2009-2010 - BIDS

Research Activities
The research activities of BIDS are planned
keeping in view its mandate of promoting
research based policies in Bangladesh. The
priority agenda is to carry out research on policy
relevant issues that meet both short and strategic
longer term issues facing Bangladesh. The key
consideration is the policy content of research so
that the research outputs can be of direct relevance
to the policymakers and program implementers,
both at macro and micro levels.
In order to reduce the dependence on donor
funded research and enhance BIDS capacity to
undertake policy oriented research in accordance
with the priorities of the government and the
policymakers, the government has provided BIDS
with Tk. 200 million in the fiscal year 2009/10 to set
up a ‘Research Endowment Fund’ (REF). The income
from the REF is used exclusively to undertake
policy research that caters directly to the needs
of the government and the policymakers. The
BIDS has adopted guidelines for ensuring proper
use of the REF. The Institute seeks other national
and international institutions to come forward to
contribute to the REF in order to strengthen the
core institutional research of BIDS for fulfilling its
mandate.
During the period under review, the research
portfolio of BIDS can be classified under six broad
thematic areas:
Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty
and Inclusive Growth
Recent Performance of the Bangladesh
Economy: An Assessment of the State of the
Economy and Short-Term Outlook 2009-10
The report was presented in a seminar jointly
organized by the BIDS and the Federation of
Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry
(FBCCI) on 23 February 2010. The mid-term
review of the economy was organized around
seven priority areas: (i) revitalizing the economy:
expansion of fiscal space; (ii) accelerating economic
growth: priority to agriculture; (iii) promoting
social development and strengthening social
safety nets; (iv) developing power and energy;
(v) maintaining macroeconomic stability; (vi)
assessing economic well being; and (vii) looking
ahead: challenges and critical policy responses.
The review identified five critical challenges for
the policymakers that include raising the level of
investment, accelerating economic growth and
promoting food security, managing inflation and
lowering inflation expectations, reducing regional
variation in economic performance, and improving
governance across the board. The review was
prepared by a BIDS Team led by Mustafa K.
Mujeri and consisted of M. Asaduzzaman, Quazi
Shahabuddin, Zaid Bakht, K.M. Nabiul Islam,
Nazneen Ahmed, Mohammad Yunus, S.M. Zulfiqar
Ali, Anwara Begum, Narayan Chandra Nath,
Monzur Hossain, Md. Harunur Rashid Bhuyan,
A.T.M. Saifullah Mehedi, Md. Mansur Ahmed, and
Md. Zabid Iqbal.
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BIDS Biennial Report 2009-2010