Articles &
appearances.

In this article, originally published in The Daily Star, I examine Bangladesh's FY2026–27 social security budget and consider whether its record allocation will translate into better protection for poor and vulnerable households.

I focus particularly on the proposed Family Card Programme, discussing both its potential and the important policy questions it raises around targeting, financing, governance, and the future of Bangladesh's broader social protection system. I argue that expanding social protection requires more than larger budget allocations. It also depends on transparent programme design, effective implementation, rigorous independent evaluation, and ensuring that those already receiving support are not made worse off.

As Bangladesh embarks on an important phase of social protection reform, I hope this article contributes to a broader evidence-based discussion on building a system that is effective, equitable, and fiscally sustainable.

My latest opinion article, "Can Social Protection Budget Deliver?", has been published in The Financial Express. In the article, I examine Bangladesh's FY2026–27 social protection budget and assess whether recent policy commitments can translate into meaningful and sustainable improvements for poor and vulnerable households.

The article focuses particularly on the government's proposed Family Card Programme, which represents a major expansion of targeted social assistance. While recognising the government's commitment to strengthening social protection, I argue that success will depend not only on the scale of new spending but also on the effectiveness of programme design, targeting mechanisms, financing arrangements, and implementation systems.

Drawing on international evidence and lessons from social protection research, I discuss the importance of accurate beneficiary identification, transparent governance, strong administrative systems, and independent evaluation. The article also explores the challenges of balancing expanded social assistance with fiscal sustainability, while ensuring that resources are directed toward programmes with the greatest potential impact on poverty reduction and household resilience.

More broadly, the article contributes to ongoing policy discussions on the future of social protection in Bangladesh and highlights the importance of building systems that are effective, equitable, and responsive to the needs of vulnerable populations.

This article from The Financial Express highlights the growing measles outbreak in Bangladesh and argues that the crisis is not solely a medical issue, but also a reflection of systemic gaps in public health preparedness, immunisation coverage, and service delivery.

While measles is a preventable disease, recent outbreaks reveal deeper weaknesses in healthcare access, vaccination continuity, and institutional coordination. Disruptions in routine immunisation, uneven healthcare access, misinformation, and post-pandemic service gaps have contributed significantly to the resurgence of measles cases across different parts of the country. Children in vulnerable and underserved communities remain at the highest risk, particularly where vaccination coverage and public health outreach remain inconsistent.

A key concern raised in the discussion is that outbreak response alone is insufficient without strengthening the broader health system. Sustainable progress will require stronger surveillance systems, uninterrupted vaccination programmes, community-level awareness, and improved coordination between health institutions and local administrations.

At a time when Bangladesh is facing increasing pressure on its public health infrastructure, the measles outbreak serves as an important reminder that disease prevention depends not only on vaccines, but also on the strength, equity, and resilience of the healthcare system itself. The article calls for a more integrated and evidence-based public health strategy to prevent future outbreaks and protect vulnerable populations.

This article from The Daily Star's Big Picture section examines the proposed Family Card programme in Bangladesh, a policy initiative aimed at providing direct financial support to households. The programme promises a monthly allowance for families to help them manage rising living costs and economic uncertainty.

A central policy debate highlighted in the article is whether the Family Card should be universal, covering all households, or targeted toward poor and vulnerable families. A universal system could reduce administrative complexity and avoid exclusion errors, but it would require substantial fiscal resources. In contrast, a targeted programme could concentrate government spending on those who need it most, though it depends heavily on accurate identification of eligible households.

At a time when social protection policies are becoming increasingly important in Bangladesh, the discussion around the Family Card programme reflects a broader policy challenge: how to design an efficient, equitable, and financially sustainable social safety net. The article calls for careful consideration of evidence-based policy design to ensure that such initiatives effectively support vulnerable populations.

The Family Card initiative presents an opportunity to reform Bangladesh's social protection architecture — but only if it is designed as a system, not merely another scheme.

Bangladesh's social protection landscape has evolved over decades through a collection of targeted programmes, allowances, and safety net initiatives. While these interventions have supported millions, they often operate in silos — with fragmented databases, overlapping beneficiary lists, varied eligibility criteria, and parallel administrative structures. The result is a complex, costly, and sometimes inefficient delivery framework.

Introducing a Family Card cannot simply mean adding another layer to this already crowded structure. If treated as just another beneficiary list or subsidy channel, its impact will remain limited. Instead, the Family Card should serve as the foundation for an integrated and unified social protection system — one that consolidates data, streamlines delivery, and enhances transparency and accountability.

A meaningful reform would require three foundational pillars: (1) an integrated social registry — all existing and future social protection programmes should be anchored in a unified digital registry; (2) reliable and scalable payment infrastructure — direct benefit transfers through secure banking or mobile financial services must be strengthened; and (3) gradual programme harmonisation — rather than abruptly discontinuing existing schemes, the transition should be phased.

However, reform must also be fiscally responsible. Expanding coverage without a sustainable financing strategy risks undermining both macroeconomic stability and public trust. The true promise of the Family Card lies not in short-term political visibility, but in long-term institutional strength. If implemented thoughtfully, it can move Bangladesh from a fragmented safety-net model toward a coherent, inclusive, and modern social protection system.

This piece brings together insights from more than 15 years of research on education, early learning, and human capital in Bangladesh. It argues that while access to schooling has expanded, the next phase of reform must focus squarely on learning quality, early childhood development, and system effectiveness.

At a time when election debates and manifestos remain heavy on slogans but light on substance, the article highlights critical gaps in current policy discussions and makes the case for a more evidence-based education agenda for the next government.

The article calls for sustained investment in early childhood development, teacher quality, remedial education for those left behind, and measurement systems that track learning rather than just enrolment — the foundations of a reform that builds human capital, not just school places.

I co-authored an article with my student Fariha Kabir titled "Women Get to Work in Bangladesh," published by East Asia Forum.

The piece discusses how recent protests in Bangladesh, driven by frustration over limited job opportunities and social inequalities, have underscored the increasing visibility and influence of women — particularly female students — in political and social movements. Their leadership and participation marked a historic shift in the country's gender dynamics.

The article highlights how expanding female access to education and employment, along with microcredit initiatives and progressive policy reforms, has empowered Bangladeshi women both economically and politically. The job quota reform movement serves as a vivid example of how women are shaping Bangladesh's future and challenging traditional gender norms.

I was featured in the documentary "The Poverty Puzzle — A Different Lens," which explores the complex and evolving dimensions of global poverty and inequality. The film examines how systemic forces — such as climate change, technological disruption, and the long-term effects of COVID-19 — continue to shape and often exacerbate disparities in wealth and opportunity.

In this episode, I discuss insights from my research on poverty in Bangladesh, focusing on the importance of context-sensitive policies, social inclusion, and evidence-based interventions. The documentary highlights the need for empathy, robust social protection systems, and education opportunities to break the cycle of disadvantage and promote equitable development.

The film underscores that ending poverty requires collective action, data-driven policymaking, and a sustained commitment to equality and human dignity.

Our paper "Experimental Evidence on Adoption and Impact of the System of Rice Intensification" — co-authored with Chris Barrett (Cornell University), Abdul Mohammad Malek (University of Tsukuba), Debayan Pakrashi (IIT Kanpur), and Ummul Ruthbah (Monash University) — received the Outstanding AJAE Article Award from the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA).

This recognition celebrates research that makes an exceptional contribution to the field of agricultural and applied economics.

I contributed an article to the 29th Anniversary Special Issue of the Financial Express (Bangladesh) titled "COVID-Induced School Closures: Combating Learning Loss."

The article examines the global educational crisis caused by COVID-19, focusing on Bangladesh, where schools were closed for over 18 months — disrupting the education of nearly 37 million children. It highlights the deep learning setbacks experienced by students, especially in rural and low-income areas where remote learning failed to reach the most marginalized.

The piece calls for targeted and inclusive policy action to address the learning gap through remedial education, improved teacher support, and equitable access to digital and community-based learning resources. It emphasizes that closing these gaps is essential for Bangladesh's long-term human capital development and socioeconomic recovery.

Our research on remote learning during COVID-19 was featured by King's College London (KCL) in the article "Remote Tuition Can Be Transformative for Vulnerable Children: Evidence from Bangladesh".

The collaborative study evaluated the impact of low-cost, phone-based tutoring for primary school children in rural Bangladesh during pandemic-related school closures. University student volunteers provided weekly lessons in English and mathematics, while mothers received structured home-schooling guidance through calls and text messages.

The findings highlight the transformative potential of remote tutoring in crisis settings and the importance of engaging families to sustain children's learning and well-being.

Our research on play-based interventions for Rohingya refugee children was featured by Monash University in the article "The Power of Play: Healing Rohingya Refugees".

The study, conducted in partnership with local BIGD and BRAC in Bangladesh, explores how structured play and early psychosocial interventions can help refugee children recover from trauma and develop critical cognitive and emotional skills. Through collaborative fieldwork in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, we designed and implemented play-based programs that promote psychological well-being, resilience, and social connection among children and their caregivers.

Findings show that integrating play and psychoeducation into humanitarian responses enables children to process distressing experiences, improve communication and problem-solving abilities, and strengthen motor skills. The intervention also reduced symptoms of trauma and depression among both children and mothers, while increasing happiness, social belonging, and nutritional well-being.

The research demonstrates that community-led, play-based programming offers a scalable and cost-effective approach for supporting vulnerable populations in crisis settings — empowering caregivers, fostering resilience, and promoting hope for the future.

Our collaborative research with BIGD and BRAC demonstrates how play-based interventions can significantly improve the mental health and early development of Rohingya refugee mothers and their children living in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

The initiative, part of the Humanitarian Play Lab program, engages mothers and young children in structured, culturally grounded activities — both home-based and center-based — that foster learning, preserve Rohingya language and culture, and support emotional recovery from trauma.

Findings reveal substantial improvements in children's language, motor, and social skills, accompanied by reductions in trauma and depression among both mothers and children. Mothers with prior traumatic experiences experienced the greatest benefits, reporting higher levels of happiness, confidence, and social belonging. The research also documented declines in stunting and underweight prevalence, reflecting gains in physical health.

Delivered entirely by trained community volunteers, the program is affordable, scalable, and sustainable — already reaching more than 13,000 mother–child pairs. The results highlight how psychosocial support and culturally relevant play can build resilience, promote well-being, and restore hope among refugees facing prolonged adversity.

In this interview with Faculti, I discussed the practical realities of implementing Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) in developing country contexts.

The conversation focused on the challenges of limited resources, complex program design, and logistical or political constraints that researchers often face when conducting field experiments.

I shared key lessons and best practices for designing and executing effective RCTs — emphasizing the importance of rigorous planning, ethical engagement, and transparent communication with stakeholders. The discussion also reflected on how context sensitivity and collaboration can enhance both research integrity and policy relevance in complex development environments.

I co-authored an article with my PhD student Hasibul Hasan titled "'Low-Tech Solutions' to Address Learning Loss," published in The Daily Sun.

The piece explores how low-tech interventions, such as delivering audio lessons via basic mobile phones, can help mitigate learning losses among primary school students in Bangladesh during prolonged school closures. Drawing on evidence from field research, the study found that Interactive Voice Response (IVR) programs significantly improved children's literacy and numeracy outcomes, especially for those in disadvantaged communities without reliable internet access.

The article highlights how scalable, affordable, and inclusive technologies can sustain educational progress and promote resilience during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

I co-authored an article with my student Tarannum Baigh titled "Is Bangladesh Suffering the Titanic's Fate?" published in The Financial Express (Bangladesh).

The piece draws a parallel between the Titanic's tragic failure of foresight and the risks Bangladesh faces if structural vulnerabilities — in institutions, finance, and governance — are ignored in a time of rapid growth.

The article argues that visible success can mask hidden fragilities, and that sustainable development requires honest assessment, institutional reform, and the willingness to act on early warnings — before a crisis forces the reckoning.