With the increasingly salient role of business in development, the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) approach is sparking great interest in multinational corporations, donor agencies, and academic circles. The BOP proposition holds that profit-generating enterprise-based ventures – typically led by multinational corporations – can reduce poverty and improve the standard of living by offering goods and services to the poor or integrating them in the value chain. BOP as a development strategy is predicated on the “inclusion” of the poor into market to enable them to reap the benefits of greater wealth and prosperity. This thesis critically investigates to what extent BOP interventions contribute to the social inclusion of marginalized groups in developing countries like Bangladesh. The thesis analyzes the case of public access information and communication technologies (ICTs) venues such as telecentres. Such venues provide access to ICTs such as Internet that enable people to access, use and share information and knowledge at an unprecedented level, offering great potential for socio-economic development. Overall, the thesis reveals the limitations in the BOP approach in contributing to inclusion, by showing the contradictions between the economic logic of business and the social imperative of inclusion. Through focusing on a broader view of inclusion, the findings highlight the complex relationship between digital inclusion and social inclusion in developing countries. In particular, the thesis problematizes the notion of “inclusive business”, which, by aiming to integrate the poor as consumers and women as entrepreneurs, serves the purpose of extending the reach of business. Thus inclusive business is rather different from a view of inclusion towards meaningfully contributing to one’s social and economic advancement. The thesis also argues that the various dimensions of inclusion are highly contingent on the business strategies and motivations of corporations as well as meso-level organizational formations. The analysis of corporate strategies uncovers how revenue making considerations are driving BOP interventions at the cost of accountability towards their stakeholders. By interrogating some of the issues silent in the discussions on business and development, such as inequality and exclusion, the work provides a counter narrative to the BOP discourse, raising questions about the uncritical repositioning of business as a development agent.

India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, today the three independent states, were once part of one of the colonies of Great Britain. This thesis briefly describes the former colonial taxation and then concentrates on the tax systems in these developing countries. Then the tax systems are compared. It is assessed how systems are doing in the current conditions of globalization and whether the features of its tax systems confirm typical features for developing countries.

This diploma thesis focuses on microfinance, it's basic characteristics and general principles of it's function. It introduces microfinance approaches, development of microfinance, microfinancial services and microfinance providers. Two largest microfinance institutions in Bangladesh, Grameen bank a BRAC, illustrate how microfinance works, helps to empower the poor and reduces their poverty in one of the poorest countries in the world.

Aim: This study aims to investigate the factors that influence consumers' brand preferences for instant foods focusing on the graduate-level students of Sweden and Bangladesh. Methodology: The research applied a qualitative approach. Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with ten graduate-level students from Sweden and Bangladesh. The collected primary data were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis by comparing with the literature reviewed within distinct themes. Findings and Conclusion: The main findings of the study are (1) culture, and religious values have a significant influence on Bangladeshi consumers compared to consumers in Sweden; (2) Quality plays a predominant role in determining instant food brands in both countries as it can have a direct effect on the health; (3) Eye-catchy packaging creates fascination among consumers' about a brand in both countries; (4) Price is considered as a critical factor due to limited purchasing power of Bangladeshi consumers'; whereas in Sweden, consumers' are ready to compromise with the price if they could get a superior quality. Theoretical implications: This study has developed a theoretical model that shows the effect of culture, marketing communication, brand elements, price of the brand, brand image and brand availability on consumers' brand preferences in Bangladesh and Sweden. The findings divulge the quality and packaging of a brand could play a tremendously important role in consumers' brand preferences apart from other factors. Managerial implications: The study could help managers to be accustomed to cultural values through standardization and adaptation. The research could add insights for the managers while setting the price of a brand as it has considered as a critical factor. Appropriate quality assurance is sufficiently necessary, which was reflected by the current study and will help managers while determining quality. Limitations: Only two countries were included in the study, which is considered as a limitation and challenging to apply in other countries due to cultural differences. The focused group was graduate-level students who are also a shortcoming, and it could therefore not be generalized to have implications for consumers of other age group and occupation. Suggestions for future research: A quantitative study with a more significant number of respondents in more than two countries is suggested for future research. Future research can also be carried out by consumers buying preference on other food items. Keywords: Brand preference, Instant foods, Cultural influence, Sweden, Bangladesh.

My study analyzes the role of the state and multinational corporations in the promotion of workers’ rights in Bangladesh through a case of the Ready-Made Garment(RMG) industry. My study examines the responsibility of Multinational Corporations(MNCs) and the motivation behind it. It also examines the principles of Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) and the way they work on practice in the aftermath of the Rana Plaza factory collapse. Additionally, it reveals the roots to the state’s failure to sufficiently comply with its obligations towards the protection of human rights through the lens of globalization and neoliberalism. My study concludes that as multinational corporations have much more resources at their disposal, the state of Bangladesh should not be held entirely accountable for the human rights violations, but the promotion of human rights should be performed in a mutual manner.

Aim and method: This study aims to investigate the consumer behavior of the cosmetics customers and the consumer perception about the available local and foreign branded cosmetics products in Bangladesh. To achieve the purpose of the study, an effective mixture of qualitative and quantitative method has been utilized by conducting interviews and online survey with local businesspersons and consumers of cosmetics in Bangladesh respectively.   Result and conclusion: Consumer perception regarding cosmetics products in Bangladesh is influenced by seven factors identified in this study. They are country of origin, psychological attributes of the consumers, place where product is sold, external attributes, quality, consumers’ own characteristics and finally increased disposable income of the consumers. We identified all but one of these factors from the existing literature and our analysis showed that findings of the existing literature support our study. One new factor found in the course of this study is that the increasing number of middle to affluent consumers in Bangladesh is another crucial factor that motivates consumer perception towards cosmetics in the context of Bangladesh.   Contribution: The study contributes to literature coherent with consumer behavior and consumer perception regarding the customers of cosmetics products in Bangladesh. As the literature has remained unexplored in context of Bangladesh, this paper would be an insight for local and foreign branded cosmetics regarding how the consumers see the market and the factors that influence their purchase, preference and loyalty decisions. Furthermore, through the findings of the study, recommendations can be prescribed for the local cosmetics manufacturers to strengthen their market share in the future.

Bangladesh RMG (Ready-made garments) industry has grown rapidly and contributing to country’s economy successfully for last three decades. In 2018-2019 this giant sector contributed 84% of the total foreign exchange earnings of the country. This is the unique sector of the country in terms of significant export growth rate and stands as the second-largest RMG exporter with 6.8% market share according to world trade organization 2019. Though the growth rate is increasing annually but it seems the growth of the industry yet to reach highest potentials. Aim: Aim of this study is to understand the factors influencing the sustainable development of Bangladesh ready-made garments industry.   Method: The study has been conducted applying the qualitative method. Primary data is collected through interviewing suppliers of the ready-made garments of Bangladesh. Secondary data sources were governmental and private organization’s websites. The data were analyzed by comparing it with existing literature.  Results: The result shows factors such as Compliance, Political unrest, Technology, Research & Development, Diversifications, Competition, Marketing strategy influencing sustainable development of the ready-made garments industry of Bangladesh.  Contributions of the study: This study investigates the factors hindering sustainable development of the Bangladesh read-made garments sector which has been discussed in previous literature in a segregated way. In this study factors that cause unstable export growth and hinder sustainable development have been addressed in the same frame. Furthermore, stakeholders of the company (Customer, Suppliers, Buyers, Investors, and Government) will be benefited to know the results of this study, as sustainable development is the result of unified efforts.  Suggestions for further research: Future researchers can investigate the factors elaborately both from suppliers and buyers’ point of view. Because of limitations, author could not reach more suppliers and buyers. The buyer’s prospect is also important to judge the factors influencing growth instability and sustainable development.

The energy demand is increasing very rapidly all over the world. Solar energy is one renewable solution to cover the energy demand. Solar power is a universal green energy source, and we receive from the sun more than ten thousand times energy than it has needed on the earth. This report investigates the electricity generation by using solar PV panels for the given village as well as the transmission systems. The main priority of this report is to calculate the demand electricity of the village, plant design also considering the power losses. Three different scenarios to transmit the generated power to the consumers end were considered and studied. The three different cases and cases are, • Grid connection. • Micro-grid power supply system with full battery storage. • Micro-grid power supply system with partial battery storage. All three system were analyzed based on the technical specifications, power losses during transmission. The all calculation was completed by the help of different software, such as PVGIS, MS excel, different empirical formulas and previous research papers. To complete the calculation this, report also consider a few assumptions. After completing all analysis and calculations, the research outcome was showing that the microgrid power supply system with whole battery backup storage will be the better solution both technically and economically. Photovoltaic (PV) solar cell-based microgrid systems can be one of the most feasible solutions to provide electricity in rural areas. Therefore, this system can play a vital role in Bangladesh to provide electricity in rural areas. In Bangladesh, there are several positive aspects to promote the use of photovoltaics (PV), such as many solar irradiations, low technology and labour cost, and a few subsidies from the government.

Energy is considered as the foremost significant factor towards socio-economic growth. Due to the rapid growth of industrialization in Bangladesh, the need of energy is increasing day by day. Considering the environmental issues, sustainable solutions are needed to address the energy crisis. Energy generation from waste through biogas can be a good solution that can address both the energy demand as well as the waste management issue.    The overall aim of this master thesis is to analyze Hazaribagh’s biogas potential from municipal waste and agricultural residues and estimate how much electricity that can be generated from the produced biogas. The feasible sources of Hazaribagh were considered in order to get the information that would be later on analyzed to estimate possible biogas production. The potential sources include wastes from two markets, six slaughterhouses, domestic wastes, three large-scale tanneries and two small scale tanneries, one poultry farm and three crop lands. The calculations made in this thesis to roughly estimate the amount of biogas and electricity from the described sources are done in a simple way, just to illustrate the potential. The result shows that the tannery waste has the highest potential followed by slaughterhouse waste. Furthermore, the calculations show that the tannery waste contributes most for electricity generation also followed by slaughterhouse waste. In order to implement biogas solutions, several actors should be involved like government, future owners, local people etc. Different tools like legislation, financial support etc. are also important for implementing the biogas solutions.   In summary, there is a good potentiality of biogas production and electricity generation from municipal wastes and agricultural residues of Hazaribagh. Biogas solutions from waste and agricultural residues can be beneficial from both the energy and the waste management perspective.

and Key words This thesis deals with the contemporary topic of international migration to Europe, namely the phenomenon of migration from Bangladesh to Europe. While the media and academic literature have paid attention to the migration of residents of the Middle East and Africa to Europe, the issue of migration from Bangladesh to Europe has not been frequent and well- elucidated. Thus, this thesis aspires to solve the following research questions: 1) What are the major reasons and factors inducing migration from Bangladesh in the present day; 2) What are the main points of supply of information having an influence on the decision making of migrants; 3) What are the major trends of migration between the source regions and the final destination. As primary methodical procedures, I selected in-depth and semi-structured interviews with fifteen experts, who were interviewed in Bangladesh between January and February 2018. The following conclusions have been drawn from these interviews: 1) There is no single specific motivation for the emigration from Bangladesh as it proves to be a combination of several factors which elicit migration, whether economical, socio-political, or environmental; 2) The migrants obtain information predominantly from their relatives, friends or brokers, the so-called dalals,...