The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Report

Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam urged the international donors to change their mindset in funding developments through government and non-governmental channels.

They are "neither angels nor devils," he said while addressing a discussion on 'the research and policy divide: Meeting the policy research challenge in Bangladesh' held at the LGED auditorium yesterday in the capital. Responding to some discussants' allegation against the funding agencies, the Adviser said, donors are human beings, not angels or devils. So their mindset could be changed through discussion.

He mentioned that the recommendations that are coming out from the researchers have very little connection with the reality and policy demand.

"The researchers have to change the mindset of the donors. Policymakers have to change their mindset as well about the researchers, " he added. The discussion was organised by Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), which was sponsored by Manusher Jonno Foundation.

BIDS Director General Dr Quazi Shahabuddin chaired the moot where Prof Mosharraf Hossain was present as guest of honour and the Foundation executive director Shaheen Anam as special guest.

Pointing out the lack of good research in the recent times, Dr Aziz termed research as a time-consuming matter, but the policymakers or donors are not allowing the researchers to give considerable time to finish a research.

He called it administrative problem rather than a financial one.

The Adviser of the caretaker government blamed some researchers also for their callousness. "In this fiscal budget the government allocated Tk350 crore for research in agriculture, but, after six months, I am yet to have any guideline from the researchers," he said.

He also took to task a section of researchers who are politically biased. "Our society is highly politicised, that's why we find some recommendations politically biased," Dr Aziz told his audience mostly comprising researchers.

He pointed out that the BIDS is now suffering from "reputation crisis" in the recent years as some of its senior and good researchers desert this official research think-tank.

"I don't know the reasons behind their leaving-it might be the salary or any other thing. But if you have any problem, I would suggest you to communicate to me," he said.

BIDS research director KAS Murshid presented keynote in the discussion on 'Bridging the research and policy divide-Introductory remarks'.