Organizations

These organizations are primarily under the Ministry of Planning and are responsible for the data that drives the "Five-Year Plans" of the country.

• Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS): The premier autonomous public multi-disciplinary research organization. It functions as a think tank for the government, focusing on development economics, agriculture, and social welfare.

• Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS): The official national statistical office. It conducts the census and the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), which is the primary source of data for poverty and social indicators in Bangladesh.

• Social Science Research Council (SSRC): Operating under the Planning Division, it promotes social science research by providing grants to young researchers and institutionalizing research as a part of the national development agenda.

• National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT): Under the Ministry of Health, this body specializes in social research related to reproductive health, nutrition, and population dynamics.

• Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD): Located in Cumilla, it is world-renowned for its "Cumilla Model" of rural development and continues to research rural social structures and cooperatives.

• BIISS (Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies)

  • Status: A statutory government organization under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  • Core Role: It bridges the gap between social science and national security. While it looks at "Strategic Studies," much of its work is actually Social Research focused on non-traditional security issues like migration, climate change, and human rights

Bangladesh has one of the most vibrant NGO sectors in the world, many of which have dedicated research wings that influence global policy.

• BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD): Affiliated with Brac University, it conducts rigorous multi-method research on governance, digital development, and gender justice. It is a leader in using Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) for social research. (Link)

• Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD): A top-tier independent think tank that focuses on macroeconomic analysis and participatory policymaking. They are famous for their "Independent Review of Bangladesh's Development" (IRBD). (Link)

• Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB): Focuses on "Action Research," particularly empowering marginalized and indigenous communities to research and solve their own social problems. (LINK)

• Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh: The Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh (PRI) is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of Aviatorthe Bangladesh economy, its key policy challenges, domestically, and in a rapidly integrating global marketplace. PRI is committed to undertaking and disseminating unbiased policy-oriented economic research among public policymakers, business professionals, and the academic community . (LINK)

• International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b): While primarily medical, its Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) provide some of the world's most detailed longitudinal social and health data.

• Private Rural Initiative Program’ (PRIP) Trust: A pioneer in capacity building and social accountability research, focusing on inclusive governance and human rights. (LINK)

• 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.