No abstract

This study examined socioeconomic differentials of tobacco consumption and its effect on illicit drug use among rural men, extracting data from the 2004 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. Overall, 58.4% of the respondents consumed tobacco either by smoking or chewing. Smoking bidi (33.9%) and cigarette (23.6%) were the most prevalent forms of tobacco use. The prevalence of illicit drug use was 3.5%. The predominant illicit drug used was ganja (2.3%). Socioeconomic and behavioral factors such as age, education, religion, marital status, premarital and extramarital sexuality, and having STDs were found to be significantly (P<.001) associated with tobacco consumption. Multivariate logistic regression analyses yielded significantly (P<.001) increased risk of illicit drug use for different forms of tobacco consumption, for young age, premarital and extramarital sexuality, and non-Muslims. Appropriate measures should be undertaken to prevent smoking and illicit drug use for a healthy Bangladesh.

The study was on the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

In recent studies, it has been observed that fatigue is one of the major factors contributing to fatal accidents in Bangladesh. It is increasing tremendously and alarmingly and causing the huge loss of lives and assets. In Bangladesh, heavy vehicle drivers are susceptible to frequent fatigue related accidents, thus increasing disability and social and economic vulnerability. The study aims to identify truck drivers’ causes of fatigue and other physical, socio-psychological and economic consequences on the drivers. The study was conducted during January-June 2012 in the different truck and cargo terminals of Dhaka city in Bangladesh. A total of 400 drivers were chosen purposively. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews and focused group discussion methods. The study indicates that the reasons behind fatigue led injuries were the driver’s consistent working pressure, longer non-stop driving, traffic congestions, driving in drunk condition, inadequate facilities of physical and mental rests,  family conflicts and long detachment from family care,  owners and drivers ill relationship, harassments by police, job insecurity and income frustrations etc. The study showed that above 83% of the drivers directly or indirectly suffered from fatigue related problems. The study showed that pressure from owners and businessmen and lack of mal-nutrient food consumption were the leading causes of fatigue. The owners’ and drivers’ associations, civil society, Government of Bangladesh (GOB), NGOs and development partners should address the fatal crisis by adopting appropriate interventions to reduce the said fatigue related accidents.

Purpose of Study: The aim of this study is to influence the global leadership behaviors on performance in multinational companies. The leadership of multinational companies has become a prominent issue in the 21st century. Organizational performance depends on the leadership style and behavior of the organization. It is also viewed as the survival and profitability of an organization in which its measurement is primary both in manufacturing and services. On the other hand, transactional leadership focuses mainly on goal attainment and transactional leaders are focused on task completion and have fewer emphasis on the emotions and challenges of subordinates or employees. Methodology: The data for this study were obtained from existing literatures on the impact of global leadership behaviors on the performance of multinational companies. The methodology heavily relied on existing previous literatures on the subject being dealt with. Results: Transactional leadership was explicated as the style of leadership that focuses on meeting specific goals or performance criteria and the development of followers and their needs. Relations-oriented leaders are different from task-oriented leaders. On this side of the spectrum, relations-oriented leaders tend to focus more on developing a close relationship with their employees. Implications: Transactional leadership style lacks supervision and influence on subordinates from leaders, as they indulge themselves from any situation that threatens or confronts them; therefore, the responsibilities are shifted on the employees.