generated from various reports of government and non-government organizations and of various publications of home and abroad. With a few exceptions, manpower export has been showing increasing trend year by year. Most of the expatriates, who are largely unskilled, are working in the Middle East countries and in the UK and the USA. Like overseas employment, remittances flow has been increasing every year with its increased share in GDP and export earnings. Major share of total remittances come from the Middle East countries. But individually the position of the USA is just behind Saudi Arabia over the last few years. Finally it can be concluded that proper attention should be given on overseas migration in order to keep the unemployment rate within tolerable level and to increase the amount of remittances which is an important source of foreign exchange. Keywords: International migration; Remittance; Expatriate; Employment; Increased share in GDP DOI: 10.3329/jbau.v7i2.4751 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 7(2): 387-394, 2009

The present study attempts to assess the nature of changes occurred in the leadership pattern of rural power structure in Bangladesh. A complete household survey of Sutiakhali Namapara village in Sadar Upazila of Mymensingh district was undertaken to identify rural leaders. Among 92 households, a total of 18 leaders were identified by using the positional, the reputational, and the issue participation approach. The information about the changing aspects of rural power structure and the leadership pattern were collected by formal and informal interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), participant observation, and storytelling. Findings showed that majority of the leaders were young (55.56%), had no specific lineage status (38.89%) and most of them (38.89%) were businessmen. Education, personal qualities and affiliation with major political parties were more important factors influencing rural leadership. A remarkable change occurred in the power structure of rural Bangladesh during the last decade, more specifically from 2001 to 2007. Among the elites, the younger ones were dominating the villages, whereas, the older ones were losing the elite status, because of their lack of positional status and power. It also revealed that the rural leaders changed their policy to create and sustain power, such as building business associations, forming party networks involving with different government and nongovernment organizations and maintaining a good link with local Member of Parliament etc. Finally, it can be said that a significant change occurred in leadership pattern and power structure of rural Bangladesh.