Bangladesh’s economic progress must be judged by its impact on people’s lives, speakers said at the Syed Humayun Kabir Memorial Research Symposium 2026, calling for evidence-based policy, stronger public institutions and greater attention to inequality.
Delivering the keynote address virtually, internationally acclaimed economist Professor Kaushik Basu said Bangladesh could take a leading role among emerging economies by strengthening fairness, justice, the rule of law and democratic institutions.
“GDP is not the only indicator; the real question is how progress translates into wellbeing,” said Professor Basu, a professor of economics at Cornell University and former Chief Economist of the World Bank.
He also warned that the rise of artificial intelligence could create new forms of inequality, making the question of who benefits from progress more urgent.
SAJIDA Foundation organised the daylong symposium in partnership with Banglar Pathshala Foundation at Dhaka Sheraton. Centred on the theme “Justice, Capabilities and Wellbeing: Rethinking Human Development for a More Just Bangladesh,” the event brought together researchers, policymakers, academics and development practitioners to consider how research can inform programmes and national policy.
SAJIDA Foundation Chairman Farooq Sobhan stressed the importance of sustaining the organisation’s founding values. “Institutions earn public trust through leadership, accountability, and a system built on merit, driven by results,” he said.
Former finance minister M Syeduzzaman said improving public education and healthcare would require stronger government revenue. “We need a better tax-to-GDP ratio if government services are to improve,” he said.
In her closing remarks, SAJIDA Foundation CEO Zahida Fizza Kabir said the discussions raised questions that would guide the organisation’s work. “How do we translate economic growth into wellbeing? Is inequality rising even as we grow?” she asked. She said SAJIDA would draw on the symposium’s insights as it works to strengthen its systems and carry its founder’s values forward.
Inspired by Professor Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach, the symposium examined health and livelihoods, urban resilience, climate adaptation, institutional quality and governance. Ahmed Javed Chowdhury, founder of Banglar Pathshala Foundation, delivered the welcome remarks.
Dr Sajeda Amin, Sociologist and Demographer and Senior Research Advisor at SAJIDA Foundation, underscored the need to connect research with action. “Doing good research is important, but communicating the research is equally, if not more, important,” she said.
The “Leading with Purpose: Governance, Transparency & Accountability” panel was moderated by Barrister Rashna Imam, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Panellists were Farooq Sobhan; M Syeduzzaman; Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh; and Shehzad Munim, Independent Director of Linde Bangladesh Limited.
Journalist Farabi Hafiz moderated “Building for Tomorrow: Institutions, Innovation & Quality,” featuring Md Fazlul Kader, Managing Director of Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation; Syed S. Kaiser Kabir, MD and CEO of Renata Limited; Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, Member of the Board of Trustees of BRAC University; human rights activist Dr Hameeda Hossain; and Dr Firdausi Qadri, Emeritus Scientist at icddr,b and Founding Chairman and Lead of iDeshi.
The “Health, Livelihood & Capability Expansion” session featured research presentations by SAJIDA Foundation’s Jyotirmoy Saha and Shamira Mostafa. Dr Kazi Iqbal, Research Director at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, chaired the discussion, joined by Professor Dr A. I. Mahbub Uddin Ahmed of the University of Dhaka and Dr Imran Matin, Executive Director of BIGD.
At “Agency, Wellbeing & Urban Resilience,” Namira Shameem, Senior Research Associate at the Power and Participation Research Centre, presented research findings. Professor Sabina Faiz Rashid of the BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health chaired the session, with Barrister Sajeda Farisa Kabir of SAJIDA Foundation and Kabita Bose of Plan International Bangladesh as panelists.
The “Climate Adaptation, Knowledge & Structural Constraints” session opened with a presentation by SAJIDA Foundation Lead Researcher Md Nurul Islam. Dr Ainun Nishat, Professor Emeritus at BRAC University, chaired the discussion with Md Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive of the Center for Participatory Research and Development, and Professor Shaheen Islam of the University of Dhaka.
Barrister Sara Hossain, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and Honorary Executive Director of the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, moderated the closing session, “From Evidence to Programme and Policy.” Speakers were Dr Shamaruh Mirza of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care; Dr Foara Tasmim Palmy of the Directorate General of Health Services; Dr Leslye Obiora of the University of Arizona; Farah Kabir of ActionAid Bangladesh; Dr Malabika Sarker of Brown University; and physician and entrepreneur Dr Tasnim Jara.