Understanding the complex dynamics of a household’s livelihood and potential vulnerabilities in the face of climate change is challenging. This research paper considers the Shyamnagar sub-district in the southern part of Bangladesh to analyze the complex issues of the vulnerability of livelihoods in the face of climate change. We conducted a questionnaire survey (n = 156) of approximately 15.6% of households in the study area. Consequently, we collected Geographical Information System (GIS) data and satellite imagery to demonstrate the land-use changes concerning vulnerabilities. A total of 54 indicators were selected to assess the livelihood vulnerability index, considering the demographic profiles, livelihood strategies, social networks, food security, water security, income, physical infrastructures, access to health services, and impacts of natural disasters. The results of the study demonstrate that only 21% of the people in the studied regions are less vulnerable to livelihood impacts in the face of climate change, while 23% of the households remain the most vulnerable. Moreover, inadequate social networks and inefficient livelihood strategies are contributing the most to the household vulnerability indices. Interestingly, the impacts of natural disasters remain the same for the whole study area and endure similarly when assessing household vulnerability. Finally, the study reveals that decision-makers may formulate effective adaptation policies to safeguard people and their livelihoods in the time of unprecedented climatic conditions in this unique area of Bangladesh.

The information regarding travel behavior of the citizen and understanding why they are making any particular choice in their trip making is gaining vital importance in shaping the traffic management system in any city efficient and competent. Travel behavior pattern of the citizens could have both negative and positive influences on the sustainability issue of any transport system. This paper focuses on the steps of the transport demand model with two types of information- demographic information and travel data. Information regarding trip generation, the pattern of trip variation with housing types, modal choices for various purposes along with changes in income variation of citizens in Khulna City were explored using statistical tools and` techniques, and trip distribution modeling was done to find out the factors affecting the trip making behavior. The findings showed that there is present a salubrious relationship between the income level of the people and their mode preferences. However, the total number of trips has influenced mostly by the income of the households where housing condition has a negative impact on the trips produced. Vehicle ownership and family size do not have that much effect on the number of trips generated. So, the consideration of both positive and negative influential variables on the travel pattern can help to outline a sustainable future transportation plan of Khulna City.

Similar to the rest of the world, women empowerment in rural Bangladesh is growing as one of the most critical issues need answering very soon. Several attempts have been undertaken by different government organizations, local government institutions, and non-government organizations in recent years to empower the women in various facets- social, economic and political for the least. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the women empowerment status in a rural area in Khulna district, Bangladesh. Physical surveys were conducted among the households in the Chakrakhali village under Jalma Union in Batiaghata Upazilla of Khulna district. The samples were randomly drawn from the families in the area irrespective of economic, social or religious characteristics. All the respondents were adult women- either the household head of women lead household or the housewife of the family. The social, economic, and political empowerment status of the women in the village was evaluated through the study. The findings from the survey indicate the women are empowered mostly in the economic realm, followed by social empowerment. The political empowerment of the women of that village found to be absent in most cases. The survey results also indicated that the household heads hinder the political and social empowerment status of the women in a male-lead household. In these types of families, despite the monetary or other supports form the institutions is delivered to the women, they are not the own making the decisions. It is found that a lot of the choices of the women are influenced by the household head, mainly to borrow money from micro-credit organizations. The understanding between government organizations and women are not in good shape as women are not interested in the functions of these organizations in most of the cases. Mainly the non-government organizations (i.e., CSS, BUREAU Bangladesh, ASA, PROSHIKA, BRAC, Grameen Bank, etc.) work for the villagers, and women are more concerned about the activities of these institutions. However, it was found from the study that women are not being benefitted and mainstreamed through empowerment activities by these institutions.