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The ever-growing phenomenon of children on the move has become a matter of concern across the world. Most of these children are deprived of their rights which are enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Although there exist definitional divergences, these children are generally those who are international or internal migrants, internally displaced or asylum seeking or refugees. 1 It is estimated that about 50 million children are on the move worldwide. 2 This figure is likely to be hugely underestimated, as it considers only those who have migrated across borders or been forcibly displaced within their own countries due to violence and conflicts, and does not take into consideration other factors in the movement of children.
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Social Protection for Children in a Changing Demographic Despite the high levels of poverty and non-monetary deprivations among children, social protection coverage for children is low and disproportionate compared to other age groups. Given the high level of deprivations and return to investment in early years of life is highest, Bangladesh must revisit its SP system to achieve an appropriate balance.

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Bangladesh faces a critical challenge is rapidly urbanizing, of transforming its cities into drivers of equitable economic opportunities and quality living. This emerging urban landscape is particularly challenging for women and children, who face endemic structural and social inequities in their access to urban services, as well as in their routine social and economic existence. The governance challenges in improving urban services are both entrenched and poorly comprehended. An innovative governance framework, and the juxtaposition of beneficial and provider perspectives, can serve to identify the promising pathways for women and child-friendly urban services.
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This report critically evaluates the possibility of promoting the blue economy in Bangladesh through the issuance of blue bonds. The report discusses the blue economy, sustainable and innovative financing strategies, and sustainable bonds for sustainable financing, especially blue bonds. Besides, it explains the opportunities and challenges to initiate the blue bond in the bond market of Bangladesh. In the end, the report proposes required policy actins to introduce blue bonds in the bond market of Bangladesh to finance ocean-based projects and support a sustainable blue economy in the country.

The first mapping handbook “Mapping of Ministries by Targets in the implementation of SDGs aligning with 7th Five Year Plan (2016-20)” was first published in September 2016. This document has been revised mainly for four reasons- 1. Global Indicator Framework has been revisited drastically by the UNSD; 2. A number of ministries have been divided into several divisions; 3. Goal-wise coordinating ministry/division has been assigned by the PMO; 4. this mapping is also warranted to be synced with the custodianship of the international agencies as they can provide us with expertise from around the globe in debunking metadata and generation of new data. See the full document here- Revised Mapping of Ministries/Divisions and Custodian/Partner Agencies for SDG Implementation in Bangladesh

The preparatory process of the Eighth Five Year Plan is marked by the infestation of the major global catastrophe ‘COVID-19’, which has caused consequential economic conundrum across the world. The Eighth Five Year Plan is unique compared to its preceding two plans as it blends the COVID-19 recovery strategies in the macroeconomic framework as well as developing sectoral strategies in the plan. The government was in strong favor of the continuation of the Five Year Plan instead of formulating a separate COVID-19 response plan as discontinuation of the Five Year Plan could slow down the ongoing development initiatives of the government, which are extremely essential to face the challenges of LDC graduation, to meet the targets of SDGs and to fulfill the aspiration of the Vision 2041. Besides, the implementation of the Perspective Plan (PP) 2021-2041 is envisaged in four ‘Five Year Plans’; the first quinquennium starts with the Eighth Five Year Plan. Hence, the main objective of the Eighth Five Year Plan is to start the implementation of PP2021-2041 in a way that brings Bangladesh closer to the goals of achieving UMIC status by 2031 and attaining SDGs targets through managing the challenges of LDC graduation, which will also help to eliminate extreme poverty by 2031.

অষ্টম পঞ্চবার্ষিক পরিকল্পনা প্রণয়ন প্রস্তুতি ২০১৯ সালে শুরু হয়। সূচনালগ্নে, পরিকল্পনাটি প্রণয়নের সার্বিক প্রস্তুতি তদারকির জন্য মাননীয় পরিকল্পনা মন্ত্রীর সভাপতিত্বে একটি জাতীয় স্টিয়ারিং কমিটি গঠন করা হয়েছিল। ড. ওয়াহিদউদ্দিন মাহমুদের সভাপতিত্বে অর্থনীতিবিদ প্যানেলও তৈরি করা হয়, যেখানে দেশের খ্যাতনামা অর্থনীতিবিদ, সমাজবিজ্ঞানী, শিক্ষাবিদ এবং প্রাসঙ্গিক ক্ষেত্রের বিশেষজ্ঞ অন্তর্ভুক্ত ছিলেন, যারা অষ্টম পঞ্চবার্ষিক পরিকল্পনা তৈরিতে অব্যাহত সমর্থন ও সহায়তা দিয়েছেন। এই মহতী উদ্যোগে অর্থাৎ পরিকল্পনাটি প্রণয়নের ক্ষেত্রে জিইডি সরকারের সকল মন্ত্রণালয়/বিভাগ/সংস্থা, নীতি নির্ধারক, একাডেমিয়া, সিভিল সোসাইটি, এনজিও, উন্নয়ন সহযোগী, থিংক ট্যাঙ্ক এবং নতুন চিন্তকদের অংশীদারিত্ব নিশ্চিত করেছে। স্ব স্ব ক্ষেত্রে সর্বজন শ্রদ্ধেয় বিশেষজ্ঞদের সহায়তায় মোট ২৫টি ব্যাকগ্রাউন্ড স্টাডিও সম্পন্ন করা হয়। অষ্টম পঞ্চবার্ষিক পরিকল্পনায় সর্বাধিক গুরুত্ব পেয়েছে সংশ্লিষ্ট মন্ত্রণালয়/বিভাগসমূহ হতে প্রাপ্ত হালনাগাদ তথ্যসমূহ।

the government has adopted Vision 2041 that is a continuation of Digital Bangladesh Vision 2021 and seeks to take the nation to the development path dreamt by Bangabandhu. Specifically, Vision 2041 seeks to eliminate extreme poverty and reach Upper Middle-Income Country (UMIC) status by 2031, and High-Income Country (HIC) status by 2041 with poverty approaching extinction. To convert Vision 2041 into a development strategy, with policies and programmes, this document launches ‘Making Vision 2041 a Reality: Perspective Plan of Bangladesh 2021-2041’ (PP2041). The PP2041 builds on the successes of PP2021, while also drawing on the good practice experiences of current UMICs and HICs that have already travelled the development path that Bangladesh is endeavouring to travel.

The Government of Bangladesh has initiated the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 (Delta Plan or BDP2100) to define a long-term vision for Bangladesh’s development. The Delta Plan links Bangladesh’s medium-term goal to become an upper middle income country with its long-term goals to manage water, ecology, environment, and land resources sustainably. Given its deep experience with managing delta issues, the Government of the Netherlands is providing technical assistance to the Government of Bangladesh for the formulation of the Delta Plan. The General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission is coordinating consultant inputs from BanDuDeltAS (Team A) and Policy Research Institute (Team B) to develop the Delta Plan.

The Bangladesh Delta Plan (BDP) 2100 is a long-term, integrated, and holistic vision of water and land management throughout Bangladesh. It aims to support the country’s long-term development in the face of the opportunities and risks that emerge from the interface between water, climate change, and human activity4. Bangladesh has made great strides in development under the Sixth Five Year Plan (FY2010–FY2015), and aspires to build on this momentum to reach upper middle-income country status and eliminate extreme poverty

The present paper examines this positive poverty reduction experience and points to the need for undertaking further action to ending extreme poverty forever. Accordingly, the paper is structured in nine sections.

The concern with equity has emerged strongly in recent global debates on economic progress. This has happened partly in recognition of the fact that in spite of great strides made by the world in recent times in promoting growth of incomes and ensuring higher standards of living across the globe (the setback caused by the recent financial crisis notwithstanding), inequality between and within nations has not diminished.

This paper was prepared with significant contributions from Dr. AM Zakir Hussain, Professor MQK Talukder *, Dr. Tahmeed Ahmed in close consultations with representatives of the Institute of Public Health Nutrition, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Food Planning and Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of Food, development partner representatives including the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFTD), the Delegation of the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom Department of International Development (DFID), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Bank, and the United Nations Renewed Efforts Against Child Hunger and Undernutrition (UN REACH) agencies FAO, Unicef, WFP and WHO.”

This paper is a highly condensed summary of an earlier more elaborate draft titled “The Impact of Demographic Trends on Socioeconomic Development in Bangladesh: Future Prospects and Implications for Public Policy,” prepared for the UNFPA Bangladesh Country Office and the Genera Economics Division of the Planning Commission of the Government of Bangladesh.

To see Bangladeshi people healthier, happier and economically productive to make the country a middle income country by 2021, despite many challenges to overcome, based on impressive gains achieved in health outcomes in past together with further consolidation of past efforts, new and innovative strategies need to pursue; doing more of the same may not be effective, rather exploration of new ways of doing business is the demand.

South-South cooperation is initiated, organized and managed by developing countries themselves; often, Governments play a lead role, with active participation from public- and private-sector institutions, non-governmental organizations and individuals. It involves different and evolving forms, including sharing of knowledge and experience, training, technology transfer, financial and monetary cooperation and in-kind contributions.

This tracer study is part of 7th Five Year Plan background study series. It focuses on the implementation of Digital Bangladesh vision. The document reviews the progress made in this regard during the 6th Five Year Plan period and recommends specific priorities as well as recommendations to be considered for 7th Five Year Plan.

The purpose of this paper is to (i) make an objective assessment of the nature of performance of the agriculture sector during the 6th Plan period, (ii) identify the factors contributing to the nature of performance, (iii) identify the opportunities and challenges for the future, especially for the 7th Plan period and (iv) propose policies and strategies to address the challenges and opportunities.

The present paper reviews progress on gender equality under the SFYP, recommends priority issues to be addressed, and suggests strategies for consideration while preparing the 7FYP. Section 2 of the report sets the situation of Bangladesh within the current global and Asia-Pacific regional context. Section 3 reviews the progress of the SFYP in line with the strategy for gender equality and women’s empowerment and Section 4 provides an analysis of the challenges and limitation of achieving the targets of the SFYP.