International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science

Among the various online services provided by the government, e-tax system is one of the commonly used e-government platforms, which offers significant benefits to government and citizens by reducing costs, eliminate human errors, and reduce the turnaround time for processing income tax returns. Despite these plausible benefits, some reservations have been articulated regarding the continuance usage intention of e-tax system. Thus, we investigate the most critical factors of e-tax continuance usage in this paper. We developed an integrated theoretical model based on the technology continuance theory (TCT) extended with social influence and perceived risk. The proposed conceptual model was empirically validated with data collected from a sample of 345 e-tax service users in Bangladesh. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the collected data. The study findings suggest that user satisfaction, perceived usefulness, and attitude have a direct impact on continuance usage intention where confirmation, ease of use and social influence have indirect influence on continuance usage intention of e-tax system. This paper discusses some contributions to theory and practice based on our findings

The main objective of this study is to assess the impact of non-performing loans on bank lending behavior before and amid the COVID-19 pandemic. To do this research we have chosen fifteen private commercial banks in Bangladesh and data were taken from the year 2012 to the year 2021. Credit growth as a component of bank lending behavior was selected as the dependent variable and independent variables are non-performing loans to total loans, provision for loan losses to total loans, gross domestic product (GDP) rate, inflation rate, unemployment rate, total loans to total customer deposit, total equity to total asset, tier 1 ratio, growth of customer deposits, the dummy variables are used for incorporating the effect of covid-19. The paper suggests that NPL to total loan, provision for loan losses to total loan, total equity to total asset, and dummy variables (effect of covid-19 on NPL) are found statistically significant and inversely related to credit growth. Another three variables namely total loan to total deposit, deposit growth, and inflation variables are statistically significant and positively related to credit growth. All of the significant variables are consistent with general economic theory except the case for total equity to the total asset. To reduce non-performing loans, the banks may concentrate on improving corporate governance, maintaining strong loan review, thoroughly reviewing the KYC form, must ensure safety principles before approving a loan, collecting information from the CIB, accepting adequate collateral, examining the five C’s, name lending and connected party lending should be strictly prohibited which are quite related with behavioral and judgmental issues, would be a matter of further research.

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between profitability measured with ROE along with EPS and several industry-specific factors such as underwriting risk, reinsurance dependence, solvency margin, leverage, liquidity risk, premium growth, size of the company, tangibility of assets as well as macroeconomic factors such as GDP growth, inflation, and stock market development of the general insurance companies of Bangladesh based on the sample of 7 insurance companies for the period of 2010-2019. For the analyses, several econometric models have been adopted to estimate the coefficients such as Pooled OLS, Cross-sectional GLS, Fixed-effect, Random-effect, and One-step GMM approaches. Moreover, diagnostic tests have also been conducted to examine the validity of the models such as model specification tests, heteroskedasticity tests, multicollinearity tests, autocorrelation tests, and unit-root tests. According to the computed coefficients, none of the macroeconomic variables utilized in the model affects profitability, except inflation, which positively affects ROE. Underwriting risk and size are found to negatively affect ROE but positively affect EPS. Of the two measures of profitability, only the EPS is affected by premium growth. Except for Fixed-effect, reinsurance dependence has a large positive influence on EPS and ROE. In contrast, liquidity and leverage have a positive impact on ROE. The tangibility of assets negatively affects both EPS and ROE where EPS is significant and ROE is insignificant only under fixed effect. Aside from premium growth, underwriting risk and solvency margin have a positive impact on EPS. Finally, using the GMM technique, we find that no lag variables are significant, indicating no profitability persistence. However, the model fits the data well for predicting EPS and ROE as profitability measures explaining 89.38 percent of EPS variation and 80.38 percent of ROE variation using Pooled OLS.

Investment seeking Bangladesh's economy is hungry for local and international finance for its infrastructure development. One Belt-One Road (OBOR) seems opened a golden door, not only for Bangladesh's economic reform but also created an opportunity for higher bilateral cooperation between China and Bangladesh. The geographical location of Bangladesh is playing a vital role despite being a small economy and territory in the region. Covering three sides of the Bangladeshi border, economically emerging state India has a sharp eye look on Bangladesh's strategies and policies more than any other time. The hostile looks of India (on China's OBOR initiative) are not an easy task for Bangladesh regarding Geopolitical & Economic strategies. Growing interests in Bangladesh among China and India appeared as a two-edged sword. However, India was the major trading partner of Bangladesh. However, China's trade with Bangladesh has increased manifold in recent years to surpass India from 2004 onwards. This is slowing down, and the change of economic relations between India and Bangladesh, coupled with strained and uncertain political relations, raises multiple concerns. Many dynamics have contributed to China's growing presence in Bangladesh compared to India's decline concerning trade and investment. India has lost out to China in many vital industries. While reviewing and assessing recent developments, the study also depicts a strategy to counter India's declining economic influence in Bangladesh.

This study investigates the relationship between banks' corporate governance practice and its impact on financial sustainability. In this study, twenty-four private commercial banks' data have been analyzed from 2014 to 2023. Our investigations included a variety of econometric models, including cross-sectional GLS, fixed effect, random effect, and pooled OLS. In our study, we found that including women on the Board of directors plays a positive role in ensuring the financial sustainability of banking sectors in Bangladesh. Apart from that, increasing the participation of independent directors on the board of directors, expenditures in research and development in the best banking practices, and inflation positively increase banks' profitability, which translates into financial sustainability. This finding is consistent with the findings of the random effect model. On the other hand, whenever we used ROE as an explained variable, we found that both in pooled OLS  and random effect methods, board diversity, CEO tenure, firms audited by the big four firms, and inflation have a positive association with ROE. In the fixed effect method, we observed that audit committee size and ownership concentration play a vital role in explaining the financial sustainability of private commercial banks in Bangladesh. In the FGLS method, We found that CEO tenure, age of the firm, firms audited by the big four firms, presence of the independent director on the board, and inflations significantly impact the financial sustainability of commercial banks of Bangladesh.

This study examines the effects of Mobile Financial Services (MFS) on the growth and composition of bank deposits in Bangladesh over the period 2015-2024 based on bank-level panel data for 26 commercial banks. Using Fixed Effects (FE), Random Effects (RE), and Generalized Least Squares (GLS) estimation and controlling for COVID-19 dummy, the study finds that MFS transaction volume has a negative and statistically significant effect on deposit growth. This indicates that rising mobile financial activity slows the pace at which banks accumulate deposits. However, MFS positively and significantly affects both current and savings deposit levels, consistent with the financial inclusion channel through which mobile platforms channel funds into the formal banking system. The effect on total deposits and fixed deposits is statistically insignificant, indicating no direct substitution at the aggregate or long-term deposit level. Bank size and loan-to-deposit ratio are the most consistent determinants across all models. Non-performing loans negatively affect depositor confidence. The COVID-19 pandemic dampened deposit growth and total deposit accumulation but exerted limited influence on current and savings deposit levels. These findings suggest that MFS and traditional banking are complementary rather than substitutive, and that well-designed policy interventions can harness MFS-driven financial inclusion to strengthen rather than undermine the deposit base of commercial banks in Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, women’s participation in small businesses is rapidly increasing. Although the lack of capital appears to be a significant barrier, banks play an important role in assisting women in obtaining small business loans. This study examines whether foreign banks operating in Bangladesh facilitate access to financing for women entrepreneurs. Using primary data collected from 100 women-owned small businesses in Dhaka, this study employs probit regression models to estimate the likelihood of obtaining small business loans from foreign banks. The results indicate that the accessibility of credit by women entrepreneurs is much less when they apply to foreign banks. The estimated marginal effects convey that the likelihood of securing financing on application to a foreign bank is expected to be lower by about 52 percentage points than domestic banks. The findings also reveal the significance of firm performance, managerial traits, and bank-firm relationships in determining access to credit. Overall, the findings suggest that foreign banks contribute only marginally to small business financing for women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, implying the need for more targeted policy interventions.

This study investigates the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance in the Bangladeshi insurance sector, focusing on variables like board independence, female directors, audit committee size, leverage, and firm age. Using a sample of 42 insurance firms from 2017 to 2021, regression analysis is employed to assess these relationships. The findings show that board independence positively impacts performance, while audit committee size, leverage, and firm age have negative effects. Female directors exhibit a marginal but weak positive influence. This research contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence from a developing economy, where limited studies exist. It also offers insights into governance practices in emerging markets. The implications suggest that policymakers and corporate leaders in Bangladesh should prioritize enhancing board independence, managing leverage, and promoting gender diversity to improve performance. Future research could explore causal relationships and extend the analysis to other sectors or emerging markets, considering cultural and regulatory factors.

This study investigates the relationship between banks' corporate governance practice and its impact on financial sustainability. In this study, twenty-four private commercial banks' data have been analyzed from 2014 to 2023. Our investigations included a variety of econometric models, including cross-sectional GLS, fixed effect, random effect, and pooled OLS. In our study, we found that including women on the Board of directors plays a positive role in ensuring the financial sustainability of banking sectors in Bangladesh. Apart from that, increasing the participation of independent directors on the board of directors, expenditures in research and development in the best banking practices, and inflation positively increase banks' profitability, which translates into financial sustainability. This finding is consistent with the findings of the random effect model. On the other hand, whenever we used ROE as an explained variable, we found that both in pooled OLS  and random effect methods, board diversity, CEO tenure, firms audited by the big four firms, and inflation have a positive association with ROE. In the fixed effect method, we observed that audit committee size and ownership concentration play a vital role in explaining the financial sustainability of private commercial banks in Bangladesh. In the FGLS method, We found that CEO tenure, age of the firm, firms audited by the big four firms, presence of the independent director on the board, and inflations significantly impact the financial sustainability of commercial banks of Bangladesh.

This paper examines the financial behaviors of university students in Bangladesh, including gender and academic level. The study, involving a sample size of 416 students, was done at the University of Dhaka using a standardized questionnaire to collect data on financial behaviors, including monthly expenditures, saving habits, and financial decision-making techniques. One-way ANOVA and independent samples t-tests indicated significant gender disparities; male students showed greater spending habits, whilst female students displayed a stronger propensity for savings. Academic levels influenced spending behaviors; first-year students had distinct financial patterns compared to seniors, however, savings habits were rather consistent across groups. The findings emphasize the necessity of encouraging structured saving strategies and financial awareness among university students. Identifying substantial demographic and behavioral insights in this study aids legislators and financial institutions in improving customized financial planning strategies for students. The research highlights the potential for future studies to incorporate private colleges and investigate the impact of socioeconomic issues and digital payment systems on student financial conduct that may mold Bangladesh's orderly and economical student demographic.