Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS)

Current Industrial Development Policies in Asia - Lessons for Bangladesh

𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐: 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟖 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Panel Discussion: Democracy and Development

Distinguished Panelists
Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD)
Ahsan H. Mansur, Governor, Bangladesh Bank
Sultan Hafeez Rahman, Professorial Fellow, BRAC University
KAS Murshid, Former Director General, BIDS
Monzur Hossain, Member (Secretary), General Economics Division, Bangladesh Planning Commission

Moderator
Prof. A. K. Enamul Haque, PhD, Director General, BIDS

𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐: 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟖 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Academic Session 6 of ABCD 2025 on Efficiency in Health Care Sector

Paper 1: Technical efficiency of Bangladesh's subdistrict level hospitals- Using output-oriented data environment analysis and frontier analysis (Zahid Hassan, icddr,b and University of Leeds, UK)

The author argued that high staff vacancies reduce resource utilisation in subdistrict level hospitals that affects efficiency in healthcare.

Paper 2: Urban health systems- Can public ends and private means be a feasible solution? (Zahidul Quayyum and Baby Naznin, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University)

They stated that addressing healthcare challenges through isolated sector-specific solutions is not feasible. An integrated approach leveraging private sector capacity within the public system is essential to improve accessibility, quality, and efficiency of services.

Paper 3: At the extremes- Access to public goods for the affluent and poor in small area in urban Dhaka (Zahidul Quayyum, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University)

The study urged identifying the poor people across regions of the country for implementing urgent poverty reduction and health intervention strategies and policies for alleviating poverty in Dhaka City as well.

The session is chaired by Professor Atonu Rabbani, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka.

𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐: 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟖 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Academic Session 5 of ABCD 2025 on Development Challenges in Bangladesh: Food Systems, Environmental Health, and Social Protection

Paper 1: Wholesalers and the transformation of the hidden middle of the aquaculture value chain in Bangladesh (Ben Belton, Research Fellow, IFPRI)

The study estimated substantial employment generation for men and youth in aquaculture, but women remain excluded.

Paper 2: Impacts of mechanized harvesting on farm performance and rural labor in Bangladesh (Moogdho Mahzab, Research Fellow, IFPRI)

Elimination of the 26% import tariffs on key types of agricultural machinery was recommended.

Paper 3: Reversion, sustainability, or convergence: Assessing the long run impacts of social assistance on consumption and poverty in Bangladesh (Mehrab Bakhtiar, Research Fellow, IFPRI)

The study recommended increasing benefit levels in key social protection programs to provide meaningful support to poor households.

The session is chaired by Geof Wood, Professor Emeritus, Department of Social and Policy Sciences, University of Bath, UK.

𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐: 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟖 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Academic Session 4 of ABCD 2025 on Labor Market, Agriculture and Energy

Paper 1: One size does not fit all: Urban heterogeneity and labor market inequalities in Bangladesh (Badrun Nessa Ahmed, Senior Research Fellow, BIDS)
The study shows that Bangladesh’s urban labor markets are far from uniform; metropolitan cities offer a strong wage premium of about 22%, while smaller urban centers provide only modest gains. These differences stem from stronger agglomeration effects like better job matching, knowledge spillovers, and sectoral diversity in large cities. The findings call for differentiated urban policies that strengthen secondary cities and address rising spatial inequality.

Paper 2: Graduates’ employability in Bangladesh: Academic performance or prior work experience? Evidence from the graduates of National University (Tahreen Tahrima Chowdhury, Research Fellow, BIDS)
NU graduates face high unemployment despite rising educational attainment, and employers prioritize practical work experience and institutional reputation over CGPA when hiring. Academic performance matters mainly for interview calls, not job placement. The findings highlight the need for colleges to strengthen skill-building, industry partnerships, and quality standards to improve graduate employability.

Paper 3: Women’s working conditions and economic empowerment: A case of agro-based industries in Bangladesh (Kashfi Rayan, Research Associate, BIDS)
Agro-based industries provide an important entry point for rural women into paid work, yet poor working conditions, limited skills, and weak institutional protections undermine genuine empowerment. High levels of workplace and commuting harassment, low awareness of rights, and minimal participation in governance structures reveal deep structural vulnerabilities. The study stresses that employment must be paired with stronger labour rights, safety mechanisms, and skill-building pathways to translate work into real agency.

Paper 4: The irresistible shift from agriculture to “Agri-Venture”: Technology, habitus, and the looming threat of ecocide (Mohammad Golam Nabi Mazumder, Senior Research Fellow, BIDS)
The study shows that rapid mechanization and intensified input use have transformed Bangladeshi agriculture from a cultural livelihood into an extractive “agri-venture.” While technology boosts productivity, farmers face new vulnerabilities-from poor machinery access to hazardous work conditions and women-unfriendly designs. The study argues for reimagining agriculture as a vocation and adopting agro-ecological models to avert long-term ecological damage.

The session is chaired by S. M. Zulfiqar Ali, Research Director, BIDS.

𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏: 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟕 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Academic Session 3 of ABCD 2025 on Industry, Climate Resilience and Wellbeing of the Workers

Paper 1: Global value chains and climate change governance: Garment producers’ futures
As global brands tighten climate and sustainability requirements, Bangladeshi garment producers confront layered pressures to upgrade environmentally and socially. Yet producers struggle with the added costs and limited financing needed for clean energy and technology adoption. The study argues that stronger government support is essential for ensuring the industry’s climate-resilient future.

Paper 2: Wage earnings of manufacturing workers in Bangladesh: Do Trade Unions matter?
The study shows that unions significantly boost wages across manufacturing, although the effect disappears within RMG due to stronger compliance and institutional wage norms. Nonetheless, union advocacy contributes to higher sector-wide pay and supports more equitable wage-setting. Strengthening union formation rules could further enhance wage fairness and reduce labor unrest.

Paper 3: Technological changes at the process and sub-process level in RMG industry in Bangladesh
The study documents two decades of technological upgrading in Bangladesh’s RMG sector, marked first by modernization and later by automation and sustainability-focused innovations. Productivity grew by roughly 4.4% annually at the task level, with some product lines seeing even faster gains. Evidence of technology convergence between large and medium firms highlights the need for policies supporting technology transfer and local capacity building.

The session is chaired by Mohammad Yunus, Research Director, BIDS.

𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏: 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟕 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Academic Session 2 of ABCD 2025 on Health and Aging: Measurement and Impacts
Paper 1: Burden of Diabetes and Hypertension in Bangladesh: Evidence from
National Surveys (Abdur Razzaque Sarker, Senior Research Fellow, BIDS)
People from urban areas and those in the richest wealth quintile had higher prevalence rates of both hypertension and diabetes. Geographically, diabetes was most prevalent in Dinajpur, while hypertension rates were notably
higher in Sylhet.

Paper 2: Psychosocial challenges of thalassemia-affected families urge for an
effective national thalassemia prevention strategy: A special focus on the mental health of the mothers of thalassemic children (Farhin Islam, Research Associate, BIDS)
Most mothers of thalassemia children experience stress, anxiety or depression. Mothers whose child needs blood transfusions less frequently tend to have lower depression and anxiety. Also, mothers who spend more per month on treatment have much higher depression, anxiety, and stress.

Paper 3: Towards Old-Age Security: Willingness to Participate in Bangladesh’s
Universal Pension Scheme (Jinnat Ara, Research Fellow, BIDS)
Only 4% to 22% of respondents are aware of the scheme, depending on the scheme type. Higher-income individuals exhibit mixed willingness to participate but consistently prefer higher monthly instalments and longer contribution periods.

The session is chaired by M. Asaduzzaman, Former Research Director, BIDS.

𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏: 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟕 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Academic Session 1 of ABCD 2025 on Environment and Climate Change: Resilience and Adaptation

𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝟏: Living with Floods: Livelihood Vulnerability and Adaptation in Wetlands of Bangladesh (Mohammad Yunus, Research Director, BIDS)

Haor households possess stronger agricultural assets, but this advantage is outweighed by deficits in education, non-farm opportunities, and housing resilience.

𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝟐: How Do Farm and Non-farm Occupational Experiences Influence
Responses to Climate Events? Evidence from Full, Partial, and Mixed Migrant Households in Bangladesh (Azreen Karim, Senior Research Fellow, BIDS)

While migration is primarily driven by sudden-onset events across all displacement categories, slow-onset events are strongly associated with heightened vulnerability among non-agricultural casual day labourers.

𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝟑: Adoption Gaps and Implications for Scaling Climate-Resilient Rice: Panel Evidence from Climate-Prone Areas of Bangladesh (Taznoore Samina Khanam, Research Fellow, BIDS)

Adoption of climate stress-tolerant rice varieties was driven by factors such as land size, number of plots, extension. Prior exposure to climate stress increased the adoption.

𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝟒: Attaining Energy Sustainability by 2030: Where does Bangladesh stand? (Muntasir Murshed, Research Fellow, BIDS)

From the onset of the government's decision to limit natural gas connections to households, demand for LPG grew exceptionally. The LPG market in Bangladesh expanded by more than 25-fold between 2009 and 2025. LPG pe*******on rates appear to be relatively higher for female-headed, urban, non-farm-based, and foreign remittance-receiving households.

The session is chaired by M. A. Sattar Mandal, Professorial Fellow, BIDS.