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While the Noble Quran dictates the prohibition of interest, conventional banks promote Islamic banking by opening Islamic banking windows. Against this backdrop, this study aims to investigate the perceived gaps between managers and clients in Islamic marketing and banking, focusing on conventional banks’ Islamic banking windows.

Guided by a qualitative approach, semi-structured personal interviews and observations served as the data collection methods, involving 25 banks and 50 respondents in 3 different districts, namely, Shirajganj, Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj of Bangladesh from January to October 2023. The data were analysed using ATLAS.ti 2023 to explore codes and quotations derived from 14 interview questions. Further, ATLAS.ti 2023 facilitated synthesizing content, concepts, code occurrence, network analysis and thematic analysis.

Islamic and non-Islamic banks use Quranic verses, hadiths (prophetic traditions), images of mosques, the Kaaba and Arabic texts as Islamic marketing tools. These spiritual, divine and prescriptive tools are associated with Islamic banking. However, conventional banks receive criticism for having separate Islamic banking windows to serve religiously conscious clients, which generates tension among clients and bank managers.

The findings can theoretically assist academics in examining conventional banks’ Islamic marketing and banking practices, opening Islamic banking windows. Importantly, Shariah boards can play policy roles in safeguarding the function of Islamic marketing and banking. Managers can use the findings to anticipate client perceptions and enhance Islamic marketing and banking strategies. Likewise, the social implications include the explicit stance of Shariah to mitigate the mixture of halal and haram banking.

This pioneering study explores the perspectives of Islamic banking windows by non-Islamic banks. The combination of Islamic marketing and banking is a noteworthy novelty in this study and deserves recognition for its unique contribution to halal marketing and finance.

Diabetes mellitus is becoming a growing concern worldwide. Hence, the purpose of this study is to assess the magnitude of poor glycemic control and to identify the determinants of poor glycemic control among diabetic patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh.

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 732 diabetes patients seeking care at the outpatient department of Bangladesh Institute of Health Sciences Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Information, including glycemic status, was collected from patients’ medical records using a structured questionnaire.

About 87.6% of the patients were found to have poor glycemic control (glycosylated hemoglobin = 7%). Variables that were significant in bivariate analysis were put into a multivariate model where the factors associated with poor glycemic control were patients aged 41–60 years (odds ratio (OR)=2.26; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19–4.32, p = 0.013), suffering from diabetes for > 7 years (OR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.12–2.99, p = 0.015), using insulin (OR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.23–4.47; p = 0.010) or diet alone (OR = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.05–0.80, p = 0.023) as a type of diabetes treatment and proper use of medicine (OR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.17–0.82, p = 0.015).

The high prevalence of poor glycemic control among diabetic patients is evident; therefore, strategic management and proper attention focusing on the predictors of poor glycemic control are necessary to reduce the long-term complications of diabetes.

Bangladesh is one of the leading countries that has been facing serious air pollution issues, with an exponentially higher death rate attributed to it than other environmental pollution. This study aims to identify the sources and dynamics of particulate matter (PM) pollution across different micro-environments in Rajshahi City.

PMs’ concentration data were collected from 60 sampling stations, located across the six micro-environments of the study area, throughout the year using “HT 9600 Particle Counter.” To assess the level of pollution, the air quality index (AQI) was calculated, and different methods, including observation, group discussion, interview and questionnaire survey, were used to identify the pollution sources.

Both PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ exhibit varied concentrations in different micro-environments, and the area covered by different AQI classes differs considerably throughout the year. The monthly average concentration of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ was highest in January, 200 and 400 µg/m³ and was lowest in September, 46 and 99 µg/m³, respectively. Among the total 1,440 observations, 853 observations (59.24%) exceeded the national standard. Based on the pollution level, different months and micro-environments in the city have been ranked in descending order as January > December > February > March > April > November > October > May > June > July > August > September and traffic > commercial > industrial > residential > green cover > riverine environment.

Although numerous research has been conducted on air pollution in Bangladesh, the authors are certain that no attempt has been made to address the issue from a multi- micro-environmental perspective. This makes the methodology and findings truly unique and significant in the context of air pollution research in Bangladesh.

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the development of an aircraft-type autonomous portable drone suitable for surveillance and disaster management. The drone is capable of flying at a maximum speed of 76 km/h. This portable drone comprises five distinct parts those are easily installable within several minutes and can be fit in a small portable kit. The drone consists of a ballistic recovery system, allowing the drone landing vertically. The integrated high-definition camera sends real-time video stream of desired area to the ground control station. In addition, the drone is capable of carrying ~1.8 kg of payload.

In order to design and develop the portable drone, the authors sub-divided the research activities in six fundamental steps: survey of the current drone technologies, design the system architecture of the drone, simulation and modeling of various modules of the drone, development of various modules of the drone and their performance analysis, integration of various modules of the drone, and real-life performance analysis and finalization.

Experimental results: the cruise speed of the drone was in the range between 45 and 62 km/h. The drone was capable of landing vertically using the ballistic recovery system attached with it. On the contrary, the drone can transmit real-time video to the ground control station and, thus, suitable for surveillance. The audio system of the drone can be used for announcement of emergency messages. The drone can carry 1.8 kg of payload and can be used during disaster management. The drone parts are installed within 10 min and fit in a small carrying box.

The autonomous aircraft-type portable drone has a wide range of applications including surveillance, traffic jam monitoring and disaster management.

The cost of the cost-effective drone is within $700 and creates opportunities for the deployment in the least developed countries.

The autonomous aircraft-type portable drone along with the ballistic recovery system were designed and developed by the authors using their won technology.

Functionalization of organic cotton fabrics (OCFs) by in situ deposition of chitosan reduced-stabilized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). No other toxic chemicals used to warrant an ecofriendly synthesis protocol. Human toxicity of silver systematically avoided to use as textile clothing. Primary colors (nearly-red, yellow and blue) were imparted on OCFs via localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of AgNPs. Decent mechanical properties and laundering durability in terms of antibacterial/fastness test improved mechanical properties.

Silver nanoparticles can be synthesized by using silver nitrate along with commercially available chitosan. Due to the surface LSPR property of silver nanoparticles, it exhibits versatile colors depending on the synthesizing procedures. The coloration occurs due to the electrostatic interaction between the AgNPs and chitosan-treated OCF. The nanotreated fabrics provide excellent mechanical properties with improved antibacterial effects.

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis quantifies the developed materials in the substrates. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization indicates the appearance and morphologies of silver nanoparticles into the fabric surface after the coloration process. It proves that the treated cotton knit fabric exhibits the LSPR optical features of AgNPs. The antibacterial and mechanical properties confirm the improved functionality of products.

Improved mechanical properties, antibacterial performances and coloration effects on organic cotton substrates in terms of chitosan-mediated nanosilver are not yet studied.

Despite recent economic progress, Bangladesh still faces significant challenges from natural disasters that impact food security and employment. In 2017, a severe flash flood caused by excessive rain and onrush from India devastated the haor-based Sunamganj district. The study explores the impacts of the flash flood on food security, employment and the overall well-being of the affected population, as well as evaluates government and NGO initiatives taken to alleviate the crisis using a mixed-methods approach, incorporating qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques such as in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews and surveys from the flash flood-affected people residing in the five affected villages. The study observes that the flash flood caused severe damage to the agricultural sector, with almost every farmer in the affected area losing their single-season high-yielding Boro paddy, resulting in year-long food insecurity and unemployment. The government responded to the situation by providing year-long food and monetary aid through various social safety net programmes, although some accusations of nepotism and embezzlement were reported. The study found that the majority of the people were reliant on government aid for survival throughout the year. Moreover, some NGOs also played a crucial role by providing food and other support. The research suggests that transparency and accountability must be prioritized to ensure fairness, and positive lessons learned from the government's efforts during this flash flood might be helpful in reducing vulnerability and distributing relief more effectively.

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of analysis of the transport gases and liquid water between the gas diffusion layer (GDL) and gas flow channel (GFC) of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). These results are then used to describe the effects of the GDL‐GFC interfacial conditions on the general performance of PEMFCs.

This analysis utilizes finite element analysis commercial codes to illustrate the transport of fluids. The gas transport data obtained from the solution are compared with the established works of others. The liquid transport processes are modeled using the Darcy equation coupled with a saturation‐capillary pressure function (the Leverett function) and assuming no phase change. In addition, the boundary conditions for the liquid transport equation are varied in order to show the extent of non‐uniformities at the GDL‐GFC interface.

Analysis shows that water dispersion from the GDL‐GFC interface extends across the GDL to its other side, and eventually reduces the performance of the PEMFC.

It is well known that CFD simulation of fuel cells is, in general, still facing significant challenges due to the limited understanding of the complex physical and chemical processes existing within the fuel cell. The model is now under further development to improve its capabilities and undergoing further validations.

The simulations can provide detailed information on some of the key fluid dynamics, physical and chemical/electro‐chemical processes that exist in liquid dispersion at the interface of GDL‐GFC in fuel cells which are critical for fuel cell design and optimization.

The simulation can be used to understand liquid dispersion at the interface of GDL‐GFC and provide and alternative to experimental investigations in order to improve the performance of fuel cell.

Ample literature is available on the impact of socio-cultural and political conditions on corporate social responsibility (CSR), but the reverse has not been adequately studied. COVID-19 pandemic disrupted humankind and business, but CSR was resilient. COVID-19, an unprecedented crisis, developed into a disaster but had some positives too. In fact, it championed the businesses' role and relationships between businesses and regulators, society, stakeholders, environment at large. Some available literature analyses how CSR metamorphosised itself and disrupted and converged into all similar and associated phenomenon like philanthropy, charity, governance, sustainability, and as a regular business activity. The present research uses mixed methods to analyse the CSR data published by the government of India during COVID-19 years and refer to the firms' disclosures in the CSR reports. Findings offer a nuanced input to the understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on CSR by studying it in a regulated environment where firms emerged as responsible corporate citizens attending to the needs of all the stakeholders. Firms acts of responsibility transcended law and contributed in form of funds (PM relief funds) and other necessary health equipment like PPE kits, oxygen cylinders, masks, sanitizers, vaccines, etc. Interestingly, the government amended the law to include contributions to COVID-19 mitigation as a part of CSR. While the current study is based on a data from a limited time, it lays a ground for future studies analysing the nature of shift (short term or long term) and how changes have impacted the policies (public and organisational policies).

Whereas the extant literature on women's entrepreneurship is almost exclusively focused on developed nations, the effect of many context-specific issues of other countries on ventures of women has been overlooked. The study aims to reveal how political unrest, a common feature of the developing nation, can significantly affect the experiences of women in small businesses of that region.

This feminist research is conducted on Bangladesh, which is one of the most politically unstable countries in the world. The study conducts interviews with women to explore the adverse effect of political unrest on their small firms.

The feminist research reveals some problems of women business-owners concerning political unrest in this highly patriarchal context. It also discloses how political chaos challenges the government initiative in financially supporting women business-owners.

Policymakers of developing nations can be benefitted by taking into account the problems of women business-owners concerning political unrest, specifically the access to debt financing issues while designing policies for women's empowerment.

The article contributes to the women's entrepreneurship scholarship with reference to political unrest, a contextual issue of developing nations. Whereas the existing studies mostly concentrate on holding women individually liable for the limited scale of their business operation, this research potentially challenges the view by drawing upon political unrest as an external factor that negatively affects their ventures. The study further advances the prevailing knowledge by critically unveiling some gender-specific problems of women business-owners regarding political unrest.

For decades, the fast population growth worldwide was interrelated with the adopted rapid lifestyle behavior that relies on the extensive use of fossil fuels. This primary energy source has caused various urban and environmental impacts, such as global warming, air pollution, and so forth. Consequently, the identified circumstance issues have caused many health, social, and economic hindering effects for global citizens. It poses an existential threat to humanity and the global earth's ecosystem. The alarming levels of urban pollution emissions are putting enormous challenges to the related stakeholders (governments, businesses, investors, automakers, and citizens) to admit the need to decarbonize the global economy and reach sustainable development goals (SDGs) for cleaner and smarter cities across borders. As such, a vital part of a smart city is the transport sector. The road transport sector, precisely, is one of the primary consumers of fossil fuels that contribute to high carbon dioxide emissions. Accordingly, it is essential to adopt novel and sustainable urban transport solutions and promote the achievement of the SDG's eleventh goal for sustainable cities and communities. This chapter provides insight into the present global energy situation with particular attention to the road transport sector. Indeed, it highlights different emerging technologies for a sustainable and smart urban mobility future that will mitigate the environmental situation thanks to the development of drive and internet telecommunication technologies. Furthermore, we aim in this chapter to study the international progress of the transition project using the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal (PESTEL) analysis methodology. This study is to pinpoint opportunities for project development and the challenges that set back its evolution.