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The purpose of this paper is to explore how local government bodies in Nepal are empowered to play their constitutional roles and engage in activities to deliver public services at the doorsteps of the people effectively. The focus is on the institutionalisation of federalism, its implications for local governance, and capacity development of local authorities.

Ideas of decentralisation, governance and public management have been used to interpret findings based on qualitative research methods by key informant interviews, focus group discussions and personal observations conducted in five selected municipalities in Nepal.

The process of operationalising the power of local government bodies is more conventional and hierarchic. At the same time, the formulation and implementation of inclusive plans and budgeting are confined with certain formalities that do not necessarily allow citizens the space for voices. Federal government grants constrain fiscal jurisdiction and control over resource mobilisation. The mere preparation and administration of local government legislation and relevant by-laws have weakened the capacity of local government bodies.

From interpretation of first-hand data, this paper has identified the pitfalls of the federalisation process, the constraints deter the devolution of power to local bodies as well as the transformation of local governments into autonomous institutions in Nepal.

Money laundering (ML) is a major criminal offence stemming from unethical practices by personnel on the ground at Chattogram Port, an important import and export facility in Bangladesh. Because money can be more easily laundered through imports, it is necessary to investigate the dubious process in this sector. This study aims to identify the items most regularly used for easy ML and the factors contributing to their vulnerability.

This research uses a qualitative approach and analyses information from primary sources. Data is obtained from customs officials, port authority personnel, importers and customs brokers through semi-structured questionnaires. Although there are many techniques for ML, this study only found three most overwhelming: under-invoicing, over-invoicing and misdeclaration. A few case studies have been used based on newspaper reports and the internet to triangulate the qualitative data.

Four import items – food products, garments, capital machinery and chemicals – have a higher risk of ML. This study also revealed that money launderers prefer under-invoicing food and garment items. Misdeclaration is more commonly associated with capital machinery and chemical items. Over-invoicing, on the other hand, is only prevalent in government purchases. The port authorities need to pay particular attention to these issues.

As ML is an ongoing activity that changes over time, the findings of this research are circumscribed by the data collected at a single point in time. Additionally, this research did not consider alternative laundering methods.

The research results can provide a basis for creating effective anti-money laundering (AML) strategies to assist with sustainable economic growth.

Developing effective AML measures can help combat corruption and establish good governance in the country and support human well-being.

This paper presents original research findings based on technical analysis. The Chattogram Port Authority and the National Board of Revenue have accepted and used the main findings in a collaborative action plan to tackle ML. The Bangladesh Bank, the country’s central bank, has also incorporated the necessary guidelines and regulations into the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.

With climate change and environmental degradation being major issues in the world today, it is imperative for governments within a regional setting to collaborate on initiatives, harmonize their policies and develop strategies to counter threats. In South Asia, several attempts have been made to create a common framework for action in implementing synchronized policies. However, both political and technical deterrents have thwarted moves to accommodate priorities and interests of collaborating states. The purpose of this paper is to assess these issues and existing policies/strategies in selected South Asian countries and evaluate integrated plans of action based on collaborative partnerships.

Using a broad exploratory and interpretive approach, this paper evaluates how harmonization of environmental principles and synergies among countries can help reduce the effect of climate change and environmental hazards. Based on a review of ideas and concepts as well as both primary and secondary sources, including official records, legislation, inter-state and regional agreements, evaluation reports, impact studies (social, economic and ecological), and commentaries, it highlights several initiatives and processes geared to creating environmental protection standards and practices for the South Asian region.

Climate change has resulted in devastating impacts on people. It contributed to the proliferation of climate refugees and high incidence of poverty in South Asia. The region faces both political and technical obstacles in developing a sustainable approach to combat climate change. This is exacerbated by non-availability of information as well as reluctance to acknowledge the problem by key actors. The best strategy will be to integrate policies and regulations in the various countries of the region to develop strategic plans. The approach of prevention and protection should replace the existing emphasis on relief and rehabilitation.

The paper provides a critical overview of the climatic and environmental problems encountered in the South Asian region and provides pointers to resolving shared problems through the use of policy instruments for regulating the problems within the gamut of regional environmental governance. It attempts to identify solutions to offset regulatory and institutional barriers in achieving preferred results by emphasizing the need for redesigning regulatory structures and policy approaches for ecological well-being.

This study aims to analyze the complex dynamics of money laundering (ML) in the export sector of developing countries, with a special focus on Bangladesh. It aims to uncover the strategies and tactics money launderers use to exploit export transactions and understand the vulnerabilities that exist in economies where enforcement agencies neglect the export industry.

This study examines Bangladesh’s export sector ML using qualitative methods. Customs officers, central bank officers, port authorities and selected exporters were interviewed semi-structured. Document analysis of Bangladesh Bank orders, media and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate reports was also done. Qualitative data patterns were identified using theme analysis.

The study identifies the most vulnerable export commodities – readymade garments, agricultural items and processed foods – as prime targets for ML. Key methods of laundering include under-invoicing, over-invoicing, misdeclaration and fake documentation. The research highlights the significant risk posed by the improper use of government financial incentives and introduces the “sample shipment” method as a novel laundering tactic. The findings underscore the need for stronger oversight and controls to mitigate these risks.

This research is limited by single-point data because ML is a continual activity. The reliance on case studies from newspaper reports and online platforms introduces a degree of selection bias and the chosen instances may not comprehensively represent the broader landscape of trade-based ML.

The study provides several practical recommendations for policymakers and law enforcement agencies to fortify the export sector against exploitation by money launderers, ensuring greater transparency and accountability in international trade operations.

By closing loopholes in the export sector, the research supports the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 16.4, which aims to reduce illicit financial flows, thereby contributing to poverty eradication and economic stability in developing countries.

Original research results supported by technical analysis are presented in this work. It contributes to the body of knowledge by detailing the adaptive strategies of money launderers and proposing targeted recommendations for enhancing the integrity of the export sector.

Money laundering (ML) has become a global threat in recent years, impacting both developed and poor countries. Developing an efficient anti-money laundering (AML) regime is a difficult and time-consuming process owing to the ever-changing spectrum of methods used, weaknesses in control mechanisms, intricacies of laws and regulations, organizational malfunction and goal displacement. In Bangladesh, surge of illegal money, rising money heists and egregious capital outflows have posed a governance problem. The purpose of this study is to investigate the dimensions of ML and examine the structure and performance of the AML regime.

This study adopts a qualitative method, based on a thorough review of the conceptual and empirical literature on ML, content analysis of a range of publications, a scan of newspaper articles and digital resources and responses/comments of current and retired government employees in Bangladesh. The evaluation is informed by the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force and supported by the mutual evaluation reports of the AGroup on Money Laundering.

Bangladesh, like most of South Asia, is highly vulnerable to ML and is hard-pressed to fully comply with global standards for control. Weak institutions, bureaucratic pathology, lack of transparency and accountability, high levels of corruption, an ambiguous regulatory environment, unregulated financial operations, a disordered banking sector, conflicting interests, criminal exploitation, poor oversight and reporting, flawed risk assessment and weak government performance have affected the performance of the AML system.

This paper looks at the problem of ML from a holistic perspective covering different dimensions such as black money whitening, illegal funds movements, informal money transfer systems, use of offshore refuge for hiding money and so on and the state’s responses to the syndrome. The evaluation will be of particular relevance to policymakers, anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies, the financial intelligence operators and public prosecutors dealing with criminal justice.

The purpose of this paper is to examine two interventions toward women’s empowerment in Bangladesh – formal employment and microfinance, and to highlight two case studies supporting these interventions.

This interpretive-evaluative inquiry of the state of employment and microfinance as important interventions in women’s empowerment in Bangladesh is based on both primary and secondary sources. Theoretical insights and empirical evidence from previous research along with data from various sources inform the arguments.

Bangladeshi women are making steady progress toward empowerment through a gradual increase in female participation in the workforce, especially in the ready-made garment manufacturing sector. The expanding microfinance arena has also been providing a growing number of women the opportunity to undertake productive small-scale business ventures that also provide informal employment to unemployed women in rural areas. However, social and cultural constraints and overt conservatism has been a daunting challenge for enterprising women and those in formal employment continue to suffer from discrimination, harassment and unfavorable working conditions.

The paper will be of value to both researchers and policy makers in Bangladesh as it seeks to relate two specific interventions toward women’s empowerment from a broad conceptual perspective and interpretive analysis.

In line with contemporary trends in the developing world, countries in South Asia are under pressure from both political and civil societies and the international donor community to recast their administrative systems. New tools and practices in public governance have been advanced to remedy structural deficiencies, procedural flaws, managerial incompetence, and weak accountability in the public sector. International organizations emphasize the need to improve the relationship between governance and socio-economic outcome; and accountability, transparency, probity, predictability, and participation are acknowledged as essential ingredients for effectively managing development. This article focuses on two South Asian countries (Pakistan and Bangladesh) and examines the various measures adopted by their governments to reshape governance and public management in recent times.

Corruption is ubiquitous, deeply rooted in Bangladesh’s socio-political fabric. Over the past two decades, the phenomenon has reached to an extent that it is now inescapable and almost impossible to eradicate. Successive governments have tried several measures to combat corruption without much success. This chapter will probe into the nature and extent of corruption in Bangladesh from a wider perspective and consider some of the underlying historical, social, cultural, political, economic, and administrative reasons for the pervasive malfeasance in the public sector. It will evaluate the effectiveness of anti-corruption laws, and the strategies followed by institutions meant to fight corruption.

This paper aims to assess state capacity in Bangladesh and to analyse the reasons for the apparent failure of public agencies in creating the conditions for and in enhancing sound governance in the country. Conflicts between political parties and the government's lack of clear policy goals have led to a political situation, which is fragile and largely dysfunctional.

The paper reviews the main conceptual literature on governance and state capacity and assesses the status of state institutions in Bangladesh – how they fare, the way they operate and their implications for governance.

The paper points to the failure of the state machinery in formulating and implementing sound policies. Successive governments have politicised the administrative system and compounded the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the government. Corruption, nepotism, and clientalism have produced flaws and shortcomings at both political and administrative level. Political instability in government and poor governance has produced a state that is weak and fragmented.

It is mainly focused on one country and is a general overview of key developments, trends and flaws in the functioning of the state.

It is relevant for understanding the general trends and dynamics of state capacity building within a broad framework of governance in a developing country. The findings may be useful for policy makers in reform initiatives.

It provides an assessment of the practical problems of political and administrative management in an unstable political environment.