Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies
Encyclopedia
The Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) is an autonomous public multi-disciplinary public research organization that conducts policy research on development issues for Bangladesh
. Supported by the Government of Bangladesh, BIDS functions as a think tank
, helping formulate socio-economic policies. The institute conducts research and promotes study and education in development economics, rural development, demographics and social sciences.
(PIDE) and established in June 1957. From the very beginning, PIDE was served by a significant number of Bengali scholars and a distinguished body of foreign scholars. Through its performance, PIDE attracted bright young economists and social scientists who began their career at the Institute.
The PIDE was moved to Dhaka in January 1971.
After the emergence of independent Bangladesh in 1971, the Institute was called the Bangladesh Institute of Development Economics (BIDE). Later on, a Parliamentary Charter was awarded in 1974 and the Institute was renamed as the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) to reflect its multidisciplinary focus of development research. It was incorporated as an autonomous body, governed by a high powered Board of Trustees under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Since 1974, through a process of national level institutional restructuring, two other institutions––the Population Study Centre and the National Foundation for Research on Human Resources Development–– were merged with BIDS in 1982 and 1983 respectively.
With its multidisciplinary focus on development, evolving development paradigm, and changing economic and social realities of the country, the research focus of BIDS covers a wide range of issues including macroeconomic fundamentals, agriculture and rural development, poverty and inequality, trade, food security, microcredit, industry and small and medium enterprises, labor market, health, nutrition, education, rural nonfarm activities, environment and climate change, water resources management, energy, gender and empowerment, migration, urbanization and other areas of dynamics of development in Bangladesh and developing countries in general. Emerging priority issues include macroeconomic management, environment and climate change impacts, infrastructure including energy and power, and impact of globalization.
Initially, funding for BIDS was made through regular government budgetary support. In 1983, the Government created an endowment fund to ensure a source of recurring revenue for running the Institute, thereby reducing its dependence on regular budgetary support, and enabling BIDS to enjoy more functional autonomy. In 2009, the Government provided a Research Endowment Fund of Tk. 200 million to support core institutional research of BIDS. Some donor agencies and foundations also provide resources for its activities.
The computerization process at the library began in 1991. Since 1995, data on new books, documents, journal articles, and BIDS publications have been fully computerized. At present, about 65,000 records are available in the in-house databases. The library offers services from these in-house databases.
About 12 CD-ROM databases are available in the library such as Econ-Lit, Popline, World Development Sources, World Development Indicators, Global Development Finance, Program-Procurement in World Bank Financed Projects, Information USA, Journal of Economic Literature, World Development Report, and World Bank Africa Database. In addition to the World Bank and United Nations, the library has been designated as the depository of publications of the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank. Besides other normal library services, users can avail full Internet Services in the Library.
The Bangladesh Development Studies (BDS) is the quarterly journal of the Institute. This is published in English. It enjoys international reputation and is currently in its 35th years of publication. The BDS carries research articles, notes, and book reviews by BIDS researchers as well as by national and international scholars.
The Bangladesh Unnayan Samikkhya (BUS) is published annually in Bangla. It contains articles, notes, and book reviews. It is widely read by students and researchers as well as by people of different walks of life interested in development issues.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. Supported by the Government of Bangladesh, BIDS functions as a think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
, helping formulate socio-economic policies. The institute conducts research and promotes study and education in development economics, rural development, demographics and social sciences.
History
The Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) had its origin in Pakistan, named as the Pakistan Institute of Development EconomicsPakistan Institute of Development Economics
Pakistan Institute of Development Economics was established at Karachi in 1957 and in 1964 accorded the status of an autonomous research organization by the Government of Pakistan. It is devoted to theoretical and empirical research in Development Economics in general and on Pakistan-related...
(PIDE) and established in June 1957. From the very beginning, PIDE was served by a significant number of Bengali scholars and a distinguished body of foreign scholars. Through its performance, PIDE attracted bright young economists and social scientists who began their career at the Institute.
The PIDE was moved to Dhaka in January 1971.
After the emergence of independent Bangladesh in 1971, the Institute was called the Bangladesh Institute of Development Economics (BIDE). Later on, a Parliamentary Charter was awarded in 1974 and the Institute was renamed as the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) to reflect its multidisciplinary focus of development research. It was incorporated as an autonomous body, governed by a high powered Board of Trustees under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Since 1974, through a process of national level institutional restructuring, two other institutions––the Population Study Centre and the National Foundation for Research on Human Resources Development–– were merged with BIDS in 1982 and 1983 respectively.
With its multidisciplinary focus on development, evolving development paradigm, and changing economic and social realities of the country, the research focus of BIDS covers a wide range of issues including macroeconomic fundamentals, agriculture and rural development, poverty and inequality, trade, food security, microcredit, industry and small and medium enterprises, labor market, health, nutrition, education, rural nonfarm activities, environment and climate change, water resources management, energy, gender and empowerment, migration, urbanization and other areas of dynamics of development in Bangladesh and developing countries in general. Emerging priority issues include macroeconomic management, environment and climate change impacts, infrastructure including energy and power, and impact of globalization.
Initially, funding for BIDS was made through regular government budgetary support. In 1983, the Government created an endowment fund to ensure a source of recurring revenue for running the Institute, thereby reducing its dependence on regular budgetary support, and enabling BIDS to enjoy more functional autonomy. In 2009, the Government provided a Research Endowment Fund of Tk. 200 million to support core institutional research of BIDS. Some donor agencies and foundations also provide resources for its activities.
Agriculture and Rural Development Division (ARDD)
The Agriculture and Rural Development Division (ARDD) deals with issues related to agriculture, natural resources management, and rural development. Agriculture is defined broadly to include crops, livestock, forestry, and fisheries subsectors. Much of the environmental and climate change research also falls under the purview of this Division. Recent research of ARDD includes work on poverty monitoring, evaluation of microcredit, employment and labor market issues, agricultural land issues and the role of tenancy market, environment and climate change related issues, and rural energy situation in Bangladesh.General Economics Division (GED)
The research in the General Economics Division (GED) is concerned with macroeconomic management, globalization and trade, monetary and fiscal policy regimes, and related development issues. Recent major research includes preparation of the Bangladesh Human Development Report, and studies on sustainable livelihoods, domestic resource cost of agricultural production, construction of input-output table for the Bangladesh economy, affordability to finance poverty reduction programs, trade cooperation in South Asia, and chronic poverty.Human Resources Development Division (HRDD)
The mandate of the Human Resources Development Division (HRDD) is to carry out research on issues related to human resources including education, health, nutrition, poverty, and gender and empowerment issues. Recent major research includes the role of social capital and people’s consultative process in development, decentralization and governance, educational efficiency and equity, and dynamics of socio-economic processes such as migration and urbanization.Industry and Physical Infrastructure Division (IPID)
All research related to manufacturing activities including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), micro enterprises, rural industries, and infrastructure are carried out in the Industry and Physical Infrastructure Division (IPID). Recent research includes regional trade regimes and industrialization, industrial and technological competitiveness, rehabilitation of sick industries, issues related to labor productivity and post-MFA fall outs, decent work in the industrial sector, and globalization.Population Studies Division (PSD)
The Population Studies Division (PSD) has competent demographers and other researchers. The research conducted by the Division goes beyond quantitative aspects of population dynamics and focuses on empowerment and reproductive behavior, health service provision and consumption, health seeking behavior, elderly health and vulnerability, poverty and health inter-linkages, domestic violence, citizenship and rights, dowry, and adolescent reproductive health.Library
The BIDS Library, the largest social sciences library in Bangladesh, has a collection of over 140,000 books, documents, journals and microfiches. It provides a wide range of services to the user community, including current awareness, reproduction, inter-library lending and reading facilities. Annually, about 10,000 users avail the library facilities. The library attracts students, teachers, researchers, and other users from different regions of the country. The library produces an information dissemination bulletin for Bangla books. It also participates in information networks to facilitate resource-sharing, and maintains inter-library loan relationships with selected libraries in Dhaka city.The computerization process at the library began in 1991. Since 1995, data on new books, documents, journal articles, and BIDS publications have been fully computerized. At present, about 65,000 records are available in the in-house databases. The library offers services from these in-house databases.
About 12 CD-ROM databases are available in the library such as Econ-Lit, Popline, World Development Sources, World Development Indicators, Global Development Finance, Program-Procurement in World Bank Financed Projects, Information USA, Journal of Economic Literature, World Development Report, and World Bank Africa Database. In addition to the World Bank and United Nations, the library has been designated as the depository of publications of the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank. Besides other normal library services, users can avail full Internet Services in the Library.
Publications
The Publication Section publishes books, journals, policy briefs, monographs, and other reports for promoting a wide dissemination of BIDS research activities and findings. The Section, with equipment to meet the Institute's publishing requirements, also provides sales services to its local and foreign customers and promotes BIDS publication through complimentary and exchange programs. The BIDS publications have wide circulation amongst researchers, policymakers and the general readers.The Bangladesh Development Studies (BDS) is the quarterly journal of the Institute. This is published in English. It enjoys international reputation and is currently in its 35th years of publication. The BDS carries research articles, notes, and book reviews by BIDS researchers as well as by national and international scholars.
The Bangladesh Unnayan Samikkhya (BUS) is published annually in Bangla. It contains articles, notes, and book reviews. It is widely read by students and researchers as well as by people of different walks of life interested in development issues.