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Bangladesh Development Initiative (BDI)
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Welcome to Bangladesh Development Initiative (BDI)

Bangladesh Development Initiative (BDI) is a non-profit organization based in the United States. Its members include scholars and professionals committed to supporting development initiatives in Bangladesh aimed at improving the quality of life for all its citizens.

BDI engages in and facilitates scholarly exchange between Bangladesh and overseas scholars through educational programs, an academic peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Bangladesh Studies), and a book publication program.  BDI also regularly organizes conferences to promote new and relevant research on Bangladesh and provide a forum for debating policy alternatives pertaining to Bangladesh.

Forthcoming BDI Events

  • BDI webinar featuring Professor Adnan Z. Morshed, speaking on “Good Density as Social Justice” on Saturday, March 28, 2026, 11 am USA (Central), via Zoom: link
  • BDI webinar featuring Professor Syed Saad Andaleeb, speaking on “Research Universities and Academic Renaissance in the Global South: Lessons from Bangladesh” on Saturday, April 25, 2026, 11 am USA (Central), via Zoom: link
  • BDI members’ meeting on Saturday, May 2, 2026, 1:00 pm USA (Central), via Zoom: link

What's New

BDI webinar with Dr. Ahsan and Dr. Mahmood

Saturday, January 17, 2026
Zoom recording for the BDI webinar on January 17, 2026, featuring Dr. Ahmad Ahsan and Dr. Syed Akhtar Mahmood, speaking on “The Economy of Bangladesh in 2026: Thoughts, Perspectives and Recommendations for the Next Government”, moderated by Prof. Farida Khan and Prof. Munir Quddus.
Zoom recording

BDI Statement on Recent Political Developments in Bangladesh

December 25, 2025

BDI webinar with Dr. Nadine Shaanta Murshid

Saturday, November 22, 2025
Zoom recording for the BDI webinar on November 22nd, 2025, featuring Dr. Nadine Shaanta Murshid, Associate Professor at the School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, speaking on “Intimacies of Violence: Reading Transnational Middle-Class Women in Bangladeshi America”, with comments by Dr. Elora Halim Chowdhury, Professor, Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Director, Human Rights Minor, University of Massachusetts Boston, moderated by Prof. Munir Quddus.
Zoom recording

BDI webinar with Prof. Rehman Sobhan

Saturday, November 1, 2025
Zoom recording for the BDI webinar on November 1st, 2025, featuring Chairman, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Prof. Rehman Sobhan speaking on “Advocacy for a Just Society: An End of Term Balance Sheet” with comments by Prof. David C. Engerman, Leitner International Interdisciplinary Professor, Department of History, and Jackson School of Global Affairs, Yale University, moderated by Prof. Munir Quddus.
Zoom recording

BDI webinar with Dr. Syed Akhtar Mahmood

Saturday, September 20, 2025
Zoom recording for the BDI webinar on Sept. 20th, 2025, featuring economist and author Dr. Syed Akhtar Mahmood speaking on “The Interaction of Three Worlds: Analyzing Bangladesh’s Growth Performance” with comments by Dr. KAS Murshid, Former Director General, BIDS, moderated by Prof. Munir Quddus.
Zoom recording

Proceedings of BDI International Conference

November 8-10, 2024, University of California, Berkeley, USA

BDI Statement in Support for the Student-Led Pro-Democracy Movement

(August 16, 2024)

BDI International Conference

November 8-10, 2024, University of California, Berkeley, USA

Bangladesh Development Initiative (BDI) Statement on War in Gaza

(November 22, 2023)

50 Years of Bangladesh: Advances in Health

(Sept 16, 2023)

Prof Samir Kumar Saha honoured with 2023 BDI Lifetime Achievement Award

(Sept 05, 2023)

BDI Awards the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Samir K. Saha

(August 25, 2023)

December 16 BDI virtual seminar

(December 17th, 2022)

The development of Bangladesh: Our debt to Sir Fazle Hasan Abed

(December 19th, 2022)
Three years since his passing, Scott MacMillan’s biography sheds light on the genius and contributions of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed.

Inauguration of the Padma Bridge

(June 25, 2022)
Bangladesh Development Initiative joins Bangladeshis, and friends of Bangladesh, across the world in congratulating Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government on the successful completion and opening of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge.…

"What is Bangladesh Studies" Panel Discussion

February 23rd, 2022
Since its inception, the Journal of Bangladesh Studies (JBS) has focused on content related to development and policy. However, after twenty years, in 2020, those on the editorial board find…

BDI Statement Condemning Attacks on Hindu Temples in Bangladesh

October 17th, 2021
BDI strongly condemns the attacks on Hindu temples and the desecration and destruction of sacred idols throughout Bangladesh.

BDI Press Release on Honoring Dr. Hameeda Hossain

July 12th, 2021
Dr. Hameeda Hossain, the recipient of the Bangladesh Development Initiative’s 2021 Lifetime  Achievement Award, was honored in a virtual ceremony on June 26, 2021. The event attracted more than a hundred participants, including a distinguished panel…

Congratulatory Tributes to Dr. Hameeda Hossain

July 8th, 2021
Selected Congratulatory Tributes to Dr. Hameeda Hossain on Receiving the BDI Lifetime Achievement Award 2021