http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/17 2026-08-08T10:40:23Z 2026-08-08T10:40:23Z JAHAN, AISHA http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/4864 2026-08-04T05:25:21Z 2026-08-04T00:00:00Z

Capacity Assessment of Public Institutions for Climate Change Adaptation: Evidence from Coastal Districts in Bangladesh JAHAN, AISHA The government of Bangladesh has introduced a wide range of climate change adaptation programmes to reduce vulnerability and tackle the impacts of climate change on agriculture, fisheries, livestock, and health in coastal areas. It also emphasises capacity building of the relevant public institutions. Assessing the capacity of institutions to meet the challenges in terms of knowledge and perception, resource availability, coordination, and collaboration requires understanding the impacts and vulnerabilities of climate change. In this context, this research examines key sectoral impacts of climate change, especially on agricultural production in coastal areas in Bangladesh, to address climate change-induced challenges such as sea level rise, salinity intrusion, flooding, coastal erosion, temperature rise, changing precipitation, and coastal waterlogging. Furthermore, it aims to evaluate the capacity of the public institutions and the challenges for agricultural adaptation strategies in the coastal areas in terms of knowledge and perception, resource availability, coordination, and collaboration, training obtainability and information access. A number of policies exist on paper, but there is a gap in understanding how well these policies are implemented and whether institutions have the actual capacity, such as resources, coordination, and skills, to carry them out. The study has been conducted on the thirteen public institutions working under the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in two coastal districts, Cox’s Bazar and Patuakhali, due to their vulnerability to climate change and their distinct agricultural production. Drawing on the policy and document analysis, key informant interviews and focus group discussions, the research identifies both progress and limitations of the institutions' responses to climate issues. The research methodology was a mixed-methods approach, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with officials and stakeholders from the xxi Upazila to the district level. This study draws on a range of theoretical approaches to produce a comprehensive assessment of institutional adaptive capacity. The findings indicate that the impacts of climate change are visible in coastal agricultural production. The public institutions have mandates to adapt to address the challenges of climate change in coastal production. Decrease in production, crop yield loss, insect infestation, a decrease in soil fertility, drought and excessive water logging, loss of topsoil, are identified by the respondents as significant impacts of the coastal region, directly affecting the harvest quality and production quantity. Although Bangladesh has developed adaptation practices in the coastal areas, the adaptive capacity of public institutions is constrained by limited resources, technical capacities, difficulties in accessing information and weak inter-institutional coordination. The findings of the study showed that public institutions have made significant progress in integrating climate change issues into their plans, programs, and policies, and that there is an adequate level of cooperation amongst them. However, institutional, financial, and technological limitations continue to impede their overall adaptive capacities, which are inconsistent. The study identifies fragmented coordination, insufficient machinery and technical knowledge, and limited financial resources as the main obstacles to efficient coordination. The results show that the public institutions have a moderate level of preparedness and capacities in climate change adaptation and climate risk management. In conclusion, the research findings provide a distinctive explanation of the variables used in the index assessment framework and emphasise the need for strengthening institutional capacity and improving cross-sectoral collaboration. Mainstreaming the institutional assessment for climate change adaptation in coastal agriculture may consider these research findings to explore the institutional adaptive capacity in the context of a developing country. Finally, the study highlights the necessity of bridging the gaps to enable institutions to xxii successfully deal with the implications of climate change on the agriculture sector, particularly in coastal Bangladesh. This thesis is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

2026-08-04T00:00:00Z NOUSHIN, TANJINA http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/4856 2026-08-04T04:33:13Z 2026-08-04T00:00:00Z

Interference of External Actors in Bangladesh Politics NOUSHIN, TANJINA Since its liberation in 1971, Bangladesh—one of South Asia’s least developed countries— has made concerted efforts to move toward sustainable development. Along this journey, the country has had to adopt various large-scale development projects, which often require significant financial investment. However, as a developing nation, Bangladesh frequently finds it difficult to generate the necessary funds internally. Consequently, it seeks assistance from donor countries and international agencies, either in the form of aid or loans. It is an observable truth that human nature often gravitates toward the exercise of power. When one party is dependent on another—especially in an imbalanced power dynamic— the stronger side tends to exert influence over the weaker. This phenomenon holds true in the case of donor countries and lending agencies. Since Bangladesh’s inception, these entities have been providing financial support to the government. In return, they often attempt to shape or influence national policies and development priorities. There is growing concern that certain members of the diplomatic corps in Bangladesh have been overstepping their boundaries, disregarding the norms outlined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Particularly, some relatively junior diplomats, serving as Heads of Missions, have behaved in an overtly offensive and intrusive manner, openly interfering in Bangladesh's internal affairs. It is hoped that future governments will uphold the principles of the Vienna Convention and ensure that diplomats operate within the appropriate legal and ethical frameworks. Criticism has also been directed at diplomatic representatives and officials from multilateral financial institutions who have made inappropriate public remarks about Bangladesh’s internal political dynamics and governance. While it is understandable that they are concerned about good governance and fair elections—given their financial stake in the country’s development—such interventions often appear too blatant and disrespectful of national sovereignty. Nevertheless, we must acknowledge their role as stakeholders. These nations and agencies, as development partners, have a vested interest in the stability, progress, and democratic integrity of Bangladesh. Their concerns stem not just from altruism but also from the realities of globalization: instability, poor governance, human rights abuses, terrorism, and corruption in one state can have ripple effects across an entire region. vii Bangladesh, like all nations, must remember its history and learn from it. Accountability to international opinion should not be feared, nor should institutional reform be delayed. Over recent weeks, many diplomatic representatives have engaged in dialogue with political alliances across the spectrum, including the newly formed NCP – National Citizen Party. They are participating a number of meeting with the other top political countries in Bangladesh like: BNP – Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Jamaat-E-Islami, AB Party and many other small and big political parties in the country. They continued their meeting with the different levels of the Interim Government members as well. These discussions are taking place ahead of upcoming elections, as these diplomats prepare to send election observers to monitor the process. Such international monitoring is now a widely accepted practice in assessing the legitimacy of electoral outcomes. It lends credibility to the democratic process and reassures the global community of a nation’s political maturity. Rather than viewing these actions with suspicion, we should engage in deeper introspection. Why are these foreign entities expressing concern? What conditions within our own political system have prompted such extraordinary involvement? The answer seems to lie not in support for any particular political faction, but in a collective desire to see Bangladesh return to stability through free and fair elections. It is also evident that these diplomatic missions are acting in coordination with their home governments. Observing the political inertia that has characterized the current Caretaker Administration, they have stepped forward, not to interfere, but to assist. We must interpret these actions within a broader international framework, rather than through a narrow, partisan lens. Political uncertainty is a silent killer of development; one we cannot afford. This thesis is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

2026-08-04T00:00:00Z আলম, মুহাম্মদ জহিরুল http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/4842 2026-08-02T06:49:43Z 2026-08-02T00:00:00Z

বাংলাদেশের জাতীয় সংসদ নির্বাচন ব্যবস্থার সংস্কার : একটি বিশ্লেষণ [ Reforms of Election System of the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad : An Analysis] আলম, মুহাম্মদ জহিরুল ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে পিএইচডি ডিগ্রীর জন্য উপস্থাপিত অভিসন্দর্ভ।

2026-08-02T00:00:00Z Huque, Muhammad Amirul http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/4840 2026-08-02T06:34:56Z 2026-08-02T00:00:00Z

Making a Living in Monpura Island: An Ethnographic Study of Livelihood Strategies of the Coastal People of Bangladesh Huque, Muhammad Amirul This doctoral research, entitled Making a Living in Monpura Island: An Ethnographic Study of Livelihood Strategies of the Coastal People of Bangladesh, presents an in-depth anthropological exploration of two rural communities—Sonarchar, primarily engaged in agriculture, and Machpara, whose livelihoods revolve around fishing—located in Monpura Island, Bhola District. Conducted over a sustained period of eighteen months of intensive fieldwork between 2017 and 2023, complemented by preliminary visits in 2016, the study investigates how these communities navigate an intricate web of environmental, climatic, and socio-economic challenges. Monpura Island occupies a precarious position within the Meghna estuary, a low-lying char land formed by centuries of sedimentation, tidal movements, and human settlement patterns. As part of one of Bangladesh’s most ecologically fragile regions, Monpura is highly exposed to riverbank erosion, cyclonic storms, tidal surges, saline intrusion, and the gradual loss of arable land. Yet the story of Monpura is not one of unmitigated vulnerability; rather, it is equally a narrative of resilience, adaptive ingenuity, and the preservation of cultural heritage under conditions of perpetual change. The research employs a classic ethnographic methodology, drawing on participant observation, life history interviews, focus group discussions, and the examination of archival and historical sources. By conducting fieldwork during multiple seasons and agricultural and fishing cycles, I was able to capture the seasonal rhythms of work, the dynamic interplay between environmental shifts and social life, and the subtle ways in which human relationships anchor economic survival. This long-term engagement made it possible to observe not only how people respond to sudden climatic shocks but also how they plan for, adjust to, and sometimes resist slower, more insidious transformations in their landscape. Bangladesh’s coastline extends for approximately 710 kilometers, encompassing a variety of estuarine and deltaic ecosystems. The southeastern and southwestern stretches are particularly marked by complex estuarine environments in which human livelihoods are intimately tied to the interplay of biotic and abiotic forces. Estuaries serve as critical transitional zones linking inland freshwater systems with the saline waters of the Bay of Bengal. Monpura Island itself, positioned at the mouth of the Meghna River, is composed of a cluster of small islands that reportedly emerged as a floating char in the early sixteenth century. Historical accounts indicate that between 1600 and 1666, the area came under the influence of Arakan Mug rulers and Portuguese maritime raiders, leaving traces on its settlement patterns and local memory. The coastal zone of Bangladesh—where land, sea, and atmospheric systems converge—remains one of the most dynamic yet vulnerable geographical regions in the country. Recurrent cyclones, Page | vii rising sea levels, and storm surges have had a cumulative effect on its low-lying areas, reshaping shorelines, altering agricultural viability, and threatening human security. Understanding this complexity requires an integrated, multi-scalar approach that considers environmental processes alongside social structures, economic systems, and cultural practices. Monpura’s recorded settlement history spans roughly two centuries. Early settlers contended with dense mangrove forests, wild animals, and unpredictable flooding patterns. Clearing mangrove stands to create arable land marked the beginning of sustained agricultural activity. Administratively, Monpura became a distinct Upazila in 1983, comprising four Union Parishads, eighteen Mouzas, and thirty-three villages. The agricultural economy today centers on crops such as paddy, pulses, chili, onions, sweet potatoes, and coconuts, alongside seasonal production of fruits including mangoes, jackfruit, papayas, watermelons, and bananas. As in many other parts of coastal Bangladesh, rice cultivation forms the backbone of the local economy. Agricultural land use is shaped by factors such as periodic flooding, physiographic conditions, soil salinity, drainage congestion, and irrigation availability. Bangladesh’s coastal belt contributes significantly to national food security, with about 16 percent of the country’s total rice output coming from these regions. Rainfed monsoon paddy dominates agricultural cycles, covering approximately 70 percent of cultivated land in coastal districts. The cropping intensity in these areas stands at around 170 percent, reflecting efforts to maximize productivity under challenging conditions. Beyond rice, farmers produce pulses, oilseeds, betel leaves, winter vegetables, and potatoes, diversifying their livelihoods in response to shifting environmental constraints. Yet, agricultural livelihoods in Monpura are increasingly shaped by environmental stressors. Farmers grapple with saline intrusion, seasonal flooding, and topsoil erosion. Adaptive strategies include altering crop varieties, raising field levels, diversifying income sources, and relying on reciprocal labor arrangements within extended kinship networks. Access to land remains a crucial determinant of resilience; landless households are especially vulnerable to livelihood shocks, as their capacity to implement adaptive measures is limited. The fishing economy presents a different yet equally complex set of challenges. Monpura’s fishermen operate within a volatile environment marked by seasonal fishing bans, declining fish stocks due to overfishing and ecological shifts, dependence on market intermediaries, and the dangers of venturing farther into open waters in search of catch. Adaptation here often involves altering fishing techniques, pursuing temporary wage labor during restricted seasons, or migrating seasonally for alternative employment. As with agriculture, environmental shocks can quickly reverse hard-won gains, driving some households into cycles of debt and economic precarity. Despite these differences, the study finds that both agricultural and fishing households rely heavily on shared survival strategies rooted in kinship and reciprocity. Informal networks of Page | viii exchange and mutual assistance frequently fill the gaps left by inadequate or poorly targeted government interventions. Women, though often excluded from formal decision-making spaces, play indispensable roles in household economy—engaging in food processing, small-scale trading, and resource management. However, their contributions remain underrecognized in policy frameworks, reflecting broader gender disparities in rural Bangladesh. One of the key findings of this research is that adaptation in Monpura is not a simple matter of adopting new techniques or technologies. It is an ongoing process of negotiation between inherited knowledge systems—shaped by generations of environmental engagement—and innovations prompted by necessity. While such adaptations often demonstrate remarkable creativity, they are also constrained by structural inequities: unequal access to land and capital, dependency on exploitative market actors, and policy approaches that privilege external technical solutions over local experience. Without addressing these underlying issues, climate change is likely to deepen rather than alleviate existing vulnerabilities. This thesis makes three primary contributions. First, it fills a notable gap in the anthropological literature by offering a richly detailed ethnographic account of a coastal char community that has been largely absent from previous scholarship. Second, it engages directly with policy debates on climate change adaptation and rural development, presenting grounded empirical evidence that explains why certain interventions fail to achieve their intended outcomes. Third, it proposes a framework for integrating local knowledge into development planning, arguing that sustainable livelihoods in fragile coastal environments cannot be achieved without recognizing and strengthening the social systems that communities themselves rely upon. Ultimately, Making a Living in Monpura Island provides both a scholarly and human perspective on life in one of Bangladesh’s most vulnerable regions. The research reveals the intertwined realities of environmental risk, economic necessity, and cultural resilience. It demonstrates that the people of Monpura are not passive victims of climate change, but active agents continually reshaping their strategies to survive and, where possible, to thrive. However, it also underscores that resilience has limits—without structural change in land tenure, market relations, and development policy, even the most resourceful communities will face mounting hardship in the decades ahead. In presenting this ethnographic portrait, the thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of how coastal Bangladeshis live, work, and imagine their futures amid uncertainty. Its findings have implications not only for academic anthropology but also for policymakers, development practitioners, and environmental planners concerned with the complex realities of climate-vulnerable regions. Given that roughly one-quarter of Bangladesh’s population resides in coastal areas, the stakes of this research extend far beyond Monpura itself, offering lessons for the sustainable management of fragile ecosystems and the equitable support of the communities who call them home. This thesis is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

2026-08-02T00:00:00Z