http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/7 2026-04-13T04:51:06Z 2026-04-13T04:51:06Z Nowreen, Samshad http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/4812 2026-04-13T04:30:07Z 2026-04-13T00:00:00Z

Impact of Climate Change and Financial Risks on Coastal Tourism in Bangladesh Nowreen, Samshad Bangladesh is embedded with diversified natural attractions, seasonal beauty, and different physiographic characteristics. Moreover, the country has a long coastline in the south with three major types of distinct land formations and biodiversity. These salient features of natural attraction ramify nature-based tourist destinations in the world. However, natural calamity along with the major threat of climate change induces natural disaster that threatens the top tourist destinations of Bangladesh, such Cox’s Bazar or Kuakata or the Sundarbans. It hinders the tourism growth of the neighboring countries of Bangladesh. Therefore, the research identifies the climate change impact on coastal tourism of Bangladesh, and the financial risks in coastal tourism arising from climate change. To conduct this research, mixed-methods research design that is predictive and explanatory in nature. Three distinct study areas had been selected for the research based on their physiographic condition. Two types of data were collected and analyzed: secondary data on climatic variables and images of vegetation coverage of the study areas, and financial data from five banks, all obtained from authentic and reliable sources. Moreover, a primary survey for an in-depth interview with 20 respondents had also been conducted. After triangulating and analyzing time series, results show that slow, gradual climate change is occurring across all climatic elements, triggering different types of calamities in the study areas. The Tourism Climate Index (TCI) model was used to analyze and predict future comfort seasons for travel in the study areas. Mostly, though the trend of rising temperatures is very low at present, it would be higher in the near future if Business As Usual (BAU) continues. As such, among the three regions, the top outdoor tourism and recreation destination of Bangladesh would experience the greatest rise in temperature, with prolonged and higher precipitation rates. Furthermore, the rise in hot weather has spread across the area over the last forty years, with a declining trend in v vegetation coverage across the whole area. There is an increasing rate of depositional landforms. Furthermore, TCI model shows that although Cox’s Bazar is the top-ranked outdoor tourism destination at present, it would gradually decline as it becomes less favorable to tourists because of the shrinkage of the tourist season, and the excellent tourist season would become moderate to tourists as climatic conditions will have higher temperatures, more cloudy sky, an increased rate of precipitation and windy weather. Consequently, analyzing credit risk by developing a model of TCI risk factors for bank loans, it has been identified that the risk factor for Cox’s Bazar will be the highest. Different banks will have different types of credit risks based on the model developed for the “Tourist Climate Index Value at Risk (TCI-VaR)”, which has found that credit lending for a prolonged maturity period would entail greater credit risk, which is currently neglected. It would be between 2.62% and 3.71% for 10-year and 5-year debt (10 million BDT), reflecting the impact of climate change. Kuakata would have a very low, rising trend in temperature and precipitation, though it is negligible at present. There is also widespread hot weather across the area. After using the TCI model to analyze tourists’ comfort in the study area, it shows that, though the tourist season would shrink, Kuakata would remain a more favorable place for outdoor or beach tourism, with excellent climatic conditions from November to March. In terms of investment, Kuakata would be least affected by climate change, as the TCI risk factor has been identified as negative. Thus, TCI-VaR credit risk will be -0.05% per 0.1 million BDT in debt for tourism. However, most banks do not lend money for tourism or recreational projects for tourists in this area, as Kuakata, as a tourist destination, is still neglected. Finally, the temperature and precipitation in Shatkhira show a rising trend upto year 2100. Moreover, the vegetation coverage has been gradually declining with wetlands. However, if other variables remain as control variables (such as deforestation, land encroachment, and vi hunting) due to climate change, this area would remain favorable for tourists, with very good climatic conditions from December to February, for the next eighty years. Furthermore, in terms of investment, the Sundarbans would be less affected by climate change, as the TCI risk factor has been identified as moderate. Likewise, Kuakata has also been neglected and has not burgeoned into a tourist destination. Banks would have to face a credit risk of 0.40% over 3 years for a 0.1 million BDT loan, which has been neglected as a aftermath of climate change. Therefore, from the research, it is clear that different study areas require different policy formulations for investments and tourism development zoning. The top tourist destinations in Cox’s Bazar are in a high-risk position for investment in outdoor or beach tourism due to climate change. Conversely, this research identifies other coastal destinations that would remain comfortable for outdoor tourism-based activities over the next hundred years. However, there might be other factors that degrade the destination; yet, policy formulation to keep the destination rich in natural resources is very urgent at present for sustainable tourism development. Besides, Cox’s Bazar, which is considered the top revenue-generating destination of Bangladesh, should be slowly transformed into an amalgamation of man-made and natural destinations to sustain development and preserve its top position. This thesis is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

2026-04-13T00:00:00Z HOSSAIN, TAHMINA http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/4797 2026-03-03T07:53:25Z 2026-03-03T00:00:00Z

EVALUATION OF PRICING STRATEGIES IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR OF BANGLADESH HOSSAIN, TAHMINA The high price of pharmaceutical drugs remains a critical issue in Bangladesh, where a large portion of the population struggles to afford essential medicines. This study investigates the underlying causes of high drug prices, focusing on the pricing strategies of the Bangladeshi pharmaceutical sector. It analyzes financial data from 26 companies listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange, representing over 76% of the market, to examine the relationship between cost of goods sold (COGS) and net income (NI). Quantitative methods, including Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis using STATA 14, assess how COGS impacts profitability. In addition, stakeholder perspectives were collected through structured surveys using a Likert scale and analyzed through frequency distribution. The findings indicate a positive correlation between COGS and net profit, reflecting the dominance of cost-plus pricing models in the sector. This suggests that lowering production and supply chain costs could help reduce drug prices. However, the study also identifies key obstacles such as inefficient supply systems and unethical marketing practices, which further inflate prices and limit access. To address these challenges, the research recommends strengthening regulatory oversight, encouraging local production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), supporting contract manufacturing, and implementing cost-control policies. These steps aim to enhance affordability, accessibility, and long-term sustainability of essential medicines in Bangladesh. This thesis is submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy.

2026-03-03T00:00:00Z Jabber, Mohammad Abdul http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/4776 2026-03-02T04:05:59Z 2026-03-02T00:00:00Z

Factors Affecting Adoption of Human Resource Information Systems by Small and Medium Enterprises in Bangladesh Jabber, Mohammad Abdul This study empirically examines the factors influencing the adoption and use of Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Bangladesh. Devising an integrated model based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2), Task-Technology Fit (TTF), and Revised Theory of Planned Behavior (RTPB), the research identifies both individual and organizational determinants of HRIS adoption. Data were collected from 708 human resource managers and administrative officers from SMEs and were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal SMEs in Bangladesh primarily use HRIS for administrative purposes, with limited engagement in its strategic and analytical applications. In terms of adoption factors, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, task-technology fit, and firm maturity significantly influence HRIS adoption and use behavior. The findings further underscore the moderating effects of SME size on multiple adoption relationships. The study offers practical and theoretical insights to support effective HRIS implementation in the context of emerging economies. This thesis is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

2026-03-02T00:00:00Z Khan, Md. Shahidur Rahman http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/4773 2026-02-19T03:50:58Z 2025-02-19T00:00:00Z

Effects of Online Marketing on Small Enterprises: A Study on the Local Clothing Brands in Bangladesh Khan, Md. Shahidur Rahman The rapidly growing clothing sector in Bangladesh, particularly among informal Small Enterprises, now appears to be at a crossroads – a context marked by the creative potential of global digitalization and a demand for change. A key dilemma, however, is that most marketing and innovation adoption theories are rooted in strong formal institutional and resource-rich contexts. This significantly limits their ability to examine value creation in resource-constrained, informal economies effectively. This outmoded paradigm, based on conditions that have not yet materialized for most informal sector entrepreneurs, leaves a significant theoretical and practical gap. This study effectively fills a crucial gap by investigating how local, informal micro and small clothing enterprises in Bangladesh efficiently use online marketing as a viable solution to overcome common systemic and market barriers. In arguing for a profoundly context-dependent theoretical grounding, this study offers valuable insights into how the processes of digital adoption and value creation unfold under context-specific socio-cultural, infrastructural, and gender barriers in a developing nation. It seeks to create a refined representation that captures the essence of the concept and lays the foundation for identifying new value-creating sources in future generations of business worlds, where established business models do not provide suitable instruments. More than simply descriptive, this study undertakes the challenging task of promoting a rigorous line of inquiry into the effects of online marketing by questioning the need to advance theory through the firm formalization of financial performance measures—namely, sales revenue. Beyond the more superficial analysis of engagement metrics, such as likes, shares, and comments, this study adopts an in-depth measurement of how digital culture impacts an individual. The results provide up-to-date and actionable competitive insights, pinpointing viii exactly where to focus online marketing efforts for the greatest return on investment for smaller firms in this evolving marketplace. This offers a theoretically grounded glimpse into the critical mechanisms and motivations shaping micro- to small-sized firms at the global periphery in ways that allow them to negotiate, overcoming resource deficiencies, the complex terrain of late digital technology adoption and diffusion. To address the identified theoretical, methodological, and contextual gaps intentionally, a systematic, multi-step mixed-methods research design was employed in the study. This holistic model was purposively built on six theoretical bases, namely the AIDA Model, Trusted AIDA Model, Social Exchange Theory (SET), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) Theory, Resource-Based View (RBV), and Customer Engagement Theory (CET). This comprehensive theoretical model provides a strong basis for understanding the multidimensional adoption process of online marketing, ranging from macro or external-level to micro or behavioral-level influencing factors. This particular coupling of theories had the critical advantage of providing an opportunity to develop a more nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between individual agency and structural context in creating effective online marketing structures, particularly in resource-constrained and informal settings. The quantitative phase of this study, employing an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach, grounded the understanding of online marketing effectiveness in small Bangladeshi clothing businesses. A systematic random sample was taken from a master list of 1264 digitally active small clothing businesses in Bangladesh (the study population, provided by BSCIC databases). This rigorous sampling criterion helped ensure that all 510 respondents (corresponding to a rich 40% of the potential sample) were online marketing-active respondents, and consequently, considerably increased the credibility and validity of the data for regression ix and factor analysis. This rigorous technique led to the discovery of four critical factors in online marketing. Multivariate analysis, performed through multiple regression analysis, showed that Digital Engagement (β = 0.445) was the most relevant predictor of sales. In contrast, Web Optimization (β = 0.309), Viral Content (β = 0.283), and Affiliate Campaigns (β = 0.102) were other relevant and equally important predictors. More importantly, the model accounted for an outstanding 74.2% of the variation in sales revenue (R² = 0.742), which underscores the joint and significant effect of these factors in enhancing business performance within resource-scarce environments. These results provide strong evidence on the internet marketing strategies that work best for small firms in the informal sector of the economy. Complementing this, the inductive, in-depth qualitative phase, which included 20 expert interviews and four embedded case studies, revealed a complex and nuanced picture of the micro- and macro-level processes constraining online marketing uptake. Rigorously inductively coded and narrowly focused on the consolidation of quantitative constructs, entrepreneurs' lived experiences revealed important micro-level issues, such as digital fatigue, content burnout, platform-specific skill gaps, and the balance of skills between traditional and online marketing. At the same time, substantial obstacles to effective online marketing were also encountered at both macro and organizational levels, including low visibility associated with gender, the significant influence of informal networks, and a notable lack of digital support. Hundreds of these qualitative data provide a complementary strength to the quantitative results by offering a detailed description of what, on the ground, the realities and structural settings that have a significant impact on the adoption and performance of online marketing practices look like. This key data triangulation—and even more so for Digital Engagement, where powerful evidence-based influences and robust effect sizes generated by the quantitative side were substantiated by x qualitative material insights into emotional labor and peer support aspects—significantly strengthens the study's meta-validity. This system's focus not only highlights the urgent need for localized, inclusive, and scalable approaches to both individual and system-level barriers to informal business but also starkly suggests that online marketing can only serve as a sustained competitive advantage if these multi-level constraints are appropriately mitigated. This research makes several significant contributions to theory. Firstly, it significantly enhances the TAM model by integrating socio-cultural legitimating and gendered visibility into the model, thereby better explaining non-formal technology adoption and making it more context-specific and generalizable across varied cultural contexts. Second, this study contributes to the Resource-Based View (RBV) by describing how informal ventures productively assess and utilize readily available, low-cost online tools. They skillfully apply social capital and resourceful ingenuity to compensate for their lack of traditional resources, thus adding value to a critical coverage area where RBV is used in emerging countries. Third, it advances the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory by not only contesting the linear models primarily posited in the industrialized world but also by emphasizing that deeply rooted social norms and well-entrenched infrastructural bottlenecks are significant obstacles to the diffusion of complex technologies. This offers a fresh perspective on the unique strategic logic of informal enterprises and their distinctive, often non-linear, search for viral content, alongside a hybridization of traditional and online marketing tools and other performance dimensions beyond standard metrics. The study results also have several practical implications. Diverging recommendations for informal entrepreneurs, therefore, are to facilitate culture-appropriate content creation, promote gradual internet adoption, design relevant content literacy programs, and strategically xi exploit informal affiliate networks for organic growth. Importantly, the lessons are broader than just for individual enterprises, yielding essential policy implications for governments and donors to support infrastructure-sensitive digital enablement at the national and sub-national levels. Simply, this approach takes into account the existing economic and socio-cultural constraints and advocates for gender-inclusive digital literacy programs for equity of access and participation. And interestingly, these are not just "best practices" – in the traditional "one-size-fits-all" sense – but are very deeply and specifically rooted in, and emerge directly from, the particular context, the local conditions of implementation, of the informal economy in Bangladesh, a resource-starved, information-dark, infrastructure-weak country – and very likely context-specific, context-contingent in other low-infrastructure economies. Recognizing the cross-sectional nature and self-reported sources of data as potential sources of bias and limitations to the generalizability of the results to other domains or cultural contexts, this study provides novel empirical evidence essential for understanding the process of digital transformation in the informal economy. While emphatically rejecting the mechanical transfer of Western online use, it also strongly promotes a bottom-up, inclusive, and performance-oriented strategy, as it is far more responsive to changing market conditions. The findings also highlight an urgent and undeniable demand for contextually specific, culturally embedded digital interventions for informal economies. From a future research perspective, researchers should consider using longitudinal panel studies to track the development of digital maturity and gendered digital practices among adolescents, while also examining the effects of local digital service providers as mediators and the dynamics between regions. In addition, the results emphasize the urgent and unavoidable need for further theoretical exploration in this xii crucial topic, to develop a comprehensive understanding of the socio-cultural embeddedness and adaptive susceptibility of digital adoption. This thesis is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

2025-02-19T00:00:00Z