CPD to track electoral pledges

The Board of Trustees of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has advised its professionals to focus on monitoring the implementation of electoral pledges made by political parties ahead of the last national elections.

The board took the decision at its 52nd meeting at the think-tank's office on Tuesday. CPD Chairman Prof Rehman Sobhan presided over the meeting, according to a statement.

The board expressed satisfaction over the CPD's research activities during the July-December period of 2018 on issues such as structural change in readymade garments, youth unemployment, banking sector and minimum wage.

The trustees were also informed about a number of important events the CPD was planning to organise in 2019.

The events include a national consultation on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The think-tank will also be focusing on the theme of localising the SDGs, the statement said. The CPD has been advised to pursue research on power and energy, technological innovation and women empowerment.

The CPD, as the secretariat of international think-tank networks, will be playing a lead role in bringing out the first report on “State of SDGs in Global South”. The board approved the CPD's plan for research, dialogue, publication and outreach-related activities for 2019 and the audit report for the fiscal year 2018 and the revised budget for the fiscal year 2019.

Trustees M Syeduzzaman, former finance minister; Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founding chairperson of Brac; Professor Emeritus Dr Anisuzzaman of the University of Dhaka; Syed Manzur Elahi, chairman of Apex Group; Khushi Kabir, coordinator of Nijera Kori; human rights activist Sultana Kamal; Rasheda K Choudhury, executive director of the Campaign for Popular Education; Syed Manzoorul Islam, a former professor of the English department at the University of Dhaka; Parveen Mahmud , managing director of Grameen Telecom Trust; Debapriya Bhattacharya and Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellows of the CPD; and Fahmida Khatun, executive director of the think-tank, attended the meeting.