NEWhub

This qualitative study explores operational challenges and improvement opportunities within Bangladesh’s community pharmacy sector—a vital yet under-researched component of healthcare delivery in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Using semi-structured interviews with 10 purposively selected participants (five pharmacists and five customers), data were thematically analyzed. Five key themes emerged: manual and error-prone inventory management; inconsistent medicine availability; unreliable supply chains with counterfeit risks; low digital adoption; and weak regulatory enforcement. Participants suggested solutions including affordable digital tools, diversified supplier networks, transparent pricing, and stronger oversight. The findings underscore the urgent need for integrated policy and operational reforms rooted in stakeholder experiences to enhance pharmacy services, healthcare access, medicine safety, and public trust in Bangladesh’s health system.

This qualitative case study explores the work processes and challenges faced by designers in Bangladesh regarding the adoption of human-centered design (HCD) methodologies. Interviews with 50 participants from various industries revealed that while Bangladeshi designers possess strong visual design skills, they often lack an understanding of HCD methodologies and face challenges such as time management, payment issues, and limited access to resources. The study underscores the need for a collaborative environment among clients, designers, and management, as well as enhanced education and resources to support HCD adoption. These insights highlight critical areas for improving design education, communication, and collaboration in Bangladesh.

This study examines the key factors shaping consumer trust in Bangladesh’s e-commerce sector using a mixed-methods approach, incorporating qualitative interviews with 14 key stakeholders and quantitative survey data from 100 online shoppers. The findings identify crucial drivers of trust, including product authenticity, payment security, post-purchase support, and logistical reliability. Trust is eroded by issues such as fake reviews, misleading product descriptions, and poor customer service, while secure payment options and transparent return policies are essential for rebuilding consumer confidence. Gaps in digital security and regulatory oversight further hinder trust development. The study offers practical recommendations for improving security measures, customer service, and transparent business practices in e-commerce platforms. It also highlights the unique challenges and opportunities for fostering trust in developing markets, particularly within Bangladesh’s growing digital economy.

This study investigates the mechanisms of neighborhood relations and the challenges affecting neighborhood connectivity in urban communities. It examines factors contributing to declining neighborhood connections, such as lack of sincerity, absence of belonging, busy lifestyles, design issues, and the pervasive impact of mobile phones. The role of architects and urban planners in promoting connectivity through policies and design strategies is analyzed, alongside government initiatives like town meetings and community engagement. Emphasizing the importance of community leaders, neighborhood clubs, regular gatherings, and accessible spaces, the study also explores the potential of social media and technology in fostering community connections. Finally, it highlights the significance of architectural practices, such as diverse housing options, well-designed public spaces, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and sustainable design, in creating vibrant and connected neighborhoods.

This mixed-methods study examines the impact of social media use on body image and mental health among Bangladeshi youth, focusing on gender and age differences. Platforms like Instagram and Snapchat significantly contribute to body dissatisfaction, particularly among females aged 15-18. The findings reveal a strong correlation between increased social media use, heightened self-comparison, reduced self-esteem, and mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression. Peer pressure, social comparison, and negative online interactions further intensify these effects. To address these issues, the study advocates for media literacy programs to help youth critically engage with social media, body positivity campaigns to challenge unrealistic beauty standards, and family engagement to foster supportive environments. These interventions aim to promote critical social media engagement and resilience in youth, ultimately improving their mental well-being in Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh’s evolving educational sector, gender-responsive facilities remain notably deficient, especially in suburban schools. This qualitative study investigates the multi-layered challenges faced by adolescent girls due to inadequate gender-sensitive sanitation amenities in suburban educational institutions of Bangladesh. Participants include female students, educators, parents, and representatives from NGOs, thereby offering a comprehensive stakeholder perspective. The research illuminates the intersecting influences of sociocultural norms and infrastructural shortcomings on the education and well-being of adolescent girls. Key findings highlight not only the lack of proper sanitation facilities but also the existing cultural stigmas and gaps in menstrual health awareness, which collectively impact academic performance and psychological health. The study calls for an integrated approach, involving both community education and infrastructural improvement, to create a transformative educational environment that promotes gender equity.

The rise of large language model (LLM) chatbots, such as ChatGPT and Gemini, is transforming academic writing support in resource-constrained higher education systems like Bangladesh’s. This qualitative study explores how 12 Bangladeshi university students experienced and evaluated the usability and ethical implications of these tools during a structured academic writing task. Using moderated one-on-one sessions, think-aloud protocols, and Bangla-language interviews, the analysis identified ChatGPT’s intuitive interface, mobile accessibility, and time efficiency as key strengths. However, participants faced challenges with prompt formulation, repetitive outputs, and Gemini’s less intuitive, search-oriented design. While both tools aided ideation and drafting, concerns emerged about fabricated citations, over-reliance, and diminished critical thinking, raising academic integrity issues. These findings highlight the need for context-sensitive AI literacy, clear institutional policies, and user-centered, transparent HCI design. The study offers a comparative perspective from a Global South context, characterized by limited digital resources and evolving AI adoption, contributing actionable insights for policy, pedagogy, and design.