BIDS launches book on Bangladesh’s development journey

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) has launched a book on Bangladesh's journey towards development since its independence in 1971.

The two-volume book, 'Readings in Bangladesh Development' contains a selection of research carried out over the period of 1972 to 2020 on many critical aspects of development.

The book outlines a development journey that informs, inspires, and hopefully will encourages further explorations in contemporary economic history, according to the BIDS.

KAS Murshid, Minhaj Mahmud and Kazi Iqbal edited the book that was launched on March 10, commemorating the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The volume-1 begins with the post-liberation period and extends up to the year 2000 consisting of a total of 25 articles contributed by the first generation of scholars of the BIDS.

"The selected papers focus on food, agriculture, rural development, manufacturing industry, population studies, migration, and domestic and external resource management," according to the BIDS statement.

The volume-2 continues with the year 2000 and ends in 2020.

"The topics covered are highly relevant to Bangladesh's development transformation," said the autonomous public research organisation.

"Bangladesh's performance over the years was steady and sustained, regularly notching up an additional percentage point to the GDP growth rate in each successive decade since the 1980s."

BIDS said selected papers focus on the micro evidence related to the drivers of Bangladesh's development, including manufacturing performance, investments in infrastructure and ICT, NGOs and microcredit, women empowerment and social outcomes.

They also highlighted the importance of good governance as well as issues such as political instability, urbanisation and climate change related risks for the country.

These commemorative volumes were conceived as a dedication to the memory of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"These volumes are an apt tribute to our national hero who has inspired the struggle for an independent Bangladesh through his sacrifice, vision, and courage."

"Bangabandhu dreamt of a free, equitable and prosperous Bangladesh, and even during the brief period that he was in power before being assassinated on August 15 in 1975, he was able to put in place the basic structure of governance and broad policy directions that would admirably serve the country on its development journey."

"In dedicating these volumes to the memory of Bangabandhu, we not only recognise his wisdom and leadership but also acknowledge that the history of the last 50 years in every field, would have been different, had he not been present," said BIDS.

At the event, Centre for Policy Dialogue Chairman Prof Rehman Sobhan was the chief guest while Economic Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Mashiur Rahman and International Relation Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Gowher Rizvi were guests of honour.

Secretary of Planning Division Mohammad Jainul Bari, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation Chairman Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, BIDS Research Director Binayak Sen also spoke.