Dhaka: The Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) is preparing to host its Annual BIDS Conference on Development (ABCD) 2025 on December 7-8 at Parjatan Bhaban, Agargaon in the capital.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this year's conference will focus on the theme 'Democracy and Development'. The event aims to provide a platform for the dissemination of research conducted by both national and international scholars while engaging wider communities on contemporary development issues and debates.
The conference will feature the presentation of 20 research papers across six academic sessions. These sessions will cover key areas such as industrial development, labor markets, health systems, food systems, social protection, climate change, and energy transition. The inaugural session will be led by Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud, Adviser at the Ministry of Planning, who will deliver a keynote address titled 'Democracy and Development'. Professor Dr. A. K. Enamul Haque, Director General of BIDS, will deliver the opening remarks.
The event will conclude with a high-level panel discussion on 'Democracy and Development'. Salehuddin Ahmed, Adviser at the Ministry of Finance of Bangladesh, will attend as the chief guest of the panel discussion session, moderated by Professor Dr. A. K. Enamul Haque. Distinguished panelists will include Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, Sultan Hafeez Rahman, KAS Murshid, and Monzur Hossain.
Academic sessions will address topics related to industry, labor market, energy, climate change, climate resilience, agriculture, and health care sectors. A special academic session, led by IFPRI, will focus on food systems, environmental health, and social protection. Researchers from institutions such as BIDS, IFPRI, University of Dhaka, BRAC University, icddr,b, University of Leeds, and the University of Bath will present on topics including flood adaptation, climate-resilient agriculture, industrial transformation, healthcare efficiency, youth employment, women's economic participation, and social safety nets.