Research Organizations: Bangladesh(1)
Social research in Bangladesh is conducted by a mix of specialized government institutes, autonomous bodies, and non-government think tanks. These organizations focus on areas ranging from poverty and economics to gender equality and public health.
Below is a categorized list of prominent social research organizations in Bangladesh.
1. Government & Autonomous Organizations
These organizations are either directly under a ministry or operate as autonomous statutory bodies funded by the government.
| Sl | Organization Name | Focus Area | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIDS (Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies) | Macroeconomics, poverty, and development policy. | Ministry of Planning |
| 2 | BARD (Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development) | Rural development and socio-economic empowerment. | Ministry of LGRD |
| 3 | BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics) | National data collection, census, and social indicators. | Statistics & Informatics Division |
| 4 | NIPORT (National Institute of Population Research and Training) | Reproductive health, family planning, and population studies. | Ministry of Health |
| 5 | BIISS (Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies) | Security, foreign policy, and social-political issues. | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| 6 | BANBEIS (Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics) | Educational research and social statistics in education. | Ministry of Education |
| 7 | BMRC (Bangladesh Medical Research Council) | Health-related social research and bioethics. | Ministry of Health |
2. Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) & Think Tanks
These are independent bodies, often registered with the NGO Affairs Bureau or as trusts, known for high-impact social research.
CPD (Centre for Policy Dialogue): One of the most influential think tanks in the country, focusing on economic governance and social equity.
BIGD (BRAC Institute of Governance and Development): Based at BRAC University, it conducts extensive research on social transformation, gender, and governance.
BISR Trust (Bangladesh Institute of Social Research): A dedicated social science research firm focusing on sociology, environment, and marginalized communities.
SANEM (South Asian Network on Economic Modeling): Focuses on trade, poverty, and social protection programs using quantitative modeling.
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK): Primarily a legal aid and human rights organization that conducts rigorous social research on human rights violations.
PPRC (Power and Participation Research Centre): Led by prominent economists, it focuses on urban poverty, education, and social protection.
Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU): Specializes in research regarding migration, labor, and displaced populations (e.g., Rohingya crisis).
3. Academic Research Institutes
Major public and private universities have specialized wings for social research:
Institute of Social Welfare and Research (ISWR): Part of the University of Dhaka, it focuses on social work, crime, and social safety net research.
Centre for Advanced Research in Social Sciences: The Centre for Advanced Research in Social Sciences, University of Dhaka was established in 1974. It is a research centre under the Faculty of Social Sciences mandated to carry out research activities of high standards befitting the academic excellence and achievement of the faculty members. Accordingly, the centre is devoted to extending research facilities to all the Departments under the Faculty of Social sciences; encouraging and fostering inter-departmental research activities; arranging seminars, holding discussion meetings and lectures on various subjects; publishing research papers and books and granting research scholarships.
Bureau of Economic Research (BER): Also at the University of Dhaka, it focuses on the intersection of social issues and economic policy.
IBS (Institute of Bangladesh Studies): Based at Rajshahi University, focusing on the history, culture, and social structure of Bangladesh.
SIPG (South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance): A research hub at North South University focusing on public policy and administrative sociology.
Note: Many of these organizations host annual conferences (like the Annual Conference on Social Research in Bangladesh by BISR) where new findings on the country’s social landscape are shared.
| Research Area | Lead Organizations |
|---|---|
| Poverty & Economy | BIDS, BBS, CPD |
| Gender & Empowerment | BIGD (BRAC), NIPORT |
| Rural Development | BARD, BIDS |
| Governance & Rights | BIGD, TIB (Transparency International), PRIP Trust |
| Health & Society | icddr,b, NIPORT |
