Publications (BRAC Institute of Governance and Development)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10361/115

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A re-examination of the relationship between plot size and productivity: the case of Bangladesh
(The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2025-01) Das, Narayan; Nisat, Rafia; Rahman, Atiya
Recent evidence shows that the inverse relationship between plot size and productivity is driven by an edge effect or by the over-reporting of production by farmers on smaller plots. This paper re-examines the relationship between plot size and productivity in the context of Bangladesh. The research further examines whether the effect of plot size is different across rice and non-rice crops.
Exploring the digital financial service in Bangladesh: unraveling the dynamics of trust, fear, and privacy
(American Anthropological Association, 2025) Hossain, Faruq; Islam, M. Rezaul; Zaman, Shahaduz
Understanding the local dynamics of trust, fear, and privacy is crucial to comprehending the onboarding process in digital financial services, considering the collective nature of Bangladeshi culture, where privacy for sharing private information is a major concern. This paper aims to understand the dynamics of trust, fear, and privacy in the onboarding process for digital financial services (DFS) that have been playing a crucial role in bringing unbanked and underbanked populations into the formal financial ecosystem.
Disability-inclusive graduation programme intervention on social participation among ultra-poor people with disability in North Uganda: a cluster randomized trial
(BMC Medicine, 2025-07) Chen, Shanquan; Banks, Lena Morgon; Carew, Mark T.; Kipchumba, Elijah; Davey, Calum; Sulaiman, Munshi; Kuper, Hannah
People with disabilities encounter significant barriers to social participation due to inaccessible environments and negative attitudes. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of a comprehensive disability-inclusive graduation (DIG) programme in enhancing social participation among ultra-poor people with disabilities in rural Uganda.
A new approach to children’s work that prioritises resilience, well-being and agency: emerging findings from a ‘Cash Plus’ intervention in Bangladesh
(BMJ Paediatrics Open, 2025-01) Howard, Neil; Roelen, Keetie; Ton, Giel; Hermoza, Mauricio Espinoza; Mamun, Saklain Al; Chowdhury, Kabita; Aktar, Taslima; Huq, Lopita
Criticism of mainstream approaches to child labour is widespread and well-established. The Child Labour Action Research in South and Southeast Asia (CLARISSA) Cash Plus pilot sought to address these critiques through an innovative programme that prioritised the development of household resilience and well-being, and through increasing household capacity to make alternative choices around children’s work.
Awareness of the government-introduced universal pension schemes among the adult population in Bangladesh: a nationwide cross-sectional survey
(Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 2025-05) Rima, Sharmin; Faysal, Md. Mahir; Mamun, Abdullah Al; Sonia, Khadija Akter; Monia, Hossna Tasmia; Nuva, Anika Tahseen; Rabbi, Ahbab Mohammad Fazle; Mamun, Abdullah-Al; Hossain, Mohammad Bellal
The Universal Pension Scheme (UPS) was launched in Bangladesh in August 2023 to enhance economic security for the aging population. Despite extensive government promotion, the participation rate remains low, underscoring the critical role of public awareness. Following the worldwide pattern, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) introduced its first contribution-based Universal Pension Scheme (UPS) on 17 August 2023, aiming to address the economic security concerns of the country’s rising older population. The study aimed to investigate awareness of the UPS and its correlates among the Bangladeshi population.
Skills training, corruption and organisational capabilities: an analysis of Bangladesh’s garment industry
(Journal of Development Studies, 2025-07) Khan, Mushtaq; Kabir, Sumaiya; Van Huellen, Sophie
Skills training programmes are critical for job creation and structural transformation in developing countries. However, they often achieve poor results because of corruption. What is worse, outcome-based reward schemes create incentives for providers to fraudulently overstate trainee placements, hiding the source of the problem. The research informing this journal article tests the hypothesis that providers supplying lower-capability firms and very high-capability firms are compelled to engage in higher levels of fraud. Based on these insights gained from the qualitative study, the paper suggests that the interrelationship between firm capabilities and the productivity gains achieved through skills training is at the heart of the problem that drives both the low success rates of skills programmes as well as fraud and corruption by skills providers.
The effects of job training on labour market outcomes: evidence from Bangladesh
(Journal of Development Studies, 2025-06) Adiba, Afsana; Ahmed, Shakil; Das, Narayan; Islam, Md. Karimul; Mozumder, Tanvir Ahmed; Siddiquee, Muhammad Shahadat Hossain
Youth unemployment has been a decisive policy concern for both developing and developed economies, and many labour market interventions (for example, job training) have been put in place to bring unemployed youth into productive activities. This study, supported by BRAC Skills Development Programme, conducts a randomised controlled trial of a job training programme that provides on-the-job and classroom training to disadvantaged youth living in urban areas of Bangladesh.
The cost of discipline? exploring the impact of corporal punishment on children’s foundational learning skills in Bangladesh
(International Journal of Educational Development, 2025-09) Islam, Md Johirul; Hossain, Marjan; Haque, Sheikh Touhidul
In Bangladesh and other South Asian contexts, corporal punishment remains both widespread and socially accepted, often viewed by parents and teachers as a legitimate and effective means of disciplining children. Existing data indicate a high incidence of such practices, with 89% of mothers or primary caretakers reporting that they have subjected their children to some form of physical or psychological aggression at home. These practices are especially troubling in the context of Bangladesh’s acute learning crisis, where nearly half of all ten-year-old children fail to attain minimum proficiency by the end of primary school. This paper investigates the impact of corporal punishment at home on children’s foundational learning skills in Bangladesh. Using data from the 2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), the study employs a two-stage least squares (2SLS) instrumental variable approach to isolate the causal effects of corporal punishment, leveraging the implementation period of Bangladesh’s 2011 Child Law act as an instrument.
The impact of microcredit on household welfare: evidence from Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic
(Journal of Development Studies, 2025-06) Arman, Mohammad Raied; Das, Narayan; Mahmood, Sakib; Rahman, Semab; Rahman, Khandker Wahedur
The onslaught of COVID-19 and the subsequent economic fallout have exacerbated global inequality, with the poor bearing a disproportionate brunt of the pandemic. This paper investigates whether access to credit—in the form of microloans—helped cushion the shock induced by COVID-19 and improved the welfare of poor households. Using survey data on microloan borrowers in Bangladesh, the analysis examines how access to microfinance affected clients during the COVID-19 crisis. A difference-in-differences (DID) methodology is employed to compare borrowers who received loans after the outbreak of the pandemic with those who did not. The results suggest that receiving microloans leads to increased business earnings, improved food security, and higher food expenditure. These effects are mainly driven by recipients of business-focused loans, while the impact of loans targeting poverty reduction appears limited.
Navigating the psychosocial challenges and coping mechanisms of parents raising children with Autism spectrum disorder in Bangladesh
(Sage Journals, 2025-02) Karim, Md. Zawadul; Al-Mamun, Md.; Kalam, Abul; Eva, Maliha Azad; Ali, Md. Hazrat
This narrative review explores the psychosocial challenges faced by parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Bangladesh and the coping strategies they use to manage these challenges. Findings reveal that Bangladeshi parents experience significant social stigmatization, exclusion, religious misconceptions, and negligence in healthcare settings. Many parents report being marginalised within their families and communities, leading to high levels of psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Mothers, in particular, are more vulnerable to these challenges, reporting severe levels of stress and depression due to societal pressures. Parents also struggle with a lack of adequate support services and professional guidance, especially in rural areas. Despite these difficulties, parents employ various coping strategies, such as building peer support networks, improving their knowledge of ASD, practicing religious spirituality, and using problem-focused approaches. The study underscores the need for improved mental health services, public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma, and policy initiatives to provide better support to parents of children with ASD. These measures are essential to alleviate the psychological and social burdens faced by families, particularly parents, in Bangladesh.
What pushes males to marry underage girls? Demand-side insights of child marriage from northern Bangladesh
(Journal of Public Health, 2025) Islam, Md. Karimul; Barua, Proloy; Ahmed, Md Shakil
Child marriage is defined as any marriage involving a person under 18, remains a significant concern in lower- to middle-income countries. Globally, 12 million girls (19 %) marry before 18 each year, with the highest prevalence in West and Central Africa (40 %), followed by Eastern and Southern Africa (32 %), South Asia (28 %), and Latin America (21 %). UNICEF recognizes child marriage as a serious human rights violation, increasing risks of early pregnancy, school dropout, limited career opportunities, and gender-based violence. In Bangladesh, 78.9 % of physically abused women were married before 18. Despite legal ages of 21 for males and 18 for females, one in four girls marries before 16. Determinants include education, religion, economic conditions, and residence, with higher rates in Khulna, Rajshahi, and Rangpur. This study examines demand-side factors, analyzing husbands’ education, poverty status, and employment in northern chars to understand underage marriage and inform policy interventions.
Menstrual hygiene management in flood-affected Bangladesh: addressing socio-cultural barriers, infrastructure gaps, and policy responses
(Frontiers in Public Health, 2025) Al-Mamun, Md.; Kamal, Abul; Karim, Md. Zawadul; Alam, Marufa; Khan, Tauhid Hossain
Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to natural disasters due to its geographic location, with flooding being the most frequent and severe catastrophe. In 2024, heavy rains triggered widespread flooding across 11 districts, affecting approximately 1 million households and marooning around 4.9 million people in the northeast and southeast regions, resulting in 20 fatalities. Essential services and infrastructure suffered extensive damage, including the destruction of 26,584 water taps and 62,528 toilets. Women were disproportionately affected, with an estimated 2.54 million experiencing the impacts of the floods. These events highlight the recurring vulnerability of Bangladesh to flood disasters and underscore the urgent need for effective disaster preparedness, resilient infrastructure, and targeted support for affected populations, particularly women and other vulnerable groups.
Process evaluation of a disability-inclusive employment programme: examining the design and implementation of STAR+
(Oxford Development Studies, 2024) Shatil, Tanvir; Carew, Mark T.; Chowdhury, Soujannita; Biswas, Dipika; Adiba, Afsana; Banks, Lena Morgon; Shakespeare, Tom; Das, Narayan
This study reports the initial findings of a process evaluation of a disability-inclusive employment programme, STAR+, being implemented across Bangladesh. The study interrogates the design of STAR+ and the structures and processes by which it was delivered. Findings reveal an important role of early involvement of disability-focused organizations in intervention planning. The study further discusses adaptations made during STAR+ delivery. First, in some project areas, extra resources were available to appoint additional staff to support disability inclusion. Second, implementers relied upon family members to support youth with disabilities during workplace and classroom training. Lastly, STAR+ implementers ensure the right employers are selected by the programme, in some cases engaging in additional ad-hoc selection processes to onboard more altruistic individuals. Results are discussed in terms of programmatic and policy implications.
Bangladesh’s evolving balancing strategy: from two-Way to three-way?
(Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy, 2024) Rashid, Mufassir; Tasnim, Nishat; Proma, Aishwarya Sanjukta Roy
This journal article explores Bangladesh’s evolving foreign policy as it navigates the complex geopolitics involving India, China, and the USA. Traditionally balancing its relations with India and China, Bangladesh now faces a tri-polar balancing act due to the heightened strategic stakes in the Indo-Pacific region, influenced by the Indo-Pacific Strategy, QUAD, and AUKUS. By proposing a new Three-Way Balancing framework, this study aims to understand how Bangladesh can maintain its neutral stance amid intensifying geopolitical rivalries.
Impact of COVID-19 on celebration of death, mortuary, and funerary customs in Bangladesh: A qualitative study
(Heliyon, 2024) Rahman, Md Abdur; Islam, Md Redwanul; Chowdhury, Monidipa; Asaduzzaman, Md.; Barua, Proloy; Haque, M Atiqul
Introduction During the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions significantly impacted religious activities related to death celebrations, mortuary practices, and funerary rituals in Bangladesh. Bereaved families faced a harsh reality, unable to perform the full rituals for their loved ones due to the pandemic outbreak. This study explores the adjustments and modifications made in cultural rituals and how they affected bereaved families and close relatives. Objective This study aims to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the observance of death rituals in Bangladesh and the effects on bereaved families and close relatives. Methods This study employed a qualitative approach and gathered data through 3 key informant interviews (KIIs) and 58 in-depth interviews (IDIs) conducted between December 2020 and January 2021. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit participants from three distinct groups: (1) individuals who had experienced the death of a relative during the pandemic, (2) caregivers who provided support to those experiencing loss, and (3) volunteers actively involved with funeral and burial services. This selection strategy ensured a diverse range of perspectives on the impact of the pandemic on death rituals. Results The pandemic forced people to observe funerals or make significant sacrifices to traditional practices reluctantly. Disruptions to long-standing traditions and widespread emotional toll were as various segments of society struggled to find closure in saying goodbye to loved ones. Due to the severity of the pandemic, people became heavily reliant on priests, crematorium workers, and funeral volunteers for mortuary services. Both Hindu and Muslim religions discouraged family gatherings during post-burial rituals. The fear of contracting the virus further limited bereaved families’ ability to bid farewell to their deceased loved ones properly. Conclusion This research highlights the profound impact of the pandemic on death rituals and the resulting emotional distress for bereaved families in Bangladesh. The findings are pivotal in guiding the development of concrete policies for future pandemic preparedness and response. Such policies might encompass guidelines for safe and culturally sensitive mortuary practices, psychosocial support and grief counseling initiatives for affected communities, and strategies to mitigate religious anxieties during public health emergencies.
What I say depends on how you ask: experimental evidence of the effect of framing on the measurement of attitudes
(Elsevier, 2024) Bloem, Jeffrey R.; Rahman, Khandker Wahedur
We use a survey experiment to document the presence of framing effects in the measurement of attitudes. Next, using standard techniques for generating aggregate indices, we find that statement framing can meaningfully influence the relationship of the index with relevant covariates—in some cases changing the magnitude, statistical significance, and even the sign of the estimated relationship. We conclude by discussing how randomizing statement framing across respondents can help address bias in the measurement of attitudes.
Pathway and interaction analysis of IMCHA Model: An initiative of implementation research in Uganda and South Sudan
(African Journal of Reproductive Health, 2021) Musoke, Jenipher T.; Mugirwa, Patrick; Nakimuli, Eva
The Innovating for Maternal and Child Health in Africa (IMCHA) initiative implemented research to improve maternal, newborn and child health and adopted a research model that was composed of: Principal Investigator of an African institution; Co- Principal Investigator affiliated with a Canadian institution, Co-PI in a decision-making position, and Health Policy and Research Organisation in Africa. This paper describes the IMCHA Initiative model that was used in implementing the research in Uganda and South Sudan. The methods used are documents review and experiences by BRAC (Building Resources Across Communities) Uganda in implementing the research using the IMCHA initiative model. The experiences in implementing IMCHA model show support in accessing policy space, translating data and producing outputs from the research for policy. The pathways in the model through communication and interactions in the connectedness of working with the relevant policy stakeholders was a special experience. The model contributed greatly to the grounding of research in the local context and connecting to the policy space. The Ugandan experience has exhibited the usefulness of the model. The Paper recommends use of the IMCHA Model in conducting implementation research for enabling access to policy space from study inception through the research period. (Afr J Reprod Health 2021; 25[3s]: 55-64).
A good mix against ultra-poverty? Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) in Bangladesh
(Wiley, 2021-07-13) Rahman, Atiya; Bhattacharjee, Anindita; Das, Narayan
Existing evidence shows that programs that provide grants to productive assets along with training to very poor women increase labor supply, earnings, and consumption. In contrast, evidence on the effect of microcredit on these outcomes is mixed. In this paper, we examine the effect of a hybrid of the two approaches—credit and grant—on the livelihoods of the ultra-poor in Bangladesh. A randomized evaluation of the hybrid intervention shows that it increases labor supply of working-age women, household income, productive assets, savings, and consumption expenditures. The benefit–cost ratio of the intervention is estimated to be 8.47.
Psychometric validation of diabetes distress scale in Bangladeshi population
(Nature, 2022-01-12) Akter, Jesmin; Islam, Rakibul M.; Chowdhury, Hasina Akhter; Selim, Shahjada; Biswas, Animesh; Mozumder, Tanvir Ahmed; Broder, Jonathan; Ilic, Dragan; Karim, Md Nazmul
Diabetes Distress (DD)—an emotional or affective state arise from challenge of living with diabetes and the burden of self-care—negatively impact diabetes management and quality of life of T2DM patients. Early detection and management of DD is key to efficient T2DM management. The study aimed at developing a valid and reliable instrument for Bangladeshi patients as unavailability such a tool posing challenge in diabetes care. Linguistically adapted, widely used, 17-item Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), developed through forward–backward translation from English to Bengali, was administered on 1184 T2DM patients, from four diabetes hospitals in Bangladesh. Psychometric assessment of the instrument included, construct validity using principal component factor analysis, internal consistency using Cronbach’s α and discriminative validity through independent t-test and test–retest reliability using intraclass-correlation coefficient (ICC) and Kappa statistics. Factor analysis extracted 4 components similar to original DDS domains, confirms the construct validity. The scale demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (α = 0.838), stability (test–retest ICC = 0.941) and good agreement across repeated measurements (Kappa = 0.584). Discriminative validity revealed that patients with complication (p < 0.001) and those are on insulin (p < 0.001) had significantly higher distress scores in all domains. Bengali version of DDS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing distress among Bangladeshi T2DM patients.
Intersecting disadvantages for married adolescents: Life after marriage pre- and post-COVID-19 in contexts of displacement
(Elsevier, 2022-03) Baird, Sarah; Murphy, Maureen; Seager, Jennifer; Jones, Nicola; Malhotra, Anju; Alheiwidi, Sarah; Emirie, Guday; Rashid, Sabina; Sultan, Maheen
Abstract Purpose Although there is a growing evidence base on the drivers of child marriage, comparatively little is known about the experiences of married girls in refugee settings and how their development trajectories diverge from those of their nonmarried peers, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on cross-national panel data from Bangladesh and Jordan, this article explores diversity in child marriage experiences in contexts affected by forced displacement, highlighting how married girls’ well-being differs from that of their unmarried peers, and how COVID-19 has reinforced these differences. Methods We analyzed longitudinal survey data—collected pre- and post-COVID-19—from the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence study with 293 ever-married and 1,102 never-married adolescent girls. Multivariate regression analysis assessed the well-being of married and unmarried girls across contexts and refugee status, both prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. These quantitative data are complemented by in-depth qualitative data from adolescents (n = 112), and key informant interviews with service providers and community leaders (n = 62). Results Our findings highlight that married girls in contexts affected by displacement are disadvantaged in multiple ways, but that the patterning of disadvantage varies across contexts, and that marriage can also have protective effects in certain contexts. The COVID-19 pandemic has, however, served to exacerbate existing inequalities in all contexts. Discussion Although child marriage prevention efforts remain critical, there is also an urgent need for programming that targets married girls in refugee and host communities to mitigate negative outcomes among this vulnerable group.

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