This paper examines the dynamics of the interest rate pass-through mechanism for Bangladesh by formulating and using an independent variable 'weighted average policy rate' and lending rate, deposit rate and call money rate as dependent variables. We have used quarterly data for the period of 2003,Q1 -2015,Q4. The Error correction and Engle-Granger (EG) models are used to examine the short-run and long-run pass-through respectively; a vector error correction impulse response function (IRF) was employed to measure the short-run speed of the pass-through. We find that there is a symmetric, incomplete and very sluggish pass-through in Bangladesh for lending, deposit and money market channels. The greatest impact is found on the lending rate channel in the short-run.
Abstract Bangladesh adopted floating exchange rate system in May 2003. After that regime change, the country has faced a relatively higher volatility of nominal exchange rate than previous regime. Economic theories on volatility suggests that trade flow is adversely affected in response of fluctuation of the exchange rate. Bangladesh is the second largest readymade garments (RMG) exporter in the world and it is the main export product of the country. In this research, Difference in Difference (DID) model introduced by Card and Krueger (1994) is used for the yearly data of 1983 to 2022 to discern this impact of volatility on the RMG exports of Bangladesh. The result shows that RMG exports is negatively affected due to the exchange rate volatility and the estimated figure shows that on Bangladesh‘s average RMG exports has been lessened to the USA and EU regions by US$1.04 billion and 1.02 billion, respectively, owing to the volatility incurred by the regime change. Therefore, as volatility obviously has hindered RMG exports, the central bank of Bangladesh should stay alert to avoid high volatility of the nominal exchange rate to keep the RMG exports flow uninterrupted.
Effects of phosphate on the Ca2+ uptake and the sucrose-controlled secretion of α-amylase molecules in cultured rice cells were investigated. Phosphate markedly stimulated Ca2+ uptake into rice cells, particularly at the outer cell layer of the cell cluster. Phosphate also increased the synthesis and extracellular liberation of α-amylase II-4 in sucrose-supplemented cells. The distribution pattern of enzyme in rice cell clusters induced by phosphate was similar to that of Ca2+ uptake. Phosphate did not increase the level of mRNA of α-amylase II-4, indicating that phosphate stimulates the translation and posttranslational secretory processes of α-amylase II-4 in the presence of sucrose. Furthermore, phosphate enhanced both the Ca2+ uptake and α-amylase II-4 synthesis in the microsomes. These results strongly suggested that the ratio of phosphate to sugar is important for regulating the Ca2+ uptake, and that phosphate and sugar precisely coordinate the Ca2+-mediated synthesis and extracellular liberation of α-amylase II-4.
The aim of this research was to assess the health risk of textile wastewater reuse as irrigation water on leafy vegetable (Basella alba) by comparing variable growth rate in different ration of wastewater and freshwater irrigation and assess their soil-to-plant transfer factor (TF) and health risk index (HRI). Pot experiments were laid out with five treatments including control with three replications with different irrigation schemes with textile wastewater collected from the untreated point source. The irrigation scheme was, 100 % groundwater as control with four treatments as 75 % groundwater: 25 % wastewater, 50 % groundwater: 50 % wastewater, 25 % groundwater: 75 % wastewater and 100 % wastewater. Soil-to-plant TF in different treatments including control were in the order of Pb (1.0–1.7) > Cu (1.3–1.5) > Cd (0.8–1.0) > Zn (0.1–1.1). TF values of Pb and Cu in the range from 1 to 1.7 indicating their accumulation in B. alba plants and their potential health risk by dietary exposure. The HRI for individual metal as well as cumulative HRI of the metals was less than unity (0.33) which indicated the consumption of the vegetables was considered to be safe for one harvest. Over many seasons of irrigation with wastewater, level of salinity and heavy metals can accumulate on the agriculture land and their long term consumption may link to a chronic health risk. Hence, consumption of these vegetables on regular basis should be avoided.
Using World Bank and IMF data over the period 1990–2018, this research explores the determinants of economic growth in Bangladesh with particular attention to environmental degradation and export concentration variables. An ARDL (Autoregressive Distributed Lag) bound testing approach is employed as an estimation strategy with FMOLS (Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares) and CCR (Canonical Cointegrating Regression) for cross-checking the results. The obtained results confirm that CO 2 emissions, consumption expenditure, export concentration, remittances, and inflation are the main driving forces for the long-run economic growth in Bangladesh where the effects of the first two variables and the last three variables are positive and negative, respectively. The study also reveals the dynamic short-run relationships among the chosen variables. Environmental pollution and export concentration are found to be the barriers to economic growth; therefore, the country should take necessary steps to mitigate this problem for ensuring long-run sustainable economic development.
The suitability of wastewater (WW) irrigation collected from Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) was assessed against standard for irrigation water in Bangladesh. The WW was unsuitable for reuse in terms of physicochemical properties and medium SAR hazard. To observe the impact of soil nutrient in top soil, subsoil and bottom soil layers, two experimental plots were prepared. Control plot was irrigated by freshwater while the other plot was irrigated by WW collected from DEPZ in the ratio of 15% freshwater to 85% WW In both plots one month old BR-29 rice seedlings were transplanted. After 105 days, the soil layers were examined against the background soil data which indicated arise of slight soil salinity problem (percentile change was 68.51%) in comparison to the control plot. Metal Enrichment factor was also calculated for Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn which was below 1, indicating no pollution.
