University of Chittagong

Economic cooperation plays a vital role in fostering sustainable growth, promoting trade, and enhancing mutual prosperity among nations within a region. This chapter explores economic cooperation within the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), focusing on trade agreements, investments, and regional integration. Established in 1985, SAARC aimed to promote economic integration through initiatives like the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA). Despite efforts to reduce tariffs and boost intra-regional trade, challenges such as geopolitical tensions, infrastructure deficiencies, and regulatory barriers have impeded progress. The chapter highlights opportunities to strengthen regional cooperation by improving trade agreements, developing infrastructure, promoting sustainable economic practices, and embracing digital trade. It also discusses the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) and external trade partnerships. The chapter concludes with policy recommendations to enhance economic integration and foster long-term growth in South Asia.

The increasing use of caesarean sections (CS) in low and middle-income countries has become a major public health concern because of its impact on health and equity. In Bangladesh, the prevalence of CS reached 45% in 2022, well-above the WHO recommendation of 10–15%. Previous research using the Bangladesh Health and Demography Survey (BDHS) for 2017-18 highlighted rising inequality; however, updated evidence is needed to understand recent trends and determinants. The analysis utilized BDHS 2022 data, which covered 3,257 births in the two years preceding the survey. Determinants of CS were investigated using complex sampling and multilevel logistic regression models, while socio-economic inequalities were quantified by the concentration index (CI) and further explained by the Wagstaff-type decomposition analysis. The overall prevalence of CS was 69.3%, with substantial disparities. CS was higher among educated women (77.6%), overweight women (76.9%), 1st or 2nd birth orders (71–74%), those receiving ≥ 4 ANC visits (72.4%), and deliveries in private/NGO facilities (81.5%). Multi-level analysis identified maternal age, BMI, birth order, place of delivery, household wealth, and region as significant predictors. Women in the richest quintile had 87% higher odds of CS (AOR = 1.868, 95% CI: 1.085–3.215), while delivery in private facilities sharply increased the likelihood (AOR = 8.231, 95% CI: 5.930-11.426). The CI was 0.0535, indicating pro-rich inequality, primarily explained by place of delivery (13.7%), maternal education (11.8%), ANC visits (15.0%), and regional variations. The use of CS in Bangladesh remains disproportionately concentrated in affluent and educated women, underlining the uneven access and overuse of CS. Strengthening public obstetrics and regulating private sector practices is essential to promote equity and health equity.

Long chain aliphatic ketones have gained increasing attention due to their structural diversity and broad pharmacological significance. Trewia polycarpa, a medicinal plant widely used in traditional healthcare systems of Bangladesh, remains underexplored as a source of such bioactive constituents. The n hexane extract of T. polycarpa root bark was subjected to silica gel column chromatography, leading to the isolation of a saturated aliphatic ketone. Spectroscopic and spectrometric analyses, including FTIR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, DEPT 135, and LC-MS/MS, in comparison with literature data, enabled the characterization and identification of the compound as hentriacontan 16 one. To investigate its potential biological relevance, molecular docking using PyRx software was performed against selected therapeutic targets, including bacterial hydrolase FphH (PDB ID: 8FTP), penicillin binding protein (6G9S), interleukin 10 (2ILK), cytochrome c peroxidase (1AEM), NF κB inducing kinase (6WPP), and the δ opioid receptor (6PT2). The compound exhibited moderate binding affinities (−5.7 to −4.8 kcal/mol), primarily driven by hydrophobic interactions. These findings represent the first report of hentriacontan 16 one from T. polycarpa and provide a foundation for future experimental bioassays, toxicity evaluations, and mechanistic studies. Subsequent research should emphasize large scale isolation and comprehensive bioassays to further assess its therapeutic potential and possible synergistic effects with other phytochemicals.

Inani National Park (INP) is a protected area supporting a variety of threatened and endangered species. However, anthropogenic pressures, including of Rohingya refugees’ influx into the Cox’s Bazar, have imposed significant stress on its forest ecosystems. This study assessed the composition, structure, and diversity of INP’s forests to provide a scientific foundation for conservation and sustainable management. Stratified random sampling was conducted across four forest strata: Shrub with Scattered Trees, Hill Forest, Forest Plantation, and Others. Across 131 sampling plots (0.1134 ha each), 455 trees representing 66 species and 33 families were recorded. Fabaceae was the most species-rich family, comprising 10 species. Tree density averaged 30.62 trees ha−1, with the Forest Plantation exhibiting the highest density (99.51 trees ha−1) and Hill Forest the lowest (17.63 trees ha−1). Areca catechu dominated with 28.35% relative density 40.49 IVI. Diversity indices indicated a moderately diverse ecosystem with heterogeneous species distribution. The Shannon–Wiener index was highest in the Shrub with Scattered Trees stratum (H = 3.572), while Simpson’s index (D = 0.89) reflected high species diversity and calculated canopy cover, averaging 45.19%. Despite its ecological significance, INP has experienced substantial disturbances, resulting in 2500 ha forest loss. Acacia auriculiformis, Mangifera indica, Areca catechu, Artocarpus heterophyllus, and Cocos nucifera were the key indicator species, with the ten families and genera by species richness comprising 59.09% and 27.27% of all recorded individuals. The presence of invasive Acacia auriculiformis, indicates ecological imbalance and need for restoration interventions. These findings provide critical insights to guide biodiversity conservation and enhance INP’s forest ecosystems resilience.

The traditional finite element method (FEM) has limitations in the meshing and calculation accuracy of complex models, and additional technology is required to handle the hanging nodes. The article uses the user defined element (UEL) of commercial software ABAQUS to implement a three-dimensional scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM). The proposed algorithm can integrate octree mesh and SBFEM on commercial software ABAQUS-UEL and it can recognize complex STL models. The accuracy of the proposed algorithm is verified by several numerical models. The results show that the proposed algorithm can successfully integrate octree and SBFEM without dealing with hanging nodes. It also reduces the number of model elements, ensures the accuracy of the calculation results and improves the calculation efficiency. Combined with ABAQUS, it can be used for mesh generation and seismic dynamic analysis of complex STL models, which has obvious computational advantages compared with the traditional FEM.

The decline of proteostasis is a central hallmark of aging, the earliest manifestations of which have remained difficult to capture in human tissues with conventional model systems. The skin is a continuously renewing and environmentally exposed organ offering a uniquely accessible window into aging biology. Skin organoid technologies allow for long-term culturing of human epidermal and full-thickness skin-like tissues that accurately recapitulate important aspects of cellular heterogeneity, spatial organization, and stem cell dynamics. In this perspective, we discuss how skin organoids are beginning to reveal early proteostasis alterations-encompassing impaired protein folding, reduced proteasomal activity, and autophagy dysfunction-that precede overt structural and functional hallmarks of skin aging, with particular emphasis on underexplored regulators- sebaceous gland and sebocyte-specific proteostasis, autophagy, and inflammaging. We also highlight emerging insights, conceptual challenges, and experimental limitations, and outline future directions for integrating skin organoids with skin-on-a-chip, single-cell proteomics, and stress-reporting approaches to advance proteostasis-targeted interventions in skin aging.