Browsing by Author "Hossain, Babul"

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E-Learning Experience of Indigenous Rural Communities in the Face of COVID-19 Crisis in Chittagong Hills Tracts Region, Bangladesh: A Qualitative Investigation
(Scopus, 2024) Sohel, Md. Salman; Sifullah, Md. Khaled; Hossain, Babul; Hossain, Md. Alamgir; Sarker, Md. Fouad Hossain; Hossain, Israfil; Hossain, Mohamed Emran; Uddin, Md. Rafiz
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a significant transformation in the way education is delivered, with e-learning becoming the primary mode of instruction worldwide. In the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh, this shift posed unique challenges for indigenous rural communities. The present study endeavours to investigate, explore, and diagnose the e-learning experience of the indigenous rural community residing in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh. The research employs a qualitative approach, and three specific areas from the aforementioned region were purposively selected for data collection. In order to accomplish the research objectives, a total of 60 semi-structured, in-depth interviews and participant observations were conducted. Data analysis used both a deductive method through thematic analysis and a hybrid integrated data-driven inductive approach. The Granheim method and Nvivo-12 software were used for data analysis, processing, and coding. The result revealed that the experiences of e-learning among indigenous students of Chittagong Hill Tracts have been suffering from technical illiteracy, insufficient equipment, and devices, poor network coverage, inattention in online classes, feeling isolation, moral degradation, and online addiction. Consequently, the majority of the indigenous students had unfavourable experiences with online teaching and learning techniques. Based on the results, the study recommends strategies to provide better access to e-learning resources, improve internet connectivity, provide access to devices, and enhance digital literacy for students in remote rural areas. Furthermore, the findings of the study will be crucial for academics, policymakers, stakeholders, and development practitioners in developing a stronger e-learning policy and practice for all, particularly for the indigenous rural community in Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Exploring Risky Health BehaviorBabul Hossains and Vulnerability to Sexually Transmitted Diseases among Transnational Undocumented Labor Migrants from Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study
(Springer Nature, 2024-05-08) Sohel, Md. Salman; Sifullah, Md. Khaled; Hossain, Babul; Sarker, Md. Fouad Hossain; Zaman, Noshin Tasnim; Obaidullah, Md.
"Background: In Bangladesh, remittances constitute a substantial portion of the country's foreign exchange earnings and serve as a primary source of income. However, a considerable number of Bangladeshi citizens reside overseas without proper documentation, exposing them to significant challenges such as limited access to healthcare and socioeconomic opportunities. Moreover, their irregular migration status often results in engaging in risky health behaviors that further exacerbate their vulnerability. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the risky health behavior and HIV/STI susceptibility of Bangladeshi irregular international migrants residing across the globe with undocumented status. Methods: Using a qualitative Interpretative Phenomenological Approach (IPA), 25 illegal migrants were interviewed who are currently living illegally or returned to their home country. The author used a thematic approach to code and analyze the data, combining an integrated data-driven inductive approach with a deductive approach. Concurrent processing and coding were facilitated by employing the Granheim model in data analysis. Results: The study identified four risky health behaviors among irregular Bangladeshi migrants: hazardous living conditions, risky jobs, suicidal ideation, and tobacco consumption. Additionally, the authors found some HIV/STI risk behavior among them including engaging in unprotected sex, consuming alcohol and drugs during sexual activity, and having limited access to medical facilities. Conclusions: The findings of this study can be used by health professional, governments, policymakers, NGOs, and concerned agencies to develop welfare strategies and initiatives for vulnerable undocumented migrant workers."
Exploring risky health behaviors and vulnerability to sexually transmitted diseases among transnational undocumented labor migrants from Bangladesh: a qualitative study
(2024-05-08) Sohel, Md Salman; Sifullah, Md Khaled; Hossain, Babul; Sarker, Md Fouad Hossain; Zaman, Noshin Tasnim; Obaidullah, Md
In Bangladesh, remittances constitute a substantial portion of the country's foreign exchange earnings and serve as a primary source of income. However, a considerable number of Bangladeshi citizens reside overseas without proper documentation, exposing them to significant challenges such as limited access to healthcare and socioeconomic opportunities. Moreover, their irregular migration status often results in engaging in risky health behaviors that further exacerbate their vulnerability. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the risky health behavior and HIV/STI susceptibility of Bangladeshi irregular international migrants residing across the globe with undocumented status. Using a qualitative Interpretative Phenomenological Approach (IPA), 25 illegal migrants were interviewed who are currently living illegally or returned to their home country. The author used a thematic approach to code and analyze the data, combining an integrated data-driven inductive approach with a deductive approach. Concurrent processing and coding were facilitated by employing the Granheim model in data analysis. The study identified four risky health behaviors among irregular Bangladeshi migrants: hazardous living conditions, risky jobs, suicidal ideation, and tobacco consumption. Additionally, the authors found some HIV/STI risk behavior among them including engaging in unprotected sex, consuming alcohol and drugs during sexual activity, and having limited access to medical facilities. The findings of this study can be used by health professional, governments, policymakers, NGOs, and concerned agencies to develop welfare strategies and initiatives for vulnerable undocumented migrant workers.
Exploring the Multifaceted Vulnerabilities of Female Street Child Labor in the Capital City of Bangladesh
(Elsevier, 2024-09-01) Sohel, Md. Salman; Alam, Shafiqul; Rahman, Md. Mizanur; Obaidullah, Md.; Anam, Abu Saief Mohammad Towhidul; Hossain, Babul; Hossai, Md. Alamgir
Numerous children experience vulnerability due to their families’ profound economic and socioeconomic hardships. Among this demographic, females face heightened susceptibility, particularly those engaged in child labor. Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, hosts a substantial population of female child laborers, compounding their precarious circumstances. Hence this study utilizes a qualitative phenomenological approach to investigate the vulnerabilities affecting these female child laborers thoroughly. A total of 25 in-depth interviews were conducted with female child laborers in Dhaka city, following a semi-structured format. NVivo 14 software was instrumental in the systematic coding and analysis of the extensive text data, enhancing the reliability and validity of the findings. This study, therefore, explores various vulnerabilities faced by female child laborers in Dhaka city, including risky health behavior, abusive behavior, sexual harassment, school dropout, unhygienic dietary habits, hazardous work conditions, and substandard living environments. Their socio-economic conditions make them susceptible to physical and mental setbacks, exploitation, and loss of dignity. The study emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive support and breaking the cycle through educational, health, and social initiatives. It offers a detailed portrayal of the living conditions of female child laborers in Dhaka city, providing valuable insights and evidence-based policy prescriptions for policymakers and NonGovernment Organizations to formulate effective policies and measures to safeguard this vulnerable community
Healthcare Challenges in Disaster-Prone Riverine Islands: A Study of Sirajgonj, Bangladesh
(2024-06-18) Sohel, Md. Salman; Jamil, Safayet; Obaidullah, Md.; Hossain, Babul; Mohammad Ali, Habib; Hossen, Md. Sohrab; Uddin, Md. Salim; Ahsan, Towhida; Farzana Eva, Nawshin
Bangladesh, prone to recurrent natural disasters, continually grapples with the repercussions of these events, affecting millions of its citizens each year. Amid the most vulnerable regions in the country, the riverine islands of Sirajgonj, Bangladesh, stand as particularly fragile areas, characterized by limited healthcare access. This study is dedicated to examining the intricate web of healthcare challenges prevailing in these disaster-prone islands. A semi-structured interview methodology was meticulously employed, with a total of 24 in-depth interviews conducted. Thematic analysis, adopting both deductive and inductive approaches, was rigorously applied to dissect the data. The Granheim method, in conjunction with Nvivo-14 software, facilitated seamless data processing, rigorous analysis, and meticulous coding. The findings highlight critical healthcare challenges in Sirajgonj’s disaster-prone riverine islands: residents face knowledge gaps about available healthcare resources, geographical and weather-related barriers hinder transportation, especially during disasters. Moreover, inadequate medical responses and patient distrust underscore the need for healthcare resilience. Socio-economic status affects healthcare access, perpetuating disparities. Shortages of medical support and resources further exacerbate challenges, necessitating urgent targeted interventions. This study provides crucial insights into the barriers to healthcare access in the region, offering valuable guidance for policymakers and healthcare providers. It also suggests that the government should adopt a more efficient approach to integrate the elderly into social safety net programs.
Household Vulnerability and Resilience to Natural Disasters in Pakistan
(Emerald Publishing Limited, 2023-06-12) Hossain, Babul; Sarker, Md Nazirul Islam; Shi, Guoqing; Sohel, Md. Salman
Pakistan is one of the most climate change and natural disaster-affected countries in the globe, where the lives and livelihoods of people are repeatedly affected due to these natural disasters. Over the past few decades, the country has been impacted by numerous devastating floods, droughts, and storms. As a result, households face enormous complications, particularly those dwelling in disaster-prone areas. Therefore, this study intends to explore the status of household vulnerability and resilience practices of hazard-prone communities in Pakistan from existing literature. This study has identified the 17 most relevant documents. It argues that household vulnerability is increasing consistently with the increasing rate of disaster intensity. Frequent flooding, landslide, erosion, and crop loss are the leading causes of household vulnerability. This study reveals five types of household vulnerability components which look into several livelihood vulnerability indicators of Pakistani households. Moreover, the study unfolds that the main causes of disaster vulnerability are widespread crop loss, a lack of water, loss of soil fertility, and low socioeconomic situations. The major vulnerability components of dwellers are exposure (increasing summer duration, the rapid increase of population house build-up in the riparian areas, and increasing occurrence of hailstorms), sensitivity, low access to education facilities, human loss, diseases infestation, food insecurity, and social conflict), and less adaptive capacity (social networks, migration, poor emergency services, multiple income sources, and less access to the health facility). To address the household vulnerability, this study has also identified four key aspects of resilience, like social resilience, economic resilience, institutional resilience, and physical resilience. The findings will effectively help to understand the dynamics of household vulnerability and resilience and its measurement and management strategy from developed indicators.
Living on the Margin in Geneva Camp: Mapping Out Crisis and Coping Strategies of Bihari Refugees in Bangladesh
(Springer Nature, 2023-12-06) Sohel, Md. Salman; Sifullah, Md. Khaled; Zaman, Noshin Tasnim; Hossain, Babul; Hossen, Md. Sohrab; Sarker, Md. Fouad Hossain
Bihari refugees from Pakistan who were stranded in Bangladesh during the 1971 liberation war became Pakistani citizens. In 2008, after extensive discussions and debates, the court approved their integration into Bangladeshi society. This research aims to address two crucial inquiries: RQ-1: How do Bihari refugees residing in the Geneva refugee camp in Dhaka experience challenges related to their livelihoods? RQ-2: What common coping strategies do the Bihari community employ to survive in the refugee camp? Using an Interpretative Phenomenological Approach (IPA), this study delved into the lived experiences of various groups of Bihari individuals. The research included twenty semi-structured interviews, five Key Informants' Interviews (KIIs), and five months of participant observation. The data was analyzed, processed, and coded inductively using the Granheim approach and Nvivo-12 software. Different themes were employed to classify the life stories and experiences of the participants in the camp. According to the study, the Geneva camp faced significant challenges such as a severe housing crisis, inadequate sanitation, a scarcity of fuel, water, and electricity, massive unemployment, poor medical arrangements, and inadequate education facilities. Consequently, the Bihari refugee developed some adaptation strategies, such as doing odd jobs to reduce unemployment. As a means of generating additional income for the family, their child was sent to work. Additionally, early marriages for their daughters were arranged to address the housing shortage. In light of these findings, it is crucial for the government, stakeholders, policymakers, NGOs, and development practitioners to take necessary actions to alleviate the suffering and enhance the quality of life for Bihari refugees in Bangladesh.
Research Trends on Natural Disasters in the Context of India: A Bibliometric Analysis
(Emerald Publishing Limited, 2023-06-12) Hossain, Babul; Sarker, Md Nazirul Islam; Shi, Guoqing; Sohel, Md. Salman
This study intends to assess the research trends on natural disasters and their contribution to the various fields of policy decisions in India by conducting a bibliometric analysis between 2008 and 2022. The Scopus database was used to extract pertinent literature. The key relevant terms were used to seek relevant papers based on the query of two searches, ‘Natural disaster and India’ scenarios combined by the Boolean operator ‘AND’. Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer-Var1.6.16 were used to assess bibliometric indicators. The database yielded 1,293 papers in all, with 14,584 citations. There were 262 single authors and 1,031 multi-author documents among the publications that were retrieved, with an average of 11.28 citations per document. After 2016, there was a dramatic growth in the total number of publications. The journal articles were the leading source of the particular literature, and this study extracted approximately 858 journal articles from the Scopus database. About 713 and 580 articles were open and closed access, respectively. Earth and planetary sciences (28.07%), social science (31.01%), and environmental science (30.39%) had a higher proportion of papers than other topics. The most impactful authors were Rajib Shaw and Filip K. Arnberg from Keio University, Japan, and Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Besides, the most funding institutions were from India (39.33%), China (13.11%), and the United States (11.9%) for natural disaster research, in the case of India. The current baseline information on natural disaster-related literature in the context of India showed that this field is growing rapidly but with inadequate research collaboration and low productivity as needed. Research collaboration in this field needs to be strengthened to improve the solid response to natural disasters in any place in India. In addition, there is a need to expand the research focus in this field to include associated indicators.
Social Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptations Strategies in the Face of Natural Hazards
(Springer Nature, 2023-09-06) Hossain, Babul; Shi, Guoqing; Ajiang, Chen; Sohel, Md. Salman; Yijun, Liu
Background Bangladesh is one of the countries at risk of natural disasters due to climate change. In particular, inhabitants of its riverine islands (char) confront ongoing climatic events that heighten their vulnerability. This study aims to assess social vulnerability, impacts, and adaptation strategies to climate change in the riverine island areas of Bangladesh. Methods A mixed-method approach incorporating qualitative and quantitative procedures was used on data collected from 180 households of riverine islands in Gaibandha, Bangladesh. The social vulnerability of riverine island communities was assessed based on their adaptation capacity, sensitivity, and exposure to climatic stressors. Results The findings show that char dwellers' vulnerability, impacts, and adaptation capability to climate change vary significantly depending on their proximity to the mainland. Social vulnerability factors such as geographical location, fragile and low-grade housing conditions, illiteracy and displacement, climate-sensitive occupation and low-income level, and so on caused to the in-height vulnerability level of these particular areas. This study also displays that climate change and its associated hazards cause severe life and livelihood concerns for almost all households. In this case, the riverine dwellers employed several adaptation strategies to enhance their way of life to the disaster brought on changing climate. However, low education facilities, deficiency of useful information on climate change, poor infrastructure, and shortage of money are still the supreme hindrance to the sustainability of adaptation. Conclusion The findings underscore the importance of evaluating the susceptibility of local areas to climate change and emphasize the need for tailored local initiatives and policies to reduce vulnerability and enhance adaptability in communities residing in char households.