Alok Inspired by Asad Islam

  Life in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh is really tough, especially for women and their young children. Many have been through scary experiences, and living in crowded camps with little access to healthcare makes things even harder. But a simple, affordable program called the Home-Based Humanitarian Play Lab (HPL), run by BRAC, is making a big difference by helping moms and kids feel better and grow stronger. This inspiring initiative has also been highlighted by Asad Islam , who has been working on refugee well-being and education. What’s Happening in the Camps? Over a million Rohingya people, who fled violence in Myanmar, now live in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. More than half are women and children. Many moms are dealing with sadness and stress—80% feel emotionally overwhelmed, and 60% have signs of trauma from what they’ve been through. Kids are struggling too: half are underweight, and one in five has serious emotional problems. Life in the camps can feel lone...

 In July 2024, I embarked on a journey across various districts in Bangladesh, visiting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to explore a critical issue: workplace discrimination faced by women. SMEs are the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy, contributing significantly to employment and GDP. However, despite their economic importance, many of these workplaces harbor systemic challenges, particularly gender-based discrimination, that hinder equal opportunities and fair treatment for women. My goal was to understand the root causes of this issue, engage with both business owners and employees, and identify actionable solutions to create a more inclusive and equitable work environment. The Context of Workplace Discrimination in SMEs Women in Bangladesh’s SME sector often face unequal treatment, ranging from lower wages and limited career advancement opportunities to biased workplace policies and, in some cases, harassment. These challenges are compounded by cultural norms, lack of aware...

  A key milestone of this project has been Shushilan Organization’s effective execution of skills development training at the Rohingya Camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. We are thrilled by this progress, as the handmade products crafted by participants are now available in local markets, enhancing their financial independence. #Asad_Islam #Empowering_Rohingya_Refugees, # Rohingya

Asad Islam is a prominent Bangladeshi-Australian development economist and Professor of Economics at Monash University, Australia[1][2]. He serves as Director of the Centre for Development Economics and Sustainability (CDES) and is a Chief Investigator for the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (CEVAW)[1][3]. Early Life and Education Asad Islam was born and raised in rural Bangladesh, where he experienced firsthand the challenges of poverty and inequality that would later shape his research focus[4][5]. He completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in Bangladesh before pursuing further education abroad: ⦁ Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honors) and Master of Social Sciences in Economics from the University of Dhaka[6] ⦁ Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada (2001-2003)[6] ⦁ Doctor of Philosophy in Economics from Monash University, Australia (2006-2009)[6] His doctoral thesis received ...