AIUB Journal of Business and Economics

A Critical Analysis of Global Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the RMG Sector and the Significance of Empowering Female Labor

Zahin Syed — 2023-12-31

Abstract

Purpose of the study: Sustainability has been extensively studied for its importance to long-term economic progress, achievement, and wealth. However, the social side of sustainability, particularly female labor and textile industry empowerment, has received little emphasis. This research paper examines the impact of RMG multinational corporations (MNCs) on the empowerment or exploitation of female workers inside the factory settings of global supply chains.

Methodology: The approach of critical discourse analysis is used to evaluate the findings from different textile MNCs and examine the issues of empowerment and sustainability.

Findings: This study finds the fundamental behaviors that contribute to the marginalization and exploitation of female employees within global corporate supply chains. Consequently, it highlights the necessity of investigating potential avenues explore the possibilities for genuine empowerment.

Implications: This study presents a policy framework that elucidates how various stakeholders can collectively pledge to ensure enduring empowerment for women. Additionally, the paper also recommends how fashion MNCs might establish sustainable supply chains, thereby fostering a mutually beneficial outcome.

Limitations: The paper requires further information and empirical data necessary to enhance the comprehensive understanding of genuine empowerment in the context of involving oppressed women in the global supply chains as subjects.

Application of the CAPM on the DS30 Index: A time series and cross-sectional approach to examine the risk and return paradigm for blue-chip stocks listed within the Dhaka Stock Exchange

Sayeed Ibrahim Ahmed — 2023-12-31

In the following study, an examination of the risk-return paradigm is visited upon once again in association with the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) structure and the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). Sharpe (1964) and Lintner (1965) introduced the concept to single out the relationship between a company’s expected return in association to its systematic risk. The purpose was to examine if the CAPM when applied to the DSE context could be used to predict the expected returns given their systematic risk factored in. 42 such companies excluding the financial stocks that appeared within the DS30 blue-chip index over the period 2016 until 31st December 2019 were used as our primary data points. Prior to examining the risk-return tradeoff for the sample of individual stocks under consideration, we converted the daily price data into monthly formats and all the other factors were converted into monthly terms using the same technique. we applied Omran’s (2007) two stage regression model on to the basic version of the CAPM.

Going in line with textbook definitions, “empirical analysis utilizing the CAPM for individual companies/ stocks, the intercept term was observed to be significantly different from zero and the slope was not equal to the excess return obtained from the market portfolio”. The results of the study nullify our hypothesis and provide evidence against the use of the CAPM yielding conclusive evidence that the CAPM is not suitable to analyze risk-return probabilities for individual companies within the DSE.

Bhitargarh: A Catalyst for Living Archaeological Park in Bangladesh

Manzuma Sharmin Munne — 2023-12-30

The qualitative study aims to explore how community archaeology can be utilized to introduce the potential scopes of living archaeological park at the largest fortified settlement in Bangladesh. Open ended questionnaire was used to collect the data from the interview session with the team leader of the archaeological investigation and excavation at Bhitargarh, The study outcome reveals that the archaeological heritage tourism can be introduced at Bhitargarh as a form of living archaeological park in Bangladesh. It is found that the archaeological (tangible heritage such as archaeological relics and excavated materials) and cultural (intangible heritage such as festival, events and traditions) resources can be preserved by the community archaeology at Bhitargarh. The findings of the study implores that the community archaeology of Bhitargarh can be empowered by the active community engagement in tourism planning, decision-making and tour operation. It is suggested that the patronization of the community archaeology at Bhitargarh can be exhibited as a model for future archaeological investigation and excavation for the purpose of archaeological heritage preservation and archaeological heritage tourism in Bangladesh.

Is Economic Value Added (EVA) or Net Profit a Better Predictor of Commercial Banks’ Performance: A Study on Dhaka Stock Exchange

A. T. M. Jakaria Khan — 2023-12-30

This article assesses the relationship between Economic Value Added i.e. EVA and Net Profit with Market Value Added i.e. MVA for banking industry of Bangladesh. Data was collected from annual reports of 23 Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) enlisted commercial banks over the period of 2010-2019. Years 2020 and 2021 were not considered to avoid any possible distortion due to COVID pandemic. To analyze the data, correlation analysis, Pooled OLS model and simple regression were used. Results show that 19 banks display a positive relationship between EVA and MVA, but results of the Pooled Regression analysis contradict the findings and suggest that EVA and MVA don't show any statistically significant relationship. Net profit showed positive relationship with MVA and the relationship is statistically significant at 5% level of significance. The results of simple regression analysis also show that compared to EVA, Net Profit better explains the variations in MVA. We conclude that for the commercial banks listed in Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), value-based performance measure like EVA doesn’t show strong association with MVA while a traditional performance measure like Net Profit demonstrates a positive relationship with MVA. So, Net Profit is more reliable than EVA while explaining the shareholders’ value creation.

Monetary Policy Efficacy for Price Stability: An In-depth Analysis of Bangladesh’s Economic Landscape

Dr. Masud Rana — 2023-12-31

Purpose of the study: This study aims is to examine the effectiveness of monetary policy on price stability in Bangladesh.

Methodology: The researcher has collected secondary data from the audited annual reports of the Bangladesh bank from 2014 to 2022. The inflation rate selected as the dependent variable, and the exchange rate, real interest rate, cash reserve ratio, and repo rate selected as the independent variables. The study used regression analysis to find out the relationship between dependent and independent variables, which is supported by the results of normality tests, multicollinearity tests, and autocorrelation tests.

Findings: The study found that there was a statistically significant relationship between the dependent variable inflation rate and the independent variables cash reserve ratio and repo rate. On the other hand, there was no significant relationship between the dependent variable's inflation rate and the independent variables' exchange rate and real interest rate. The relationship between the inflation rate and the exchange rate was almost significant. Therefore, the study found that monetary policy has a significant impact on price stability in Bangladesh.

Implications: The finding of the present study has been found to have implications for policy makers, regulators, professional, practitioners, researchers, economists etc. in the money market of Bangladesh.

Limitations and Future direction: This study has covered the operating of monetary policy for 9 years from 2014 to 2022 though I could consider since 1971. In addition, the study has considered only Bangladesh Bank and listed conventional private commercial banks. The study has not addressed application of monetary policy in NBFIs and capital market.

The Implementation and Enforcement of DNA Testing in Rape Cases in Bangladesh

Tanjum Monoara Pial — 2023-12-31

Purpose of the study: The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that, while DNA testing has some flaws, once those flaws are addressed, it has the potential to be used as critical evidence in the rape cases of Bangladesh, and by contrasting with the legal approaches of the United Kingdom, an answer about this phenomenon can be perceived.

Methodology: The authors of this paper employed a descriptive analysis to support the claims posed by the research questions. They examined various legal cases to validate their arguments. As a result, the research methodology of this study is evaluated through the framework of “Doctrinal research” given its legal focus, with the paper mainly concentrating on legal principles.

Findings: The findings suggest that the DNA test faces several complications in Bangladesh including violations of constitutional rights (article 32 & 35(4)), mistreatment, consent-related matters, and contamination. Though having such obstacles, still it can be proven as an effective tool in rape cases. Besides, under Section 37 of the DNA Act 2014, DNA tests may be perceivable in court as evidence, but the Act does not use the word “must”. Consequently, there is a loophole in the statute that prevents immediate conviction. Moreover, sections 2, 15(f), and 24 of the DNA Act 2014 should be considered for amendment by the legislature of the country. Furthermore, the findings of the contrasts between the DNA Act 2014 and the UK Acts will allow the Bangladeshi law to be enriched hypothetically.

Implications: As rape cases in Bangladesh is an exceptionally disturbing issue, so legal enactments should be there to decrease these occurrences and those must be unequivocally authorized properly. Here the writers attempted to contrast Bangladeshi laws and the United Kingdom regarding DNA tests, so Bangladesh can improve this by diminishing lacking DNA proof in rape cases.

Limitations and Future Direction: To begin, because this paper relies primarily on legal texts, statutes, and cases, it may lack empirical evidence, such as real-world case studies or statistical analysis. Second, because this research does not involve direct involvement with key stakeholders such as survivors, law enforcement, or forensic professionals, the lack of firsthand viewpoints may restrict knowledge of practical difficulties and concerns.