Out of the Farm, Into the City: Structural change and economic development

Jyoti Rahman

Published in Forum on 5 June 2011.

This piece points to some things to think about in the lead up to the national budget.

Legitimate vs. Authoritarian Policy Making

Syeed Ahamed.

Published in the Forum on 3 January 2011. 

This piece outlines the history of policy making by elected and un-elected regimes in the past — and opportunities ahead for the current government.

Analysis Not Role Model

Jyoti Rahman

Published in the Star Weekend Magazine on 22 October 2010.

Using Vietnam as an example, this piece argues against a simplistic search for ‘role models’ in development discourse.

Socialism debate

Syeed Ahamed.

Published in BDnews24 on 22 October 2010.

This piece calls for a focus on the socialism debate to turn to inequality.

Health-care reform: Waiting for the parents of our Libby Zions

Rumi Ahmed.

Published in the Independent on 10 October 2010.

This piece explores the role of private initiative to reform our health care system.

On the other hand

Jyoti Rahman

Published in the Independent on 10 October 2010.

This piece warns about the development challenges still faced by Bangladesh.

Unanswered Questions about the Garments Wage Issue

Jyoti Rahman

Published in the Daily Star Forum, 4 October 2010.

This piece questions issues of minimum wage and living wage in the garment industry and why there seem to be no answers.

Confessions of a Development Practitioner

Shahana Siddiqui

Published in the Daily Star Forum in July 2010.

This piece runs a critical eye over the do-gooding industry.

The Good, the Bad, and the Uncertain

Syeed Ahamed.

Published in the Daily Star Forum in July 2010.

This piece puts the budget under a microscope.

Innovation begins at home

Published in Bangladesh Brand Forum Anniversary issue:

At 1.30 AM the night before the PM was going to launch the Digital Innovation Fair, an email reached my inbox:

‘I just came back from Novo theatre, the venue for the Fair. Even at midnight, it was buzzing with people from many ministries setting up their stalls for the 4^th. I cannot recall a more energetic group of government people up and down the hierarchy all single-mindedly focused on showcasing multi-dimensional service deliveries. Each stall has become a pride and joy of a government agency. The energy was unmistakable, infectious really. ‘

On the opening day, I reached the fair an hour early partially to check out the atmosphere.   The email from the fellow organizer sounded a tad exaggerated.  These are government bureaucrats after all – can this really be true?   I ran into Dr. Ananya Raihan, who has been working on popularizing the use of technology in the development sector for years.  His eyes were glowing.  ‘These are dream come true for us.  For so many years we hosted such fairs from the private sector and wondered aloud if the government will ever come with us and here we have almost all the ministries showcasing their innovation in e-service delivery’.  As I walked by the stalls amid hundreds of visitors I had to pinch myself as well – is that really the Joint Secretary who is calling the young student and excitedly explaining their ministry’s project?  Is that really the Bangladesh Bank Governor proudly talking to his junior staff about the funky interior of their stall?  How was all this possible?