Faisal Ahammed

SOCIOECONOMIC ASPECTS OF SMALL-SCALE FRESHWATER PRAWN MARKETING SYSTEMS IN MYMENSINGH, BANGLADESH

An investigation was carried out in Mymensingh region of Bangladesh to understand current practices of freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) marketing systems. Prawn marketing is almost exclusively maintained by the private sector, where the livelihoods of a considerable number of people are associated with prawn distribution and marketing systems. The market chain from producers to consumers passes through a number of intermediaries. The prawn is a highly valued product in international markets; most of the prawns (60%) are therefore exported, particularly to the USA, Japan and Europe. The rest (40%) of the under-sized prawns are sold to local markets in Mymensingh. The price of prawn depends on quality, size and weight, and grade. In spite of marketing constraints, livelihood outcomes are positive and most of the households of traders (75%) have improved their social and economic conditions through prawn marketing activities. However, concerns arise about the long-term sustainability of prawn marketing due to poor road and transport facilities, inadequate supply of ice, lack of money and credit facilities, and poor market infrastructure. It is therefore necessary to provide institutional, organizational, and government support for a sustainable prawn market.

Development of hydrological tools using extreme rainfall events for Dhaka, Bangladesh

Annual daily maximum rainfall data for 57 years (1953 to 2009) in Dhaka, Bangladesh are analysed statistically to prepare two hydrological tools: (1) probable return periods of extreme rainfall events, and (2) intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves. Limited availability of short-duration rainfall data leads to difficulties in performing the task through traditional approaches; hence, the Gumbel distribution function and scaling theory have been applied in preparing the probable return periods of extreme rainfall events and IDF curves, respectively. The outcomes of this paper can be used in better designing hydraulic structures in Bangladesh.

An economic analysis of Solar PV Micro-Utility in rural areas of Bangladesh

Solar PV Micro-Utility is the concept of Solar PV extension where power rather than the solar electric systems are offered to the rural poor. In this system, one will never be the owner of the system, but one can use the Solar PV system by paying a daily tariff. Several rural markets have already been electrified through Solar PV under the concept of PV Micro-Utility by Centre for Mass Education in Science (CMES), a national NGO in Bangladesh. This paper deals with economic analysis (Net present value, Benefit cost ratio, Internal rate of return, Discounted pay back period) of Solar PV Micro-utility of Manikgang Bazaar which is located approximately 400 Km north to Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.

A review of water-sensitive urban design technologies and practices for sustainable stormwater management

This review paper presents, in a critical and systematic way, the published researches on water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) technologies and practices. The aim of WSUD is the long-term sustainability for urban water cycle management; it minimises the hydrological impacts of urban development on the surrounding environments. It considers stormwater as a valuable resource. The applications of WSUD technologies in practice could be the solution of everyday problems of small-scale stormwater management—flood control, pollution control and stormwater harvesting. This paper focuses on the recent research outcomes of several frequently used WSUD technologies including infiltration systems, permeable pavements, bio-retention systems, vegetated swales and rainwater harvesting systems; their barriers and adaptations; and future research directions.

Selection of an appropriate waste-to-energy conversion technology for Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Abstract Solid waste disposal poses a significant problem, as it leads to land pollution if openly dumped, water pollution if dumped in low lands and air pollution if burnt. Moreover, the scarcity of land and increase in land prices especially in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh create the problems of developing new landfill sites. Realising the existing and future impacts of waste disposal issues, the analytic hierarchy process model was applied to select an appropriate Waste-to-Energy (WTE) conversion technology for household waste of Dhaka-Mirpur Cantonment area. Three alternatives, namely, anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis and plasma gasification (PG) technologies and nine criteria under three aspects (technological, environmental and financial) were chosen for comparison. The analysis revealed that PG is the most appropriate WTE conversion technology in the study area. The selected PG technology has a relatively small footprint; it can treat unsorted waste and can produce good-quality synthetic gas without generating extremely toxic by-products.