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The fist Perspective Plan of Bangladesh covering 2010 to 2021 is being implemented under two five year plans – namely the Sixth Five Year (2010-2015) and the Seventh Five Year (2016-2020). The Sixth Five Year plan has already been implemented. During the implementation of the Sixth Plan two evaluations were carried out – one in 2012 and the other one in 2014. The Seventh Five Year Plan was adopted in 2016 covering 2016 to 2020 period. Successful implementation on any plan – short, medium and long – depends critically on the rigorous monitoring of targets. Following that tradition, review of the implementation of the fist two years of the 7th FYP have been conducted. The main findings of the implementation review of the 7th FYP have been discussed in this report.

বাংলাদেশ সরকার দেশের দারিদ্র্য ও বৈষম্য হ্রাসে এবং জনসাধারণের জীবনমানের উন্নয়নে দৃঢ় অঙ্গীকারবদ্ধ। সরকারের এ অঙ্গীকার বিধৃত হয়েছে রূপকল্প ২০২১, প্রেক্ষিত পরিকল্পনা (২০১০-২০২১) এবং ষষ্ঠ পঞ্চবার্ষিক পরিকল্পনা (২০১১-২০১৫) দলিলে। এ প্রতিশ্রæতির অভীষ্ট লক্ষ্য হলো দারিদ্র্য হ্রাসে ইতোমধ্যে অর্জিত অগ্রগতিকে ভিত্তি করে এগিয়ে যাওয়ার পাশাপাশি দারিদ্র্যের প্রকৃত কারণ উদ্ঘাটন ও তার টেকসই সমাধান। পাশাপাশি, দরিদ্র জনগণ যে সকল ঝুঁকিতে রয়েছে তার প্রভাব কমানোর মাধ্যমে এ অগ্রযাত্রাকে দৃঢ়তর ভিত্তির উপর প্রতিষ্ঠিত করাও এর লক্ষ্যভুক্ত। এটি অনস্বীকার্য যে দারিদ্র্য দূরীকরণে সরকারের অতীত সাফল্য প্রশংসনীয় হলেও জনগণের উল্লেখযোগ্য অংশ নানাবিধ কারণে এখনো দারিদ্র্যঝুঁকিতে রয়ে গেছে যাদের মধ্যে দারিদ্র্যসীমার নীচে অবস্থানকারী জনগোষ্ঠী ছাড়াও রয়েছে দারিদ্র্যসীমার কিছুটা উপরে অবস্থানকারী কিন্তু নানা কারণে দারিদ্র্যসীমার নীচে চলে যাওয়ার ঝুঁকিতে থাকা মানুষজন। দেখা গেছে, দরিদ্র ও প্রায়-দরিদ্র মানুষেরা তাদের নিজস্ব সম্পদ দিয়ে এসব ঝুঁকি ও বিপর্যয় মোকাবেলা করতে সক্ষম হয় না। এসব ঝুঁকি মোকাবেলায় দরিদ্র ও ঝুঁকিগ্রস্ত জনগোষ্ঠীকে সহায়তাকল্পে সরকারের বিভিন্ন সামাজিক নিরাপত্তা বেষ্টনী কর্মসূচি চলমান রয়েছে। বাংলাদেশ পরিসংখ্যান ব্যুরো (বিবিএস) পরিচালিত খানা আয়-ব্যয় জরিপে দেখা গেছে, দরিদ্র ও দারিদ্র্যঝুঁকিতে থাকা জনগোষ্ঠীর জন্য গৃহীত এসব কর্মসূচির আওতা ও পরিধি সময়ের সাথে সাথে বেড়েছে। কিন্তু তথ্য-প্রমাণ থেকে এটাও দেখা যায় যে, দরিদ্র জনগোষ্ঠীর উল্লেখযোগ্য অংশ এখনো এসব কর্মসূচির আওতায় আসেনি। তাছাড়া, নিরাপত্তা বেষ্টনী কর্মসূচিসমূহ থেকে প্রাপ্ত গড় সুবিধার পরিমাণ খুবই কম এবং প্রকৃত মূল্যে তা ক্রমান্বয়ে হ্রাস পাচ্ছে। ফলে একটি কার্যকর সামাজিক নিরাপত্তা ব্যবস্থার অধীনে গৃহীত দারিদ্র্য বিমোচন কর্মসূচিতে ব্যয়িত অর্থের যে প্রভাব থাকা উচিত সে তুলনায় এসব কর্মসুচিতে ব্যয়িত অর্থের প্রভাব অনেক কম। সামাজিক নিরাপত্তামূলক কর্মসূচিতে বিরাজমান বিভিন্ন সমস্যাকে বিবেচনায় নিয়ে বাংলাদেশ সরকার একটি সমন্বিত ও ব্যাপকভিত্তিক জাতীয় সামাজিক নিরাপত্তা কৌশল প্রণয়নের উদ্যোগ গ্রহণ করেছে। এ পরিপ্রেক্ষিতে ২০১২ সালের ১০ সেপ্টেম্বর অনুষ্ঠিত মন্ত্রিসভা বৈঠকে পরিকল্পনা কমিশনের সাধারণ অর্থনীতি বিভাগ (জিইডি)-কে জাতীয় সামাজিক নিরাপত্তা কৌশল (এনএসএসএস) প্রণয়নের দায়িত্ব অর্পণ করা হয়। মন্ত্রিপরিষদ সচিবের নেতৃত্বাধীন সামাজিক নিরাপত্তা বেষ্টনী কর্মসূচি বিষয়ক কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যবস্থাপনা কমিটির (সিএমসি) তত্তাবধানে জিইডি এ কৌশল প্রণয়ন করবে বলে সিদ্ধান্ত গৃহীত হয়। কৌশল প্রণয়নের কর্মপরিধি নির্ধারণ ও সার্বিক তত্তাবধানের দায়িত্বও এই কমিটির উপর ন্যস্ত হয়। এ কৌশলের বিষয়বস্তু ও সুপারিশমালা রচনায় সহায়তাকল্পে আঞ্চলিক ও জাতীয় পর্যায়ে উল্লেখযোগ্য সংখ্যক কর্মশালা, আলাপ-আলোচনা ও সংলাপ আয়োজনের ব্যবস্থা গ্রহণ করা হয়। এ পরিপ্রেক্ষিতে বলা যায়, জাতীয় সামাজিক নিরাপত্তা কৌশল হলো বাংলাদেশের রাজনৈতিক, সামাজিক ও অর্থনৈতিক বাস্তবতা বিবেচনায় প্রণীত সম্পূর্ণভাবে একটি দেশজ কৌশল। সামাজিক নিরাপত্তার ক্ষেত্রে বাংলাদেশের সমৃদ্ধ অতীত অভিজ্ঞতার উপর ভিত্তি করে জাতীয় সামাজিক নিরাপত্তা কৌশল প্রণয়ন করা হয়েছে। এ কৌশলের লক্ষ্য হলো বিদ্যমান সামাজিক নিরাপত্তা বেষ্টনী কর্মসূচিগুলির পরিমার্জন ও সংশ্লেষণের মাধ্যমে এগুলিকে আরও নিখুঁত, দক্ষ ও কার্যকর করে তোলা এবং ব্যয়িত অর্থ থেকে সবার্ধিক সুবিধা অর্জন নিশ্চিত করা। এটি সনাতনী ধারণার পরিবর্তে একটি ব্যাপক ও বিস্তৃত পরিধির আধুনিক সামাজিক নিরাপত্তা ব্যবস্থার প্রচলন ঘটাবে। এই নতুন ব্যবস্থায় ২০২১ সালে মধ্যম আয়ের বাংলাদেশের (যখন অতিদরিদ্র মানুষের সংখ্যা হবে ৫ শতাংশের চেয়ে কম) বাস্তবতায় কর্মসংস্থান নীতি ও সামাজিক বিমা ব্যবস্থাকে অন্তর্ভুক্ত করা হয়েছে। আওতা ও পরিধি বিস্তৃত করার মাধ্যমে এবং কর্মসূচির নকশা ও আদলের উন্নয়ন ঘটিয়ে এ কৌশল একদিকে যেমন আয় বৈষম্য কমাতে সহায়তা করবে, তেমনি অন্যদিকে এটি মানব উন্নয়ন প্রক্রিয়াকে শক্তিশালী করার মাধ্যমে উচ্চতর প্রবৃদ্ধি অর্জনে ভূমিকা রাখবে। সামাজিক নিরাপত্তার এই জাতীয় কৌশলে কেবলমাত্র বাংলাদেশের বাস্তবতাই প্রতিফলিত হয়নি, পাশাপাশি এতে প্রাসঙ্গিক আন্তর্জাতিক দৃষ্টান্তলব্ধ জ্ঞান ও ধারণাও অধিগ্রহণ করা হয়েছে। এই কৌশল প্রণয়নের ভিত্তি হিসেবে সংশ্লিষ্ট বিভিন্ন বিষয়ে আন্তর্জাতিক ও দেশীয় বিশেষজ্ঞদের দ্বারা ১০ টি পটভূমিপত্র (ব্যাকগ্রাউন্ড পেপার) রচনার উদ্যোগ গৃহীত হয়।

The Government of Bangladesh is strongly committed to reducing poverty, improving human development and reducing inequality. This commitment is reflected in Vision 2021, the Perspective Plan of Bangladesh 2010-2021 and in the Sixth Five Year Plan FY11-FY15. The Government seeks to build on past progress with poverty reduction and further deepen this progress by addressing the root causes of poverty and by lowering the impact of risks faced by the poor and vulnerable population. The Government appreciates that notwithstanding the past impressive progress with poverty reduction, there is a substantial population that remains exposed to poverty owing to various vulnerabilities. These include the population that remains under the poverty line and those that are just above the poverty line but could easily fall below the poverty line because of these vulnerabilities. Evidence shows that the poor and vulnerable group cannot cope with all the downside risks and shocks with their own resources. The present safety net programmes reflect the Government’s response to support the poor and the vulnerable population manage those risks. Household Income and Expenditure Surveys (HIES) show that the coverage of these programmes for the poor and vulnerable households has increased and they have helped lower poverty. But data also suggest that a large proportion of the poor and vulnerable households do not have any access to these programmes. The average benefit of safety net programmes is low. There is considerable leakage of allocated funds and a significant percentage of household beneficiaries are non-poor. Consequently, the impact on poverty reduction from the amount of money spent in these programmes is less than is possible with a better Social Security system. In recognition of these concerns, the Government of Bangladesh has embarked upon the formulation of a comprehensive National Social Security Strategy (NSSS). The Cabinet meeting held on 10th September 2012 entrusted the General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission to prepare the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) under the guidance of a Central Management Committee (CMC) for the Social Safety Net Programmes Chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. The CMC provided the terms of reference and overall guidance to the formulation of the NSSS. A Framework Paper was prepared by GED, endorsed by the 11-member Sub-committee of CMC led by Cabinet Division and approved by the Ministry of Planning. A strong process of regional and national consultations helped shape the contents and recommendations of the NSSS. In this regard, the NSSS is fully home-grown and based on the political, social and economic realities of Bangladesh. The NSSS builds on the past rich experience of Bangladesh and seeks to streamline and strengthen the existing safety net programmes with a view to achieving better results from money spent. It also broadens the scope of Social Security from the narrow safety net concept to include employment policies and social insurance to address the emerging needs of a middle income Bangladesh in 2021 and ahead. By broadening the scope and coverage and by improving programme design the NSSS will help lower income inequality and contribute to higher growth by strengthening human development. While the NSSS reflects the realities of Bangladesh, to the extent relevant it also draws on good practice international experience. To facilitate the preparation of the NSSS ten background papers, prepared by a team of international and local experts, were commissioned on the various issues relating to the NSSS

These background studies provided valuable information/inputs which significantly contributed towards drafting the Second Perspective Plan. These studies are rich in contents and, if made available, will enrich the knowledge base relating to development challenges and development options facing Bangladesh. In view of the importance of these studies, it has been decided that GED will publish these studies for making these available to interested readers, researchers and academia. The background papers have been published in six separate volumes. It is expected that these volumes will help the readers to understand the rational for the choice of the specific domain underlying the Plan and the design of the policy package adapted for the Plan for reconciling the goals of effiency with those of equity. The studies attempted to spell out a reform strategy and agenda for agriculture, food security, industrialization, poverty reduction, social inclusion, transportation, quality infrastructure, sustainable management of natural resources, and other development issues like governance, gender, urban development, service sector development, health and population management, human development, ICT and information highway, employment and labour market in the light of current conditions as well as past experience trends.

These background studies provided valuable information/inputs which significantly contributed towards drafting the Second Perspective Plan. These studies are rich in contents and, if made available, will enrich the knowledge base relating to development challenges and development options facing Bangladesh. In view of the importance of these studies, it has been decided that GED will publish these studies for making these available to interested readers, researchers and academia. The background papers have been published in six separate volumes. It is expected that these volumes will help the readers to understand the rational for the choice of the specific domain underlying the Plan and the design of the policy package adapted for the Plan for reconciling the goals of effiency with those of equity. The studies attempted to spell out a reform strategy and agenda for agriculture, food security, industrialization, poverty reduction, social inclusion, transportation, quality infrastructure, sustainable management of natural resources, and other development issues like governance, gender, urban development, service sector development, health and population management, human development, ICT and information highway, employment and labour market in the light of current conditions as well as past experience trends.

These background studies provided valuable information/inputs which significantly contributed towards drafting the Second Perspective Plan. These studies are rich in contents and, if made available, will enrich the knowledge base relating to development challenges and development options facing Bangladesh. In view of the importance of these studies, it has been decided that GED will publish these studies for making these available to interested readers, researchers and academia. The background papers have been published in six separate volumes. It is expected that these volumes will help the readers to understand the rational for the choice of the specific domain underlying the Plan and the design of the policy package adapted for the Plan for reconciling the goals of effiency with those of equity. The studies attempted to spell out a reform strategy and agenda for agriculture, food security, industrialization, poverty reduction, social inclusion, transportation, quality infrastructure, sustainable management of natural resources, and other development issues like governance, gender, urban development, service sector development, health and population management, human development, ICT and information highway, employment and labour market in the light of current conditions as well as past experience trends.

These background studies provided valuable information/inputs which significantly contributed towards drafting the Second Perspective Plan. These studies are rich in contents and, if made available, will enrich the knowledge base relating to development challenges and development options facing Bangladesh. In view of the importance of these studies, it has been decided that GED will publish these studies for making these available to interested readers, researchers and academia. The background papers have been published in six separate volumes. It is expected that these volumes will help the readers to understand the rational for the choice of the specific domain underlying the Plan and the design of the policy package adapted for the Plan for reconciling the goals of effiency with those of equity. The studies attempted to spell out a reform strategy and agenda for agriculture, food security, industrialization, poverty reduction, social inclusion, transportation, quality infrastructure, sustainable management of natural resources, and other development issues like governance, gender, urban development, service sector development, health and population management, human development, ICT and information highway, employment and labour market in the light of current conditions as well as past experience trends.

These background studies provided valuable information/inputs which significantly contributed towards drafting the Second Perspective Plan. These studies are rich in contents and, if made available, will enrich the knowledge base relating to development challenges and development options facing Bangladesh. In view of the importance of these studies, it has been decided that GED will publish these studies for making these available to interested readers, researchers and academia. The background papers have been published in six separate volumes. It is expected that these volumes will help the readers to understand the rational for the choice of the specific domain underlying the Plan and the design of the policy package adapted for the Plan for reconciling the goals of effiency with those of equity. The studies attempted to spell out a reform strategy and agenda for agriculture, food security, industrialization, poverty reduction, social inclusion, transportation, quality infrastructure, sustainable management of natural resources, and other development issues like governance, gender, urban development, service sector development, health and population management, human development, ICT and information highway, employment and labour market in the light of current conditions as well as past experience trends.

These background studies provided valuable information/inputs which significantly contributed towards drafting the Second Perspective Plan. These studies are rich in contents and, if made available, will enrich the knowledge base relating to development challenges and development options facing Bangladesh. In view of the importance of these studies, it has been decided that GED will publish these studies for making these available to interested readers, researchers and academia. The background papers have been published in six separate volumes. It is expected that these volumes will help the readers to understand the rational for the choice of the specific domain underlying the Plan and the design of the policy package adapted for the Plan for reconciling the goals of effiency with those of equity. The studies attempted to spell out a reform strategy and agenda for agriculture, food security, industrialization, poverty reduction, social inclusion, transportation, quality infrastructure, sustainable management of natural resources, and other development issues like governance, gender, urban development, service sector development, health and population management, human development, ICT and information highway, employment and labour market in the light of current conditions as well as past experience trends.

The Handbook will act as a guideline for identifying future projects/programmes in attainting quantitative and qualitative targets set in the 8FYP. Besides, the Ministries/Divisions can use it to monitor the progress based on the targets set in the 8FYP. This Handbook is the second of its kind since the introduction of Five-Year Plan in Bangladesh. The fist one was prepared during the Seventh Five Year Plan period. However, GED is organizing a series of training workshops for the Govt. officials on the “Implementation of the 8FYP & SDGs”. This document will help the officials to be acquainted with their respective Ministry’s objectives/targets to be attained during the plan period. GED hopes that in accordance with this Handbook, the Ministries/Divisions will expedite actions to implement their respective targets.

The General Economics Division (GED) acknowledges the valuable contribution of all concerned from the Ministries/Division, Development Partners, NGOs, and CSOs in preparing the Monograph-7. The GED carried out the task under the close guidance of the Hon'ble Member (Secretary), GED. I also appreciate the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for providing necessary technical and financial support in preparing and printing the Monograph through the "Strengthening Capacity of the General Economics Division (GED) to Integrate Population and Development Issues into Plans and Policies (IPDIPP)" Project. The Monograph-7 has been prepared by compiling three policy papers and the outcomes of the policy dialogues conducted by the IPDIPP project on- i) Strategic Framework to Reap Demographic Dividend through the Implementation of the 8th Five Year Plan; ii) Addressing gender differentials in labor force participation to reap the demographic dividend in Bangladesh, and iii) Urban Sustainability Through Good Population Density Approach.

The preparation of Eighth Five Year Plan (8FYP) was commissioned in 2019. Initially, a ‘National Steering Committee’ was formed under the chairmanship of the Hon’ble Minister of Planning to oversight the preparation of the plan. A Panel of Economists’, under the chairmanship of Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud, was also formed comprising luminous Bangladeshi economists, sociologists, educationalists and experts on relevant filds, who gave continuous support in shaping the 8FYP. In this important initiative, General Economics Division (GED) ensured partnership of all the ministries/divisions/agencies, policy makers, academia, civil society organizations, NGOs, development partners, thinktanks and thought leaders in formulating this plan. A total of twenty (20) background studies were conducted with the help of the eminent experts in their respective filds. As GED is going to publish the background studies in 05 volumes, it would like to exert its gratitude to all the stakeholders involved.

The preparation of Eighth Five Year Plan (8FYP) was commissioned in 2019. Initially, a ‘National Steering Committee' was formed under the chairmanship of the Hon’ble Minister of Planning to oversight the preparation of the plan. A Panel of Economists’, under the chairmanship of Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud, was also formed comprising luminous Bangladeshi economists, sociologists, educationalists and experts on relevant filds, who gave continuous support in shaping the 8FYP. In this important initiative, General Economics Division (GED) ensured partnership of all the inistries/divisions/agencies, policymakers, academia, civil society organizations, NGOs, development partners, thinktanks and thought leaders in formulating this plan. A total of twenty (20) background studies were conducted with the help of the eminent experts in their respective filds. As GED is going to publish the background studies in 05 volumes, it would like to exert its gratitude to all the stakeholders involved.

Population goals have been reset at 3 zeros-zero 'unmet need' for FP and SRH, zero preventable maternal mortality, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices. Bangladesh has a well-recognized history of achievements on population goals but near-term trends underscore the complexity of 'last mile' challenges. Significant service disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic have exposed the systemic weaknesses of FP and SRH services. Compounding such weaknesses are conflicting policy signals on population goals one of whose unintended consequences has been a decay in the field presence of the family planning workforce. A systemic vacuum in urban primary healthcare and lack of government oversight over the dominant role of the private sector in FP and MNCH also serve as critical barriers to realizing the commitments for 3 zeroes. Policy and action priorities derived from an effective reading of ground realities are a strategic urgency. The approach has to be one of the phased action plans, innovative engagement with key stakeholders including the youth, and policy advocacy to establish broad policy buy-in

Bangladesh has achieved impressive success in many developmental indicators in the recent past. The country has already achieved the status of a lower middle-income country and set an ambitious goal of reaching the upper middle-income status by 2030. Endowed with young demography, children aged 0-17 constitute 36 percent of the total population in Bangladesh. According to BBS (2015), the share of children (0-14) accounts for about 30 percent of the total population in 2018. This large number of children will join the workforce in the coming decades and play a vital role in the country’s achievement of its national goals, such as Vision 2041. Therefore, ensuring children’s well-being and upholding their rights must be considered national priorities in Bangladesh. The country’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and various national development strategies such as the five-year plans also require that attention is given to preserving child rights and ensuring their security and protection from all forms of violence, disease, and abuse.

Training Needs and Capacity Assessment (TN&CA) study conducted across the Sector Divisions (SDs) of Bangladesh Planning Commission (BPC) is the first and inimitable attempt to assess the capacity and skill of the SDs for effiently handling the sectoral performance. It is accomplished under the project “Strengthening the Capacity of Development Planning Superstructure for Achieving the Developed Country Status (1st Revised)” being implemented by General Economics Division (GED). The report has portrayed the present status of training organized by the SDs and identified the future needs for capacity enhancement and skill development of the individual officers and the SDs as a whole. Findings of the assessment, as encapsulated in this report, have provided guidelines with regard to the issues pertaining to skill development and categorized future training plan of the SDs. The report has identified the gaps in the training with an objective of sustainability.

The shift from a high mortality and high fertility society to a low mortality and low fertility society is a positive development and a great achievement for Bangladesh
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The Situation of Children in Bangladesh (SiTan) in the Context of Eight Five-Year Plan of Bangladesh Bangladesh has made significant strides in its quest for growth and economic development. The average growth rate over the last ten years has been among the fastest in the world at 5.2 percent (year-on-year). The country’s GDP per capita touched the 1,000 USD milestone in 2014 and rose to 1,906 USD in 2019. Recent figures showed that Bangladesh had the highest Global GDP growth projection for 2020 – outshining its neighbors in South and South East Asia.
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