VoxDev Development Economics S6 Ep8: Bangladesh’s path forward: Leveraging evidence-based policy
Feb 26, 2025
Imran Matin, Executive Director of the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development, shares insights into Bangladesh's tumultuous political landscape following recent upheavals. He discusses the roots of the 2024 protests tied to economic stagnation and governance issues. Matin emphasizes the importance of evidence-based policy reforms and the role of data governance in shaping the country's future. He also explores the Rapid Research Response Initiative, which uses phone surveys to gauge public sentiment, and the urgency for collaborative nation-building efforts.
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Uprising Causes
- The 2024 uprising in Bangladesh resulted from a focus on growth without prioritizing governance and freedoms.
- Economic hardship, worsened by COVID-19 and the Ukraine war, fueled public discontent.
Interim Government Challenges
- The interim government's challenge involves getting private sectors and bureaucracy aligned on a future political vision.
- This collaboration is crucial to prevent rushed reforms and ensure meaningful change.
Declining Economic Optimism
- BIGD's surveys reveal declining economic optimism post-uprising, despite continued political optimism.
- The interim government risks losing support unless it prioritizes and addresses economic concerns.