The
Centre for Development Research, Bangladesh (CDRB) established
in 1982 has been working as a major research institution in
Bangladesh and earned a reputation both at home and abroad.
It is an independent, non-profit organization, consisting
of analysts, professionals, researchers and scholars with
multi-disciplinary background and drawn from various universities,
research organizations and corporate bodies. CDRB is engaged
in deliberation, dissemination and training intended to expand
the area of human knowledge for applied and functional utility
in the development process.
From 1989 Centre for Development Research Bangladesh (CDRB)
has also been working as the representative of the American
Institute of Bangladesh Studies (AIBS), an association of
18 US universities and other institutions of higher learning
to promote scholarly-level exchange and understanding between
the USA and Bangladesh.
One
of the major dimensions of the work and assignments of the
CDRB is to utilize its pool of multi-disciplinary experts
to undertake socio-economic and legal administrative studies
and assignments for governments, corporate organizations and
international bodies. The CDRB has also constituted a panel
on Foreign Policy Research with a dozen of distinguished diplomats,
analysts and researchers.
CDRB has a rich experience in various fields relating to the
process of socio-economic development problems and issues
of management in a development milieu, and social, economic,
ecological and environmental and cultural factors in agricultural,
industrial, commercial and water resources, fisheries and
livestock related development activities, programmes and projects.
The
Centre has been brought into existence by a group of academicians,
scholars and experts with a shared objective of undertaking,
encouraging and promoting independent research on various
issues relating to development with special reference to the
Third World countries in general and Asia in particular with
specific relevance to Bangladesh. Objectivity and independent
thinking as the greatest need for research work constitute
the rationale for the emergence and continued existence of
CDRB. The Centre is intended to fulfil a long-felt need for
such an organisation - for the first time in the non-government
sector in the country for the achievement of realistic blend
of academic knowledge with action- research and practical
experience.
Socio-economic
studies, especially in the fields of Integrated Rural Development;
Intensive Area Development; Poverty Alleviation Youth and
Women's Development; Legal Studies; Public Policy Research;
Development Administration; Studies on Foreign Affairs; Regional
and International cooperation and Development; Management
Studies including operation and maintenance of Flood Control
Drainage and Irrigation Structures; Feasibility Studies, Industrial
and Marketing Surveys; Issues relating to Population and Manpower
Planning and Development; Education and Social Development;
Resource Mobilization and Utilization; Problems connected
with International Finance and External debt; Environment
Protection, Pollution Control and Sustainable Development;
Disaster Preparedness and post-disaster Relief and Rehabilitation.
Impact Studies with specific reference to project performance
and distributive aspects.
CDRB
is an organization, engaged primarily in independent study and
research, committed to contribute to efforts within and outside
Bangladesh for national, regional and international development.
SPECIFIC
OBJECTIVES OF THE CDRB ARE :
to organise, sponsor and promote research in the field
of development by constellating multi- disciplinary
knowledge and expertise;
to
undertake and conduct specific action-research projects
for socio-economic development Involving a harmonious
blend of field-work and desk research;
to
sponsor joint research ventures in regional and international
perspective so that the forces of the development process
can be harnessed to achieve early upliftment of the developing
nations through promotion of cooperative self-reliance;
to
undertake basic research in the field of socio-political
and economic relations among nations;
to
educate and train young researchers and intellectuals
in research methodology, study approaches and survey techniques;
to
work as a forum for scholars, decision-markers, students,
members of professional groups, both national and international,
for de-liberation, dissemination of knowledge and exchange
of information & views on issues related to national
development, regional and international progress and co-operation;
to
function as a seed-bed of knowledge and information through
building up a rich library containing useful books, journal,
monographs and important documents;
to
establish and promote close institutional linkages with
similar organizations throughout the world for mutual
sharing of the benefits of research in the form of exchange
of publications, reciprocal grant of research facilities,
co-operation in and co-sponsorship of joint research projects,
seminars, conferences, exchange of scholars, short-term
mutual visit etc.
CDRB
is a pool of multi-disciplinary experts drawn from different
areas of social sciences, all with a shared perspective of
development. The priority areas of the Centre's research are
:
Socio-economic Studies including Bench-mark Surveys,
Feasibility and Viability Studies, Impact Studies;
Rural
Development with specific reference to Agriculture, Irrigation
and Electrification;
Regional
and Urban Planning, Transport Management and Environmental
Studies;
Resource
Management, Community Forestry, Livestock, Poultry, Fishery
and Energy Studies; Population, Family Planning, Health
Policy, Community Health and Human Resources Development,
Industrial and Manufacturing Survey and Market Research;
Regional
and International Co-operation in Development including
North-South, South-South Interaction and other issues
related to Development of the Third World nations;
Islamic
world as an important Force in International Co-operation
and Development;
Current
Issues of International and Strategic Affairs with specific
reference to their Impact on International Co-operation
and Development;
Progress
and Problems of Regional Co-operation including those
of SAARC
The
CDRB consulates multi-disciplinary scholars representing rich
academic and professional background and experience in areas
ranging from survey, study and research to management and
training type services. The Centre's panel of experts includes
permanent staff and standing arrangements with professionals
in the spheres of Agriculture and Rural Development, Finance
and Management, Industry, Education and Population, Family
Planning and Human Resource Development. Besides, professionals
specialized in other important sectors including Energy, Health,
Urban Development, Human Settlement, Migration, Socio-cultural
aspects of Development, Public Administration and Decentralization
also contribute to the expertise and capability of the CDRB.
(Further details including curriculum vitae of the experts
are available on request.
CDRB
takes special interest in the study of political development
and administrative reforms and modernization in the developing
countries with specific reference to topical issues in related
areas in Bangladesh. Research on these subjects are part of
CDRB' s regular activities as well as project assignments.
The CDRB has a Foreign Policy Research Panel designed to undertake
on regular basis, studies on different aspects of foreign
policy of Bangladesh, regional-politico-economic development
and issues in international relations with specific references
to North-South, South-South and South Asian contexts. Work
of the panel normally takes the shape of workshops/seminars
held at least once every quarter. The members of the panel
include retired diplomats, civil servants and professors of
eminence; senior officials, teachers and researchers and other
professionals; and representatives of the business, commercial
and industrial communities. The panel is headed by the Chairman
of the CDRB.
The
CDRB holds occasional seminars on issues of current topical
interest with specific reference to development and international
affairs. Such seminars are generally open, attended by cross-sections
of scholars, students, members of professional groups, decision-markers,
journalists etc. The CDRB also serve as a forum for talks
and discussion meeting by distinguished guest speakers representing
a wide variety of academic and professional background from
home and abroad.
The
Centre's quarterly journal ASIAN AFFAIRS has been in existence
ever since its establishment. It is a research publication
concerned mainly with the problems of developing societies.
It is also a journal of contemporary ideas, thoughts and happenings
which offer an instant insight into the political, economic
and social problems and issues of Asian countries. It has
already established its credentials in academic circles of
the world as a publication of great value. Its contributors
and advisers are highly reputed scholars socialising in the
problems of development and foreign policies of developing
nations.
The activities of the Centre for Development Research, Bangladesh
(CDRB) are directed and conducted by a Board of Directors
consisting of many distinguished and internationally reputed
analysts, professionals, scholars and academicians.
The CDRB has a team of regular consultants as well as a pool
of on-call consultants drawn from the reservoir of multi-disciplinary
expertise available in the country. Consultants of the latter
category are assigned when specific tasks demand such expertise.
