October 02, 2014
Development Updates
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Standing on the verge of terminal year (2015) of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) it is encouraging to note that Bangladesh has already met several major targets of the MDGs like reducing headcount poverty and poverty gap ratio, attaining gender parity at primary and secondary education, under five mortality rate reduction, containing HIV infection with access to anti-retroviral drugs, children under five sleeping under insecticide treated bed nets, detection and cure rate of TB under DOTS and others. Mostly utilizing its own fund, on top, Bangladesh has made commendable progress in reducing the prevalence of underweight children, increasing enrolment at primary schools, lowering the infant mortality rate and maternal mortality ratio, improving immunization coverage and reducing the incidence of communicable diseases. Every Achievement comes with some challenges also. Now, the major challenge for the country is to ensure pro-poor economic growth that can lead to creation of more jobs, better employment and higher household income. Structural realities and constraints such as limited land for cultivation, high population density and environmental issues represent significant challenges.
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Observing the astonishing economic progress in Bangladesh for last couple of years, every major economic research suggests that Bangladesh has turned itself into a golden land in terms of doing business; and people of the country are satisfied enough with the pace of progress and development. Overcoming the challenges of worldwide recession in FY 2011-12, Bangladesh has been able to keep a consistent rate of growth over 6 (six) percent. Even, many prominent Economic forums believe that Bangladesh has enough potential to join in the “7 percent club” at any moment. Not that there has been only a radical change in GDP, rather we observe significant increasing in export earnings, domestic and national savings, national revenue reception, remittance inflow, foreign exchange reserve, FDI inflows and other macro-economic indicators.
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In recent times Bangladesh has made significant gains in health outcomes. In terms of providing primary health care the country has made important strides and most of the health indicators show steady gains and the health status of the population has improved. Presently, number of steps has been taken by the government to improve its leadership and regulatory role to improve equity and quality of services, especially to reach the poor and the disadvantaged. It is now globally recognized that among countries that provide free medical services to the people at the community level through various public health facilities, Bangladesh has a top-ranking position in this regard. The primary healthcare is provided through an extensive network of health facilities extended down to the community level with upward referral linkages.
Youth Voice in Politics & Development
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Centre for Research and Information (CRI) organized a Policy Café titled “Prioritizing Neurodevelopemental Disorders” with the global mental health advocate and Chair of the National Advisory Committee on Autism & Neurodevelopment Disabilities, Bangladesh. A compound group of participants including young social activists, young relevant professionals, and representatives from Government & non-government organizations were the partakers of the program. The young activists and students shared a number of concerns with Saima Wazed Hossain which need to be prioritized notably developing a culture of tolerance and understanding, special needs’ schools and trained teachers, need for early screening and diagnosis, raising awareness in rural niches, accessibility of disabled persons in job sectors and others.
Youth Platforms
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The Young Bangla project is targeted in response to youth engagement and empowerment. Through intensive field work and research, it will gather the information and enlist the youth organization from all corner of Bangladesh whoever is working for the betterment of the country. The project consists of different kind of components and events. Bangladesh Youth Policy Parliament is one of them and designed by the Centre for Research & Information (CRI) to upfront the Bangladeshi youth to the policy makers of the country. It is an attempt to bring the words of the youth into the documents through field survey, workshop and Focus Group Discussion. This is the platform where the problems of community and society will be filtered by the youth. It would be an open policy parliament for all the young of Bangladesh to share their voice with the current policy makers of the country.
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Joy Bangla Youth Award is one of the side-event of Young Bangla Project made to recognize the positive social welfare movement of the youth of Bangladesh. The Joy Bangla Youth Award will be presented to the young active citizens who have epitomized the spirit of youth and provided extraordinary services to their communities through innovation, strength of mind and revolutionary thinking. This award is designed to recognize the individuals who have dedicated themselves in developing action plan and lasting solutions on local and global levels. This award will be given in 10 categories to 30 young achievers in their respective sectors.
Centre for Research and Information
House 2, Road 11 (new) 32 (old)
Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka 1209
Tel: +88029111260, Fax: +88029111319