This study investigates the extent to which Bangladeshi students at Malaysia particularly in the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) experience a cultural gap and its physiological adjustment upon enrolling in the university. The participants in the study were Bangladeshi undergraduate students, pursued their studies at IIUM. The qualitative approach of phenomenology was employed in this study. The study found that Bangladeshi students studying in International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) are experiencing a cultural gap manifested in the themes of homesickness, food problem, financial problem and language problems. Among the methods used by the Bangladeshi students to adjust to the gap include looking at the positive aspects of the local culture and involving co-curricular activities. The uniqueness and significance of this study lies in its content- it is perhaps the first study on the cultural gap and psychological adjustment experienced by Asian Muslim students in an Asian Muslim country.

The study examines the role of civil society in a weak state that is Bangladesh. However, this research has examined the involvement of one of the civil society organization (Non-government organizations - NGOs) in Bangladesh. Larry Diamond and Edward Shils have agreed that the civil society organizations are distinct from other groups in the society at least in four basic characteristics which are: concern with public ends, voluntary and non- profit making, non political and civil and tolerant. Two main NGOs in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) and Proshika Manabik Unnyan Kendra Proshika Human Development Centre] are the focus of the study. The study has found that the NGOs claiming to be part of civil society organizations do not exhibit all the above four indicators such as voluntary, non-profit making, non- political, civility and tolerance. Throughout the history of Bangladesh, the state has shown some reactions whenever the NGOs have gone beyond the traditional civil society concept.