BFDR at A Glance

The Bangladesh Foundation for Development Research was established in 1996-the Silver Jubilee year of Bangladesh’s Independence. The main objectives of the Foundation are as follows :
a.   To compile a factual and unbiased history of Bangladesh through research on Bangla Language, Liberation War, Culture, Formation of the Bangalee nation and state;
b.   To undertake research as a Think Tank on various social, political and economic issues facing the nation and suggest policy options for the policy makers and the people.
c.   To organize roundtable conferences, seminars, workshops, discussion meetings, exhibitions and publications on Bangla Language, Literature, Culture, Liberation War, Social-Economic-Political issues and also on Election and electoral system etc.   
Eminent citizens with firm commitment to Bangalee nationalism, non-communalism, democracy, development, self-reliance and the spirit of our Liberation War are among the Trustee Members and Board of Governors of the Foundation. An Eminent scholar, a noted writer and a leading intellectual of the country National Professor Kabir Chowdhury is the Chairman of the Foundation. Mr. Monaem Sarker, a noted writer, columnist and social worker is its Director General. Its founder chairman was late SAMS Kibria, former Finance Minister, who was brutally killed in a grenade attack on 27 January 2005 during a political meeting in his Habiganj district.

Activities of the Foundation

In consonance with the work procedure of its Prospectus & Constitution the Foundation adopted an all-out progrmme to implement different important projects since its inception, in 1996. Some of its projects are noted below :

Books and Monographs

Significant publications of the Foundation are : Bangladesher Mukti Sangramer Itihas (History of the Bangladesh Liberation Movement, 1947-71) and Sheikh Mujib, Ekti Lal Golap (Sheikh Mujib, a Red Rose). Bangladesh Foundation also compiled speeches, statements, declarations etc. of the Bangabandhu under the title of Bangaleer Kanttha (Voice of the Bangalees). “Development Through Democratization and Decentralization : The Case of Bangladesh”, “The Multidimensional Nature of Poverty in Bangladesh : Issues, Evidence and Future Directions”, “Joint Front Against Anti-Liberation Forces” etc are among its recent publications. Another remarkable publication of the Foundation is Sarba Kaler Sarba Sreshttha Bangali (The Greatest Bangalee of All Times). The Foundation prepared a manuscript of the book on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman : Jibon o Rajniti (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman : His Life and Politics) and was submitted to the Bangla Academy as per contract for publication. The book came out during ‘Boi Mela 2008’ last.

The Academy published the book in two parts. The life, politics, economic conditions, earlier movements in the sub continent and the-then East Pakistan for freedom and economic emancipation in the sub-continent are the subject- matter of the first part while the second part of the book contains some important aspects of Bangabandhu’s historic speech, war of liberation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu’s return to his own independent land Bangladesh from the death cell of Pakistani Jail as a free man who worked to reconstruct his hard-earned country from the ruins upto 15 August 1975. On this date he was assassinated brutally along with other members of his family by foreign agents and local traitors to take revenge for the defect in the liberation war. The Academy has fixed the price of both parts together of the book at Tk. 1,000/- and US $ 50.00 only. The Academy has plan to publish the book in English and other languages of the world.    

Seminars

The Foundation organized a seminar on Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Treaty. It also organized a number of seminars on different topics during the period March 1997 to January 2006. The seminar topics were SWADHINATA BIRODHI CHAKRER BIRUDDHE JUKTAFRONT : CHUANNOR ABHIGGATA, “Political Terrorism in the context of National & International Fields”, “Development Strategy of Bangladesh”, “Present Political, Economic & Social Conditions of the Country,” “Political Terrorism: Recent Killings”, “Rise of Fundamentalist Forces in Bangladesh,” “Democracy : Sheikh Hasina in the UN”, “Democracy, Voting Rights and Human Rights”, “Bangladesh Vision 2020 and Gas Policy”, “Distortion of the History of Liberation War in Textbooks-2002”, “Thoughts on City (Dhaka) Development and Governance”, “Election 2001 : Role of Civil Society”, “Concept of Liberation War and present Bangladesh”, “Export of Gas and National Interest”, “Designing a Pro-Poor Budget for Bangladesh”, “International Terrorism : Bangladesh Context”, Commemorative lecture on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Emergence of Bangladesh, etc. Discussants of all the seminars included leading members of the civil society and intelligentsia, prominent politicians, educationists, eminent journalists, writers etc.

Thematic Maps

The publication of three THEMATIC MAPS on Muktibahini (RESISTANCE CAMPS, REFUGEE CAMPS AND MUJIBNAGAR GOVERNMENT) during the Liberation War in 1971 is a crowning achievement of the Foundation.

Video CDs on Liberation War
Another milestone activity of BFDR is the Historical Documentation on Bangladesh Liberation struggle. It includes the history of liberation struggle and the nine-month War of Liberation (Muktijuddh). The Title of the video document is ‘BANGLADESHER MUKTISANGRAM (Liberation War of Bangladesh). It is recorded in Beta-Com Cassette, 30 minutes each in 22 Episodes. These are transferred into VHS, CD & DVD.

Other Projects

BFDR has started two remarkable projects, namely commemorative lecture on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and on SAMS Kibria. Of these projects the first one was held in August 2005 and the first commemorative lecture on SAMS Kibria was held on 26th January 2006.
Besides these, BFDR has taken the task of distributing computer sets among different educational institutions for good use of these by the SSC level students. The Publication of monographs on different subjects is an ongoing project of BFDR.

Visit of Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury

Visit of eminent journalist-columnist-writer and composer of Amar Ekushey (immortal 21st February) song Amar Bhaier Rakte Rangano Ekushey February (The 21st February stained with my brother’s blood) Abdul Gaffer Chowdhury living in London (UK) for quite long time visited the Foundation which arranged projection of his Docu-Drama Palashi Theke Dhanmondi (From Plassy to Dhanmondi) in December 2005 last. He stayed at the premises of the Foundation from 7th March the day of his arrival in Bangladesh upto the date of his departure (15.4.07) from the country to London. During his stay in Dhaka many eminent persons of different professions and people from all walks of life met him and exchanged views and wished him a long life. From BFDR office Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury carried out all his programmes in Bangladesh & India. Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury has chalked out plan to produce a full-length movie in English on Bangabandhu’s life on behalf of the Red Rose Film Company, London, UK. The BFDR will act as a liaison office in Bangladesh during the production of this historic movie.