BDI holds international conference

Bangladesh Development Initiative (BDI), a 30-year-old diaspora think-tank promoting research for data-driven policies in Bangladesh, recently organised an international conference at the University of California, Berkeley, US.
The conference titled “Bangladesh Reimagined: The Next Half-Century” was held on November 8-10.
Over 100 academics from 25 universities and institutions were in attendance at the event, which was organised in partnership with UC Berkeley’s Chowdhury Center on Bangladesh Studies.
Dr Nazrul Islam, former chief of Development Research at the UN, delivered the opening keynote.
Other speakers included Dr Mushtaque R Chowdhury, former Brac vice-chair, and experts like Dr Fahmida Khatun, Dr Birupaksha Paul, and Dr Selim Raihan, who discussed Bangladesh’s economic prospects, and banking reforms.
Saturday’s opening ceremony featured remarks from Dr Munir Quddus, BDI president; Dr Elora Shehabuddin, Chowdhury Center director; Dean Raka Ray at UC Berkeley, and US State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Nicole Chulick, who highlighted US support for Bangladesh’s interim government.
Following the opening, student leaders from the recent pro-democracy movement in Bangladesh joined virtually in a session moderated by Professor Farhana Sultana.
Sayeeda Meher Afrog and Taposhi Dey Prapti, both students, participated in the “The July-August Pro-Democracy Movement in Bangladesh — Success, Challenges and Opportunities” session.
The conference also featured presentations on climate and environmental challenges, including a documentary, “No Ark”.