About Us
About Us
WHO WE ARE
The Centre for Research and Information (CRI) is a not-for-profit policy research organization which aims to create a platform for public discussion on important matters of national policy in Bangladesh. Analyzing key challenges facing the nation, CRI explores through people-centered debate the political ideas and the policy reforms that will define progressive politics and policies in a new, digital Bangladesh. With a focus on youth engagement and democratized debate, CRI aims to bring politics closer to the people.
AIMS WE HAVE
CRI believes in the active participation of citizens in matters of national policy. By bridging the gap between people and politics, CRI hopes to empower citizens and afford them a stake in their society. The organization aims to generate high quality research and data on the opinions and views of people, especially young people in Bangladesh through creative, revolutionary methods. By doing so, the views of the people are given an unfiltered platform which can influence policy decisions on both a local and national scale.
THINGS WE DO
CRI takes a strategic approach to achieving its goals. It combines its resources and expertise with ground-breaking market research and polling aimed at various groups, especially young and student groups, to produce the following:
- High quality research into the concerns and priorities of young voters and the youth demographic in Bangladesh;
- Unique platforms for voicing the opinions of young Bangladeshis, such as Let’s Talk and Policy Café;
- Publications and blogs produced to the highest editorial, design and production standards, whether in print or digital form;
- Pioneering marketing and promotion efforts, through television, radio and social media outlets;
- Cutting-edge media and publicity efforts aimed at and, in some cases, created by and for, young people themselves
YOUTH CENTRED EVENTS
Let’s Talk
Let’s Ta!k provides a much-needed avenue for young people to constructively engage with Members of Parliament, ministers and other prominent politicians and debate topical issues which are of relevance to them. Through the Let’s Ta!K events, CRI helps to facilitate opportunities for informal but in-depth political dialogue among the future leaders of Bangladesh – the youth and the politicians. No topic is off the cards, there are no formalities nor are there pre-screened questions. Everything is up for discussion, and everyone is invited to share their opinion.
Policy Café
Policy Café is a forum for the youth to voice their assessments on national policy frameworks. It is an avenue of democratic exercises where every young person is expected to share his/her thoughts, opinion and ideas regarding the formulation and functioning of policies. It is a forum for the young generation to be engaged in policy discourses; simultaneously it’s a floor for them to be heard by the policy makers of the nation. It is a forum for the youth to garner their assessment on national policies, acts, ordinances and other important national instruments. It is is not an implementing agency rather it recognizes itself as an avenue of democratic exercises where every young citizen is expected to share his/her thoughts, opinion and ideas regarding policies. It is a platform for the youth to be engaged in policy discourses; simultaneously it’s a floor for them to be heard by the policy makers of the country.
CRI Junction
CRI Junction invites young poets, writers, artists, filmmakers, photographers, actors, performing artists and other cultural leaders to express their views on society and the world around them. The objective is to facilitate gatherings of young cultural groups, fuel intellectual debate and explore the various aspects of Bangali arts and culture which undoubtedly affect our nation today. Creative young minds are encouraged to share their ideas on Bangali heritage and culture and discuss how these feed into wider debates on national policy and current affairs. Topics discussed include the future profile of Bangladesh in a globalised world, Bangla language and literature, and the cross-cultural influences of the creative arts in modern Bangladesh.
OUR CENTRAL THEME
OUR DREAMS
The Bangladesh liberation war of 1971 was much more than a political struggle. Rather the principle struggle was a social and economic struggle to emancipate the poor and downtrodden people of Bangladesh. The idea was to create a poverty and exploitation free society. This dream, as envisioned by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is referred as to the dream to create a “Shonar Bangla” or Golden Bangla. In the 42 years since independence, Bangladesh has come a long way in realizing that dream of creating a Golden Bangla with its remarkable advancements in a plethora of sectors indicative of social and economic progress. There is still a long way to go before that dream is considered achieved. CRI believes in promoting and engaging with programmes, organizations and individuals who share this vision of Golden Bangla.
This is the time to make sensible choices for our environment. Bangladesh is one of the countries which stand to be worst affected by global environmental damage and climate change. The forecasted sea-level rise of one meter before the end of the century could permanently displace more than 30-million people in Bangladesh. Although Bangladesh has done little to contribute to this – after all, the country’s carbon emissions per capita is one of the lowest in the world – CRI believes that the time is right for the country to engage in green policies which will ensure the safety and security of future generations. Proactivity from a developing country like Bangladesh will also encourage more developed nations to play their due role in this emerging trend to safeguard the environment. CRI believes in promoting and engaging with programmes, organizations and individuals who share this vision of Green Bangla.