Mymensingh District Research Articles

Advancing Safe Broiler Farming in Bangladesh: An Investigation of Management Practices, Financial Profitability, and Consumer Perceptions

This study examined the rearing and management methods, financial profitability, and consumer perceptions towards safe broiler production in Bangladesh. Employing stratified random sampling, 60 participants (30 farmers and 30 consumers) from two sub-districts in Mymensingh district were interviewed. A mix of descriptive, mathematical, and statistical approaches was used for data analysis and representation. This study identified key components of safe broiler management, including brooding, housing, feed and water management, lighting, litter maintenance, medication and vaccination, and biosecurity and hygiene control. A benefit–cost of 1.40 obtained from profitability analysis indicated the profitability of safe broiler farming. Consumer awareness of safe broiler meat was assessed using the Likert scale, highlighting the significance of nutrition, packaging, freshness, taste, and natural ingredients in purchasing decisions. The Logit model revealed that factors such as meat size, freshness, taste, and family income significantly impacted consumer purchasing choices. The main challenges faced by safe broiler producers included high prices and limited availability of feed, day-old chicks, medicine and vaccines, and lack of knowledge. To ensure efficient safe broiler production in Bangladesh, this study recommends the implementation of stable input supplies, accessible credit, skill development, and infrastructure enhancement.

Antimicrobial Resistance, Biofilm Formation, and Virulence Determinants in Enterococcus faecalis Isolated from Cultured and Wild Fish.

Fish has always been an integral part of Bengali cuisine and economy. Fish could also be a potential reservoir of pathogens. This study aimed to inquisite the distribution of virulence, biofilm formation, and antimicrobial resistance of Enterococcus faecalis isolated from wild and cultivated fish in Bangladesh. A total of 132 koi fish (Anabas scandens) and catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) were collected from different markets in the Mymensingh district and analyzed to detect E. faecalis. E. faecalis was detected by conventional culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by the detection of virulence genes by PCR. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined using the disk diffusion method, and biofilm-forming ability was investigated by crystal violet microtiter plate (CVMP) methods. A total of 47 wild and 40 cultured fish samples were confirmed positive for E. faecalis by PCR. The CVMP method revealed four per cent of isolates from cultured fish as strong biofilm formers, but no strong producers were found from the wild fish. In the PCR test, 45% of the isolates from the wild and cultivated fish samples were found to be positive for at least one biofilm-producing virulence gene, where agg, ace, gelE, pil, and fsrC genes were detected in 80, 95, 100, 93, and 100% of the isolates, respectively. Many of the isolates from both types of samples were multidrug resistant (MDR) (73% in local fish and 100% in cultured fish), with 100% resistance to erythromycin, linezolid, penicillin, and rifampicin in E. faecalis from cultured fish and 73.08, 69.23, 69.23, and 76.92%, respectively, in E. faecalis from wild fish. This study shows that E. faecalis from wild fish have a higher frequency of virulence genes and biofilm-forming genes than cultivated fish. However, compared to wild fish, cultured fish were found to carry E. faecalis that was more highly multidrug resistant. Present findings suggest that both wild and cultured fish could be potential sources for MDR E. faecalis, having potential public health implications.

Morphological and phylogenetic analysis of Raillietina spp. in indigenous chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in Bangladesh

Raillietina spp. (Cestoda: Davaineidae), the most common cestodes in indigenous chickens, cause a substantial production loss in poultry industry in Bangladesh. Here, we estimated the prevalence, confirmed the species and determined the genetic pattern of species of Raillietina using molecular tools. We collected and examined 375 chickens randomly from household of different villages of Mymensingh sadar and Gouripur upazila, Mymensingh district and adult parasites were isolated and identified. Genomic DNA was extracted from collected parasites, amplified ITS-2 and ND-1 genes, sequenced and analyzed. Out of 375 samples, 270 (72.0%) were found positive with Raillietina species and mean worm burden was 10.46 ± 0.56. Microscopically, three species of Raillietina, such as R. cesticillus (37.9%), R. echinobothrida (41.1%) and R. tetragona (52.8%) were detected on the basis of their morphological features. The total length, length and width of scolex, sucker and rostellum were also measured. Among different factors, age, farming nature and flock size of chickens were significantly (p < 0.05) influenced Raillietina infections. For further validation, the sequences of ITS-2 gene generated in this study were matched with reference sequences of R. cesticillus, R. echinobothrida and R. tetragona and found 99.63% − 100% similarity. The phylogenetic analyses of ITS-2 and ND-1 sequences were clustered together with the reference sequences of R. cesticillus, R. echinobothrida and R. tetragona confirming microscopic identification. This is the first confirmation of species of Raillietina along with the prevalence of the species, which will be helpful for the formulation of a control strategy and provide basic information for further molecular study.

Perceptions of Chemical Pesticides Use among Vegetable Growers in Bangladesh: Implications for Sustainable Pest Management

The majority of farmers in Bangladesh regularly use chemical pesticides to combat insect and pest attacks on their vegetable crops, even though doing so may have negative impacts on the environment and human health. The present study was conducted to assess the socioeconomic characteristics of the vegetable growers, examine the current pest management practices, identify the farmers’ perception of different aspects of chemical pesticide use and the factors that determine their perception towards pesticide use. A total of 120 vegetable growers were interviewed face to face from two unions of Gouripur upazila in Mymensingh district using a semi-structured questionnaire and following a simple random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of the descriptive analysis shows the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents. The result shows that most of the respondents use chemical pesticides in vegetable cultivation and they have a positive perception of chemical pesticide use. The result of the correlation coefficient found that education, farming experience, extension media contact, and knowledge about insect pest management have positive and signification correlations with the farmers' perception. This research emphasized the requirement for prompt implementation of highly stringent pesticide use rules and suggested training courses for pest control specialists, farmers, and pesticide sellers.

Prevalence, virulence gene profile and antibiogram of Campylobacter jejuni from fresh vegetables in Mymensingh, Bangladesh

This study aimed to investigate Campylobacter jejuni, a major cause of food-borne bacterial infections worldwide, in fresh vegetables from five upzillas (Mymensingh, Trishal, Bhaluka, Muktagacha, and Fulbaria) in the Mymensingh district between July 2020 and April 2023. Using cultural, biochemical, and molecular techniques, 100 fresh vegetable samples (including tomato, carrot, cucumber, green chili, and coriander) were examined for C. jejuni. The isolates were further tested for virulence genes and antimicrobial susceptibility. Out of the 100 samples, 23% were confirmed as C. jejuni, by 16S rRNA gene-based polymerase chain reaction and all were found to be virulent with cytolethal distending toxins (cdtA, cdtB and cdtC genes). Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed resistance to amoxicillin (47.83%), tetracycline (43.48%), and streptomycin (39.13%) among the isolates. However, ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin were effective against 47.83% and 43.48% of the isolates, respectively. Moreover, 52.17% of the isolates were sensitive to erythromycin. Alarmingly, 34.78% of the C. jejuni isolates exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR) with eight different antibiotic resistance patterns, including four MDR patterns. These findings highlight the presence of virulent and antibiotic-resistant C. jejuni in fresh vegetables, emphasizing the need for monitoring and control to ensure food safety and public health issues. Asian Australas. J. Food Saf. Secur. 2023, 7 (2), 62-72

Farmers’ usage of information and communication technologies for integrated farm management: An analytical study focusing on rural households of Bangladesh

Agricultural farming consists of multiple components and information related to farm management is one of the crucial factors. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) provide reliable and need based information in an effective way. This study focuses on investigating the extent of ICTs usage for integrated farm management and to clarify the underlying factors in Gauripur upazila (sub-district) under Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. To achieve the purpose of the study, data were collected from 75 randomly sampled farmers using structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were applied to obtain the findings of the study. The findings of the study clearly revealed that the highest proportion of the farmers (46%) had the tendency to use ICTs to a moderate extent. The analytical findings from the study showed that among the socio-demographic attributes annual income, training received, access to information sources and knowledge level were significantly associated with the usage of ICTs by the farmers. The step-wise multiple regression analysis indicated that knowledge on ICT usage, annual income and access to information sources were the most influential factors affecting the usage of ICTs by the farmers. The policy implications of the study suggests paying more attention to increase the operational knowledge and access to ICTs with provision to hands-on training and economic incentives for rural poor farmers. The integrated approach combining both public and private sectors can be effective to improve the extent of ICT usage for efficient farm management.

Value chain analysis of carp fish seed farms in some selected areas of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh

This study is an attempt to analyze the prevailing value chain of fish seed farms in some selected areas of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. Data were collected from 280 fish seed farms owners (56) and traders (224) covering four Upazilas of Mymensingh district namely Mymensingh Sadar, Gauripur, Muktagacha, and Trishal from the period of July 2019 to October 2019 through purposive random sampling technique. Three important fish seed species of carp; namely Rui, Catla, Mrigel were selected to address the following objectives: typical value chain map and marketing system of fish seed farms, determination of the net value addition of fish seed production and marketing, and problems impacting different actors in the value chain. Total net marketing margin per 10 Kg. spawn and per 100000 pieces’ fingerlings are Tk. 20204 (190.43 USD) and Tk. 43148 (406.69 USD), respectively. Among all three intermediaries, the net marketing margin of the retailer is the highest. A large percentage of value addition is covered by paiker for both cases and that is 20.85% and 31.2%. The study finds that fish seed farms with hatcheries are more profitable than fish seed farms with nursery. The yearly net return from spawn production in the hatchery is Tk. 4324775 (40763.15 USD) and from fingerling production in the nursery is Tk. 2388126 (22509.27 USD). The owners and traders have currently been facing some difficulties. Lack of information about good quality seed, the higher price of inputs, and lack of extension service is some of the examples. If these problems could be solved, fish seed farms and market intermediaries could earn a higher profit than the existing level.

Quantitative ethnobotanical study in Gafargaon Sub-district and unveiling drug candidates through molecular docking and dynamics simulation approaches

An ethnobotanical investigation was carried out in Gafargaon sub-district (upazila) under Mymensingh district, Bangladesh that unveiled a total of 79 medicinal plant species under 74 genera and 46 families which were used to treat various ailments through 106 formularies. In addition, molecular docking and dynamics simulation studies were performed based on ethnobotanical outcome for the first time in Bangladesh to unveil potential drug candidates. The study revealed that most of the species used for primary healthcare were herbs (44.3%) followed by trees (36.7%), shrubs (10.2%) and climbers (8.8%). Leaves were found to be the most frequently used part (34%) compared to other plant parts. Factor of informant consensus values ranged from 0.975 to 0.984 and the highest value was recorded for respiratory tract disorders (0.984). Maximum number of taxa was unraveled to treat digestive and gastrointestinal disorders. Fidelity level varied from 41.2 to 100%, where 11 species showed 100% fidelity, and the citation frequency was found above 70% for 15 different ailments. Molecular docking study exposed 60% Stephania japonica phytocompounds scoring higher than the control drug Ibuprofen (-7.0 kcal/mol) targeting rheumatoid arthritis. The phytocompounds Oxostephanine, Trilobine and Epistephanine were identified as lead drug candidates with binding affinity of -9.7, -8.7 and -8.6 kcal/mol, respectively. Molecular interactions of these compounds were found significant to identify potential drug surface hotspots. Molecular dynamics simulation shed light on regional flexibility profiles and unraveled notable structural stability of the top three phytocompounds. The present study would offer foundational data for identifying potential bioactive compounds that could be utilized in novel drug discovery efforts. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 30(1): 53-76, 2023 (June)

Emergence of a novel sublineage, MYMBD21 under SA-2018 lineage of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus serotype O in Bangladesh

Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) hinders the growth of the livestock industry in endemic countries like Bangladesh. The management and prevention of FMD are severely impacted by the high mutation rate and subsequent frequent generation of newer genotypes of the causative agent, Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV). The current study was conducted in nine districts of Bangladesh during 2019–21 to characterize the circulating FMDV strains based on the VP1 sequence analysis, the major antigenic recognition site providing serotype specificity and high variability of FMDV. This study detected the first emergence of the SA-2018 lineage in Bangladesh along with the predominance of Ind-2001e (or Ind-2001BD1) sublineage of ME-SA topotype under serotype O during 2019–21. The mutational spectrum, evolutionary divergence analysis and multidimensional plotting confirmed the isolates collected from Mymensingh districts, designated as MYMBD21 as a novel sublineage under the SA-2018 lineage. Analysis of the amino acid sequence revealed several changes in the G-H loop, B-C loop and C-terminal region of VP1, revealing a 12–13% divergence from the existing vaccine strains and a 95% VP1 protein homology, with most of the mutations potentially considerable as vaccine escape mutations, evidenced by three-dimensional structural analysis. This is the first report on the emergence of the SA-2018 lineage of ME-SA topotype of FMDV serotype O in Bangladesh, as well as a possible mutational trend towards the emergence of a distinct sublineage under SA-2018 lineage, which calls for in-depth genome-wide analysis and monitoring of the FMD situation in the country to implement a strategic vaccination and effective FMD control program.

Economic Consequences of Land Fragmentation on Farm Production: Empirical Evidences from Bangladesh

This study examines the impact of land fragmentation on farm productivity in northern Bangladesh. To achieve that objective, primary data were collected from 193 farm households through a direct interview method from Mymensingh and Dinajpur districts. A combination of analytical tools was employed like perception index, fragmentation index, Simpson index and multiple linear regression model. Most of the farm lands in the study area were severely fragmented. The decreasing rate of average farm size was more prevalent for those farmers whose lands were less fragmented. Moreover, farmers, having more fragmented land, incurred more costs in farm production. Regression results revealed that the number of parcels, average plot size and average distance from plots to homestead were found to have significant negative impact on rice production. Policy implications include developing effective land consolidations program by the spread of commercialization of farming by public or private authority and spread of mechanization through machine service providers at the local level and creating employment opportunities to release pressure on the land.

Productive and reproductive performance of indigenous buffaloes in four selected upazillas under Mymensingh district of Bangladesh

Productive and reproductive performance of indigenous buffaloes in four selected upazillas under Mymensingh district of Bangladesh

Hazard identification and characterization of Listeria monocytogenes in salad vegetables and milk products in Mymensingh district in Bangladesh

The objectives of the present study were to isolate and identify Listeria monocytogenes in salad vegetables and milk products sold in different markets of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh, and to characterize this organism (serogroups, virulence genes) along with antibiogram study. A total of 85 samples of salad vegetables (tomato, carrot and cucumber) were collected from six different markets of five upazilas of Mymensingh district, and 83 milk products such as cheese, yogurt and icecream of two available brands were collected from Mymensingh sadar upazila. Isolation and identification of Listeria monocytogenes was done by cultural, biochemical, PCR and MALDI-TOF assays. The presence of serogroups (lineage I, lineage II, lineage III) and virulence-associated genes (inlA, actA, prfA, and hlyA) were determined by multiplex PCR. The antimicrobial susceptibility test of the isolates was done with 22 antimicrobial agents using disk diffusion assay. The overall prevalence of L. monocytogenes was 7.1%. Among salad vegetables, contamination of cucumber was highest (19.2%), and among milk products, the highest contamination was in icecream (7.1%). Five isolates (41.7%) belonged to Lineage II and seven isolates (58.3%) to Lineage III. Only two isolates (16.67%) harbored one or more virulence-associated genes. The highest resistance was observed to oxacillin and nalidixic acid followed by erythromycin and meropenem. Findings of the present study would be useful to evaluate the risk posed by salad vegetables and milk products, and to the concerned authorities for eventual future food regulations.

Quantification of antibiotics applied in aquaculture in Mymensingh district

Quantification of antibiotics applied in aquaculture in Mymensingh district

Molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance profile of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli isolated from healthy cow raw milk in smallholder dairy farms in Bangladesh.

The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, such as Escherichia coli in milk, is a serious public health concern as milk is considered a complete food and an important part of daily human diet worldwide, including in Bangladesh. However, there have been no reports on the molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance profile of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli from milk of healthy cows in Bangladesh. Therefore, this study aimed to detect and characterize ESBL-producing E. coli (ESBL-Ec) in milk samples from healthy cows in smallholder dairy farms in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh, and assess the potential risk of consuming this milk. A total of 100 milk samples were collected from apparently healthy cows on smallholder dairy farms. Escherichia coli was isolated from the collected samples using standard methods. The detection of ESBL-Ec was performed phenotypically using cultural methods and genotypically by ESBL genetic determinants using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the ESBL-Ec isolates was performed using the disk diffusion method with 15 common antimicrobials. In this study, out of the 100 samples tested, 70 (70%) were found to be positive for E. coli. Among these, 41 (58.6%) strains were identified as ESBL-producing, both phenotypically and genotypically, with the presence of blaCTX-M, blaTEM, and blaSHV individually or combined (blaCTX-M plus blaTEM plus blaSHV). The antibiogram of these ESBL-positive isolates revealed high resistance against commonly used antibiotics, such as ampicillin, cefotaxime, and gentamicin (100%), azithromycin (88%), oxytetracycline (27%), nalidixic acid, cotrimoxazole/trimethoprim (24%), and streptomycin (22%). In addition, one isolate showed resistance to 4th generation of cephalosporin (cefepime). Most importantly, extensive multidrug resistance was found in many ESBL-Ec isolates. However, the isolates were highly sensitive to drugs such as ceftriaxone (100%) and imipenem (100%). This is the first study to detect ESBL-Ec in raw milk from healthy cows on smallholder dairy farms in Bangladesh. More than 58% of the E. coli isolated from raw milk of healthy cows tested positive for ESBL production and showed resistance to most commonly used antimicrobials which may be alarming for human health. A limitation of our study is that we had a small size of sample collected from one district in Bangladesh. Therefore, a larger sample size covering a wider geographic area, and using multi-locus sequence typing and whole genome sequencing could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and characteristics of ESBL-Ec in Bangladesh.

Monitoring of pesticide residues in yard long bean collected from Mymensingh district of Bangladesh

The farmers of our country mostly depend on chemical pesticides for crop protection due to the scarcity of competent pesticide alternatives and enough knowledge of safe pest management. As a result, there is a great possibility to remain residues in the harvested crops. Keeping this view, this study was conducted to analyze organophosphorus pesticide residues in yard long bean collected from five local markets of Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. The collected samples were carried to the Pesticide Analytical Laboratory, Entomology Division of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur on the same sampling day. The collected samples were analyzed using Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) extraction technique and Gas Chromatography (GC) coupled with Flame Thermionic Detector (FTD). Among the 30 samples of yard long bean, 3 samples (10% of the total samples) contained residue of quinalphos, of which 2 samples contained quinalphos residue above MRL. This study reflects the overall scenario of pesticide residue remain in the harvested yard long bean collected from local markets of Mymensingh city. Therefore, monitoring of pesticide residues in vegetables should be strengthened. Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2023, 8 (1), 8-16

Field Assessment of Strip-Tillage for Summer Rice Cultivation in Bangladesh

Farmers in the tropics and subtropics of Asia usually transplant rice seedlings in puddled soils which makes crop establishment and weed control easier. But rice can be grown successfully by planting into non-puddled soils after a single shallow pass of strip tillage. This method was globally reported to produce the same yield of rice as traditional puddle farming and saved labor, fuel and water, too. With this aim to asses the effect of strip tillage in the productivity of rice in Bangladesh, a trial was done at a farmer's field in the Gauriopur area of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh from July to December 2014. The productivity of four summer rice varieties, BR11, BRRI dhan46, BRRI dhan52, and BINA Dhan-7, was compared under strip tillage (ST) vs. conventional tillage (CT). The CT had two main ploughings done by a two-wheel tractor, and the ST was done in a single pass by a Versatile Multi-crop Planter. The interactive results of study showed that, except for the number of effective tillers per m2, grain yield, and BCR, none of the other parameters changed significantly between the treatments. The highest BCR profit came from BR 11 grown under ST, followed by BRRI dhan52, BRRI dhan46, and BINA Dhan-7 grown under ST. The lowest BCR was measured from BINA Dhan-7 grown under CT. This could be because the highest and lowest amount of effective and sterile tillers and the maximum grain yield were seen in the respective treatments. The ST had a 26% higher BCR than the CT, which could have been due to the 3% higher grain yield that came from having 6% more effective tillers and 42% lower sterile tillers per m2 area. In the end, we could say that ST is a more profitable way to grow rice than CT, and BR 11 is the best of the other three types.

Assessment of the Nutritional Quality and Fungal Contamination of Commercial Poultry Feed and Raw Materials Available in Gazipur and Mymensingh District of Bangladesh

The study was conducted to evaluate the nutrient content and fungal contamination of commercial poultry feeds and raw materials available in Gazipur and Mymensingh districts of Bangladesh. A total of 67 commercial poultry feed (broiler and layer) and raw materials were collected from different poultry farms, dealers and shops. They feed samples and raw materials were then analyzed in terms of DM (Dry matter), CP (crude protein), EE (ether extract), ash and calcium concentration. Crude protein is the main constituent and is found in the range of 20-22.5% and 15.3-19.5% for broiler and layer feeds, respectively. Moisture content ranged between 9.7-11.2% in both broiler and layer feed indicating good storage condition. Other nutrients such as crude fat and crude fiber content in broiler and layer feed were 3.6-6.9% and 3.0-5.8%, respectively. Layer feed contains a higher amount of calcium (3.1-4.6%) and total ash (8.3-13.3%) than the broiler feed. The moisture percentage of raw materials was below the recommended value. About 40-60% crude protein was found in protein-rich feed ingredients and other nutrients such as crude fat (17.2-19.1%) and crude fiber (9.9-13.1%) were higher in energy-rich ingredients. On the other hand, fungal contamination in broiler and layer feed, and raw materials was found in about 28.5%, 30.0% and 46.0%, respectively. The proximate composition and fungal contamination of poultry feed and raw materials were varied due to environment, processing method, storage condition and adulteration, etc. In conclusion, findings of the nutrient content and fungal contamination of commercial poultry feed and raw materials will help the feed mill owners and commercial poultry farmers to prepare quality feed and to formulate quality poultry ration.

Measuring health information literacy in everyday life: a survey among tribal women in a developing country

Purpose This study aims to assess tribal women’s health information literacy in their daily lives. The specific objectives are to determine the tribe’s interest and frequency of seeking health-related information, to know their preferred health information sources and health-care methods for treatment and to find out the prospective barriers to searching for and finding health-related information. Design/methodology/approach A well-structured questionnaire was designed and surveyed among the tribal women of Khagrachhari, Bandarban and Mymensingh districts in Bangladesh. Stratified sampling was used, and 326 responses were retrieved. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 and Microsoft Excel. Findings Most of the tribal women are satisfied with their current health condition. Though they are highly interested in health-related information, they are very unusual in terms of searching for this kind of information. Vaccination information is their most desired information, and allopathic treatment is highly preferred by them. In this regard, they consult with doctors at nearby community clinics or government hospitals for different health issues. However, health information terminologies are often difficult for them to understand. High costs, lack of awareness and distance from health centers are significant barriers for tribal women seeking health-related information. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first known effort in a developing country to study tribal women’s concerns regarding health-related issues.

Supplementary Private Tutoring for Science Students of Higher Secondary (HSC) Level In Bangladesh: Perceived Factors, Causes And Challenges

Students use supplementary private tutoring for their education which is a worldwide phenomenon particularly in science education. The present study aimed to examine how household heads of Bangladesh perceive supplementary private tutoring factors, causes and challenges for science students of higher secondary (HSC) level. In this study, a survey questionnaire was administered with 200 randomly selected household heads of higher secondary science students in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. To supplement the quantitative survey, the study also collected qualitative data from 12 higher secondary science teachers, 12 tutors as well as 20 students in two FGDs. The study shows that the level of income, education level and occupation of household heads may affect in taking the supplementary private tutoring for science students in Mymensingh. The main causes to take the tutoring are obtaining better result, making hard subjects easier, getting admission into better institutes, achieving local and foreign scholarships are mentioned as the causes of providing extra tutoring to their children. Moreover, lack of knowledgeable tutors, increasing initiatives for tutors and increasing expenditures for tutoring are identified as the major challenges. The findings of this study would have implication with policy initiatives and teaching learning practices in the science education development of Bangladesh. Social Science Review, Vol. 38(2), December 2021 Page 23-49

Awareness creation and impact assessment of meat retailers during Covid-19 lockdown in Mymensingh district

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted on meat production and its supply chain, and also meat prices. The research was conducted to evaluate the impact assessment of meat retailers during Covid-19 lockdown in Mymensingh District of Bangladesh. A total number of 50 meat retailers were surveyed from Mymensingh district for collecting necessary data and information. The experiment was conducted to increase awareness among meat retailers from February-April, 2021. An amalgam of descriptive statistics, mathematical and statistical analyses was used to analyze the data. It was observed that all the meat retailers faced problems in terms of selling meat and lowering return during the period of pandemic lockdown. During Covid-19 situation the income of meat retailers became lower compared to other conditions. Statistics showed that the income of meat retailers decreased about 60% during lockdown period. Results showed that average age, education and family size of meat retailers were 38 years, 5.84, and 5.98, respectively. The price of beef before, during and after lockdown was BDT 546, 512 and 550, respectively. The price of chevon before, during and after lockdown was BDT 804.16, 675 and 800.00, respectively. Similarly, the price of broiler meat and sonali chicken meat before, during and after lockdown was BDT 114.34, 106.52, 128.47; 189.47, 198.42, and 233.15, respectively. During Covid-19 situation the income of meat retailers became much lower as compared to any other critical conditions. About 90% meat retailers faced various problems towards buying and selling of animal, lack of consumers and lack of demand for meat. The prices of all kinds of meat such as beef, goat meat, and chicken meat became lessened during pandemic. During pandemic about 92% meat retailers used face mask for keeping them safe from corona virus. Only 10% people tested for corona virus. During lock down period it was seen that about 60% maintained physical distance at the time of selling of meat. During the time of pandemic lockdown 98% meat retailers did not get any financial support from government organizations or NGOs or any other private organizations. They did not also get any kind of help to create awareness from public health Department or from local authority. Despite facing all these problems, about 100% meat retailers liked to continue their meat business.