<![CDATA[ECONOMICS STUDY CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA - 3rd Bangladesh Economics Summit]]>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:21:29 +0600Weebly<![CDATA[3rd Bangladesh Economics Summit]]>Tue, 27 Oct 2020 21:07:35 GMThttps://www.escdu.com/3rd-bangladesh-economics-summit/3rd-bangladesh-economics-summit
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Due to the pandemic, the third chapter of Bangladesh Economics Summit was very different from its previous iterations. This year, BES focused on the socioeconomic consequences of COVID-19 and assessed the response from different stakeholders in tackling the crisis. The theme for the third edition of BES was ​“The Impact of COVID-19: Exposing the Fault Lines of Bangladesh Economy.” ​  
The events were designed and organized to engage people into thinking about the central theme. Academicians, policy-makers and young economists shared the platform to explore the solutions to such problems. 

Moreover, this time, ESC used the platform of BES to raise awareness and funds for the poor population of Bangladesh who have been hit the hardest due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

With this goal in mind, ESC raised funds for “Pashe Achi Initiative” during the various segments of BES. Pashe Achi Initiative is a voluntary non-profit organization run by students of the Department of Economics, University of Dhaka. The organization has been working since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to aid the helpless people of the country. They have already helped 10,000 families in 20 districts of the country.

The summit consisted of the following segments:
  • BSDED Volume III Launching Ceremony
  • Launching of ESC’s Report titled “Assessing the Fault Lines of Bangladesh’s Healthcare Sector: Implications for Future Policy Response”
  • Panel Discussions
  • Public Lecture
  • Policy Debate
  • Economics Quiz Competition
  • Essay Competition
  • Book Review Competition

The Daily Star was the Media Partner and the EMK Center was the Outreach Partner of this summit.
]]><![CDATA[ESC Report Launch]]>Tue, 27 Oct 2020 20:47:18 GMThttps://www.escdu.com/3rd-bangladesh-economics-summit/esc-report-launch
Full report: Click Here
To watch the full discussion: Click Here
Economics Study Center has always worked to contribute towards knowledge creation and dissemination. With that goal in mind, ESC has completed an extensive literature review and conducted two different phenomenological studies on the doctors and patients who were directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report titled, “Assessing the Fault lines of the Health Sector: Implications for Future Policy Response” was launched at the 3rd Bangladesh Economics Summit.

​A subsequent panel discussion was held to discuss the findings of the report which was chaired by Dr Rumana Haque, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka and attended by the chief guest, Mr M.A.Mannan, MP, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Moreover, the esteemed panelists of this discussion session were Dr Taufique Joarder, Research Director, FHI 360 in Bangladesh, Dr Syed Abdul Hamid, Professor, Institute of Health Economics, University of Dhaka and Dr Muhammad Shahadat Hossain Siddiquee, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka.
.Dr Rumana Haque initiated the session by mentioning the many successes of the Bangladeshi healthcare system throughout history such as in the areas of child vaccination, the widespread establishment of community clinics, reduction in child and maternal mortality, and how it all stood in contrast to the how the healthcare sector had struggled to handle to pandemic exposing its many flaws. She also highlighted many of the public healthcare sector’s limitations such as limited budget allocation and high out-of-pocket expenditure of patients and emphasized on the need for addressing these issues.

Sheikh Rafi Ahmed, Secretary of Public Relations, ESC, then proceeded to present its report highlighting how even though the healthcare system of Bangladesh was plagued with problems like poor quality of service, high out-of-pocket expenditure, understaffing, administrative corruption, and mismanagement, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic had exposed these fault lines and brought many other issues to light. After conducting a qualitative study on this issue comprising 7 doctors and 4 patients as its case studies, Sheikh Rafi Ahmed highlighted the key findings of the study. The surveyed doctors talked about their struggles receiving medical education, improvising alternative medical solutions due to a lack of medical equipment, being overwhelmed by the influx of patients without proper PPE and facilities, dealing with an administration who lacked medical experiences, and often suffering from COVID-19 while handling patients. Similarly, the surveyed patients who had received treatment during the pandemic revealed that they struggled to find available beds at hospitals, faced poor treatment from medical support staff, had to pay for expensive medicine, and were often neglected from proper healthcare services if they lacked proper connections.

The honourable Planning Minister, Mr M.A. Mannan responded to the report by acknowledging the importance of addressing the issues plaguing the healthcare sector and emphasising on everyone doing their part to revamp the healthcare sector including himself. He also acknowledged that despite the strides made by the sector in the past, there are still many irregularities and deep-rooted problems related to corruption, embezzlement, misappropriation of limited resources, and the disparity between doctors and administrative officers that continue to hold the healthcare sector back. Finally, in response to a question regarding the government’s initiative to achieve universal healthcare, Mr M.A Mannan responded that although the internal problems of the healthcare sector are a major obstacle to achieving this goal, the political landscape of the country plays a significant role as well.

Dr Taufique Joarder emphasised on the need for defined career tracks for public health officials so that the healthcare sector is better at taking preventive measures to future virus outbreaks and diseases. He elaborated that there are no defined career tracks for public health, those who are in charge of it tend to lack the administrative and planning skills necessary to handle such a massive crisis effectively as they often come from clinical backgrounds.

Dr Muhammad Shahadat Hossain Siddiquee discussed the healthcare sector’s inefficient utilization of funds due to corruption and mismanagement highlighting the lack of proper governance and accountability of the public healthcare system. He also emphasised the need to fix regional inequalities in the quality of healthcare as well as the need to address non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease that a significant part of the population continues to suffer from.

Dr Syed Abdul Hamid focused on the need for proper short and long term planning concerning the healthcare sector so that impromptu or ad hoc solutions do not have to be devised when it is caught unprepared. He also talked about the need to establish separate career paths for healthcare professionals who want to teach, run clinics, join administration or public health and argued that we need to be able to make health-related decisions that aren’t international donor-driven since we are less dependent on them to finance our healthcare. Finally, he concluded on the need to establish a permanent healthcare watchdog called the National Healthcare Commission (NHC) which can oversee the long term development of the healthcare sector.

Dr Rumana Haque concluded the session saying that the pandemic reminded us of our limitations in the healthcare sector resulting in a renewed interest in ensuring accountability to prevent embezzlement and corruption, establishing separate career tracks for public health, establishing NHC to develop the health sector in a planned manner and decentralize power and responsibility on a regional level to promote healthcare equality.

]]><![CDATA[Public Lecture: Economic Effects of COVID-19 in Low and Middle-Income Countries]]>Tue, 27 Oct 2020 20:24:19 GMThttps://www.escdu.com/3rd-bangladesh-economics-summit/public-lecture-economic-effects-of-covid-19-in-low-and-middle-income-countries
To watch the full discussion: Click Here

A public lecture was conducted by Dr. Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak, Professor of Economics at Yale University, on the topic “Economic Effects of COVID-19 in Low and Middle-Income Countries.”  Dr Mobarak gave a brief overview of his work during the pandemic and stated that in most countries COVID-19 will soon turn into an economic crisis from a public-health crisis and this will have a severe impact on the global structure. He mentioned that epidemiological models and their connections with economic factors have played a significant role in his work and emphasised on the use of existing data to ensure social protection.
Dr Mobarak discussed in detail about the Econ-Epi modelling and the research thought process. When the idea of flattening the curve came in from the Imperial College Model, developed countries like the US tried to minimize the case fatality rate by social distancing and providing reliefs based on tax returns. However, it was inapplicable for developing countries like Bangladesh and Indonesia where only 2-4% of the population are taxpayers. Thus, he urged to incorporate economic factors and data from low-income countries to the existing model instead of developed countries. 

Y-RISE, an initiative founded by Dr Mobarak, and a2i collaborated in data mapping at the regional level to develop comprehensive COVID-19 socio-economic data. By doing so, it was revealed that migrant families as a whole are suffering from lack of food security and are earning 36% less than non-migrant households. The income of non-migrant households also declined by 31% due to the pandemic.
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Dr Mobarak concluded his lecture by showing that even though the rate of mask purchasing has increased, only 11% of Bangladeshi people are currently wearing them properly. He urged the government to take stern actions to implement consistent use of masks in Bangladesh.
]]><![CDATA[​Panel Discussion 1: Governance Failure and Corruption: Impediment towards Tackling COVID-19]]>Tue, 27 Oct 2020 16:41:04 GMThttps://www.escdu.com/3rd-bangladesh-economics-summit/panel-discussion-1-governance-failure-and-corruption-impediment-towards-tackling-covid-19
To watch the full discussion: Click Here
The first panel discussion on “Governance Failure and Corruption: Impediment towards Tackling COVID-19" was chaired by Dr Selim Raihan, Professor of Economics, University of Dhaka. Amongst the esteemed panelists were Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD); Dr Kazi Maruful Islam, Professor of Development Studies, University of Dhaka; and Dr Ahsan H. Mansur, Executive Director, Policy Research Institute (PRI).

Dr Selim Raihan started the session by emphasising on the need to understand the relationship between state and business, the role of non-elites, and their interaction with the elites. “Corruption is a symptom of a bigger problem which involves 3 major institutional challenges- the supremacy of dealmaking over formal regulations, the inefficiency of the regulatory body, and weak state capacity”, said Dr Raihan. 

Professor Mustafizur Rahman drew attention to the shortcomings of the growth-centric development paradigm of Bangladesh in this COVID-19 situation. “COVID-19 is a test for us that has put us in a 3-dimensional crisis of health, economic, and humanitarian risk, which we cannot solve without addressing the underlying issue of poor governance”, he said. 

Dr Kazi Maruful Islam explained our inadequacy in tackling the COVID-19 situation from a political point of view. In his opinion, it is not merely a management issue, rather it stems from the lack of transparency and competition in the election process of public offices. Although a transparent election may not necessarily lead to a corruption-free government as we have seen in the past but it is a precondition for eradicating corruption. “When the means and the ends both are corrupted, it is pointless to expect reform and good governance,” said Dr Islam. 
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Dr Ahsan H. Mansur, the final speaker of the panel remarked that it is a general trend that the party in power wants to stay in power and grab more power. This motivates the government to undermine the authority of institutions and compromise with many state players. Even if the government wants reform, it falls short due to the lack of political will and even authority in some cases. “If we truly want to reform, we have to establish meritocracy and accountability in our system”, said Dr Mansur. 
]]><![CDATA[Panel Discussion 2: Exploiting Nature- Root Cause for Pandemics and Climate Disasters]]>Tue, 27 Oct 2020 16:16:01 GMThttps://www.escdu.com/3rd-bangladesh-economics-summit/panel-discussion-2-exploiting-nature-root-cause-for-pandemics-and-climate-disasters
To watch the full discussion: Click Here
On the third day of the summit, a panel discussion was held on the topic “Exploiting Nature: Root Cause for Pandemics and Climate Disasters”. The session was chaired by Professor Dr M.M. Akash, Chairman, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka. The panel included Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Chairman, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation; Dr Ainun Nishat, Professor Emeritus, BRAC University; Dr A.K. Enamul Haque, Professor of Economics, East West University.
Dr Enamul Haque started the discussion by saying that aiming at poverty reduction has deprioritized the environmental sector. He also focused on high rates of air pollution that might increase the chance of spreading COVID-19. “We have to look for our faults rather than looking for a scapegoat to blame on”, he said. 

“This pandemic situation wouldn’t have reached such a severe condition if we had strict monitoring in airports and international land ports”, said Dr Ainun Nishat. He also focused on problems related to ecosystems like the higher rate of saltiness in coastal soil, the increasing frequency of tidal surge, lack of pure drinking water and others.

Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad focused on the carbon emission issue and how it might be controlled, and how strict laws can help us to fight this battle of preserving the environment. “Nature is for all species and nature always tries to save all its species. So, sometimes in reply to all the human tortures, it comes up with a natural remedy”,  he said.  He also added that due to deforestation, animals lose their habitats and they come in contact with humans and many diseases spread.
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Professor M.M. Akash concluded the discussion by mentioning how the expansion of neoliberalism in the international front might jeopardize the entire environmental movement. “Without focusing on the faults within governance, we cannot successfully achieve the climate action goals,” said Dr Akash.
]]><![CDATA[Panel Discussion 3: The Absence of Labor Rights and the Plight of Bangladeshi Workers during COVID-19]]>Tue, 27 Oct 2020 16:01:54 GMThttps://www.escdu.com/3rd-bangladesh-economics-summit/panel-discussion-3-the-absence-of-labor-rights-and-the-plight-of-bangladeshi-workers-during-covid-19
To watch the full discussion: Click Here

​The third panel discussion on “The Absence of Labor Rights and the Plight of Bangladeshi Workers during COVID-19” was chaired by Dr Sayema Haque Bidisha, Professor of Economics, University of Dhaka. The esteemed panel included Dr. Rushidan Islam Rahman, Executive Chairperson, Centre for Development and Employment Research (CDER); SK Jenefa K Jabbar, Director, Human Rights and Legal Aid Services and Social Compliance, BRAC; and Dr. Rizwanul Islam, Senior Visiting Fellow, Centre for Development and Employment Research (CDER). ​
Dr Sayema Haque Bidisha started the discussion stating that the labour market was heavily damaged by the pandemic, and since 85% of workers are in the informal economy, their labour rights are often ignored. “The benefits of incentive packages are not available to them because of being a part of the informal economy,” she said.

Dr Rushidan Islam Rahman said that according to the BBS, real wages started to decline in early 2020 despite there being no pandemic. It has evidently caused a reverse migration as people are going back to the villages from cities. “Students who will graduate in the post-pandemic years will have a tough time in the labour market as there will be more competition. There’s no alternative but to better equip oneself with modern technology to survive in such competition,” opined Dr Rushidan.

SK Jenefa K Jabbar pointed out that the pandemic has shed light on the skill gap in the labour market. “While automation is on the rise, no one is trying to develop the skill sets required to adapt with the advanced technology,” she said. She also mentioned that due to the lack of a tracking mechanism, workers who are laid off, often don’t get the benefit of safety net packages. 
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Dr Rizwanul Islam mentioned that the economy has suffered from a major supply shock followed by a demand shock. Despite moves to turn the economy around, the situation is far over being normal. “Trade unions are seldom taken seriously, and the responsible authorities do not seem to care about the workers unless any major accident occurs,” said Dr Islam. 

]]><![CDATA[BSDED Volume III Launching Ceremony]]>Tue, 27 Oct 2020 15:44:31 GMThttps://www.escdu.com/3rd-bangladesh-economics-summit/bsded-volume-iii-launching-ceremony
Complete Journal: Click Here
The third issue of Bangladesh Students' Digest on Economics & Development (BSDED) has been published and launched on September 18, 2020 by the Economics Study Center, University of Dhaka. In 2018, the organisation published the first issue of this annual journal. It provides an opportunity for undergraduate and postgraduate students to showcase their research works & instils the interest to be actively involved in the research.
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Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, Chairperson, BRAC graced the occasion as the special guest while Dr Atonu Rabbani, Professor of Economics, University of Dhaka chaired the session.        
Each presenter got 7 minutes to present their papers. All of them took the perspective of Bangladesh in different issues of healthcare, climate & education while the final presenter, W. M. Pasan from Sri Lanka shed light on compensating wage differentials in South Asia. The presented papers focused on the problems like methane emission, air quality in Dhaka, STEM education, climate-resilient planning & out of pocket healthcare expenditures.      
]]><![CDATA[পলিসি ডিবেট: "এই সংসদ ভবিষ্যৎ মহামারী রোধে পৃথিবীব্যাপি স্বাস্থ্য সুরক্ষা আইন প্রণয়ন করবে।"]]>Tue, 27 Oct 2020 15:32:09 GMThttps://www.escdu.com/3rd-bangladesh-economics-summit/9910471
পুরো আলোচনাটি দেখার জন্য: ক্লিক করুন
ইকোনমিকস স্টাডি সেন্টার আয়োজিত তৃতীয় বাংলাদেশ ইকোনমিক সামিটে একটি পলিসি ডিবেট অনুষ্ঠিত হয়। ফেইসবুক লাইভের মাধ্যমে বিতর্ক অনুষ্ঠানটি সম্প্রচারিত হয়। এই ডিবেটের বিষয় ছিল 'এই সংসদ সংক্রামক রোগ প্রতিরোধে আন্তর্জাতিক সার্বজনীন স্বাস্থ্য সুরক্ষা চুক্তি প্রণয়ণ করবে'। বিতর্ক শেষে অধিকাংশ দর্শক এতে 'না' ভোট দেন।
সরকারি দলের বিতার্কিক হিসেবে ছিলেন
  • আওফা ইসলাম, প্রভাষক, দুর্যোগ ব্যবস্থাপনা বিভাগ, ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়।
  • ওমর রাদ চৌধুরী, সাবেক সভাপতি, ইকোনমিকস স্টাডি সেন্টার, ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়।
  • শেখ রাফি আহমেদ, পি আর এন্ড কমিউনিকেশন সেক্রেটারি, ইকোনমিকস স্টাডি সেন্টার, ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় ।

বিরোধী দলের বিতার্কিক হিসেবে ছিলেন
  • সাকিব বিন রশীদ, কারিকুলাম এন্ড ম্যাটেরিয়াল ডেভেলপমেন্ট স্পেশালিষ্ট, ব্র‍্যাক ইয়ুথ প্ল্যাটফর্ম।
  • আহমেদ মুসা ইশতি, ডেপুটি ম্যানেজার (ফান্ডরেইজিং), ব্র‍্যাক স্কিল ডেভেলপমেন্ট প্রোগ্রাম।
  • ​মেঘমল্লার বসু, সহ সাধারণ সম্পাদক, বাংলাদেশ ছাত্র ইউনিয়ন, ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় সংসদ।

বিতর্কে স্পিকার হিসেবে ছিলেন নাহিয়ান বিন খালেদ, রিসার্চ এনালিস্ট, ইন্টারন্যাশনাল ফুড পলিসি রিসার্চ ইন্সটিটিউট (ইফপ্রি)।
]]><![CDATA[BES Quiz Competition]]>Fri, 18 Sep 2020 10:58:13 GMThttps://www.escdu.com/3rd-bangladesh-economics-summit/3rd-bangladesh-economics-summit-schedule
To watch the Final Round: Click Here

After the written Round 1 of 86 participants, six teams qualified to battle it out on the Final Round -which was an exciting buzzer round held online. We received an overwhelming response from both national and international undergraduate level students for this year's Quiz Competition.  
Quiz Masters: 
Mohammad Sadat Anowar | Research Analyst, IFPRI

Kamrul Hossain Shuvo | ​HERproject Country Coordinator, BSR

​Quiz Competition Winners:
Champion:
Team Pareto Boyz (Raisul Safkat & Firoz Hossain)

1st Runner-up:
Team Kaizen (Sajid Khan Thakur)

2nd Runners-up:
Team Tryout (SM Nazif & Mustafa Sakib)
Team MP Warriors (Shubhdeep Mitra)
​
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