YPF Series
There is a time and place for every initiative, sometimes through need and sometimes through want. Young Bangladeshis have long wanted their own policy dialogue platform, a medium through which they can access the sort of expert, unbiased opinion that is availaable elsewhere in the world, such as BBC’s Hard Talks or Oxford Union style debates.
The current pandemic has brought that need to the forefront, and in response, Youth Policy Forum (YPF) has introduced its flagship series “Talking Policies with Dr. Akhtar Mahmood Recently retired from the World Bank Group, Dr. Mahmood has worked in over 30 countries in his nearly three-decade-long career at the WBG. His areas of work included private sector development, investment climate, privatization and regulatory reforms He is also deeply interested in the dynamics of policy reform, including both policy formulation as well as implementation And, over the years, has become synonymous with nuanced and hard-hitting policy advice.
Episode 01: Economic Policies in the Times of Crisis
Guest: Dr. Fahmida Khatun
Episode 02: The National Budget as a Critical Policy Instrument
Guest: Dr. Mohammad Tareque
Episode 03: The Quest for an Egalitarian Bangladesh A Journey through History
Guest: Dr. Nurul Islam
Episode 04: Growth, Competitiveness, and Macroeconomic Policies
Guest: Dr. Zahid Hussain
Episode 05: Reluctant Urbanism: Unpacking the Spatial Politics of Our Cities
Guest: Adnan Zillur Morshed, PhD
Episode 06: The Idea of Bangladesh
Guest: Dr. Kamal Hossain
Episode 07: Time for a Paradigm Shift in the Garments Industry?
Guest: Professor Mohammad A Momen
As Bangladesh approaches the golden jubilee of its independence, it’s time for us to take stock of where we stand as a nation, identify our faultlines, and pave the ‘Road to Reforms’. With a focus on preparing a youth-led reform matrix for a paradigm shift in Bangladesh, Youth Policy Forum (YPF) introduced its “Road to Reforms” series. The series will critically analyze the progress, challenges, and possible reforms for different sectors including healthcare, education, social protection, etc. In that regard, YPF has formed sector-based ‘reform panels’ consisting of youths and experts. The series will culminate in a publication on the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s victory day.
Episode 01: Youth Consultation – Foreign Policy
Guest: Shahed Aziz, Rezwan Masud
Episode 02: Bangladesh’s Foreign Policy Priorities in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Guest: Shahriar Alam, MP; Amb. M. Humayun Kabir; Amb. Farooq Sobhan; Dr. Akhtar Mahmood
Episode 03: Reforms in Foreign Policy: Academicians’ Panel
Guest: Imtiaz Ahmed; Lailufar Yasmin
Continuing our work from the annual “Future of Our State” conference, the “Equality of Opportunities” series aims to shed light on structural inequalities and socio-economic discrimination through a variety of lenses, like class difference, ethnicity, physical disabilities, cognitive disabilities, etc. Through this series, we wish to educate our audience on the systemic and incredibly nuanced nature of discrimination and discuss ways to combat them to create equal opportunities for the people who face such things.
Inequalities based on income, sex, age, disability, race, class, ethnicity, religion and opportunity continue to prevail all over the world and among the countries. Inequality abdicates socio-economic development of a country, shortens the possibility of poverty reduction, and harms people’s sense of self-worth. So, to create a sustainable pathway for a better future, our program “Equality of opportunities” will create an equal sense of existence, compassion and empathy for all sorts of people in the society.
Episode 01: Local Economic Development Institutions and Public Service Delivery
Guests: Dr. Mohammad Tarikul Islam, Dr. Asif M Shahan, Myat Moe Khaing, Mohammad Taufiqul Islam
In light of the COVID 19 pandemic, YPF has hosted multiple webinars regarding the health, political economy, and social consequences of the pandemic and the lockdown to facilitate discussions amongst the youth and experienced policymakers. Since the budget for fiscal year 2020-2021 will hold immense importance for Bangladesh, YPF decided to hold their own Budget Dialogue focusing on 7 different sectors. The dialogues consisted of a research component from YPF s research team, panelist contribution from experts in each sector, and an open question/answer session from the audience
The objective of the dialogue was to address challenges and formulate policy recommendations regarding the budget 2020-21 amidst the COVID-19 induced socio-economic crisis Additionally, this dialogue serves YPF s greater purpose of establishing policy makers from the youth who will engage in evidence-based policymaking for Bangladesh.
Many foreign investors will shift the places they invest in as the world emerges from the pandemic This is a great opportunity for Bangladesh to attract these investors as they look for potential markets this will aid in Bangladesh s increased competitiveness in the global market.
YPF’s “Rethinking FDI: For the Many” series was designed to formulate recommendations to attract investors and advocate for proper policy reforms and implementation.
Episode 01: FDI – Enhancing Spillovers
Guest: Dr. Akhtar Mahmood, Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Mamun Rashid
Episode 02: What Do Investors Want?
Guest: Rupali Chowdhury, Yasir Azman
Episode 03: Investment Policy and Regulatory Reforms
Guest: Ahasanul Islam Titu, Nihad Kabir, Mosharraf Bhuiyan, Dr. Akhtar Mahmood
Episode 04: Organizing the Government to Effectively Attract FDI
Guest: Mamdood Hossain Alamgir, Bijoy Bhattacharjee, Miah Rahmat Ali, Dr. Akhtar Mahmood
We believe ‘History’ is not just some boring collection of dates, years, or events. The very essence of history is in its lessons. That’s why, those who forget their history, end up repeating it. To see history in a different lens and get policy lessons from it, YPF has launched this series named “YPF Looking Back : Lessons from the Past”.
Each month, we select 1 or 2 topics. Our research team carries out in-depth research on them. Then they produce stunning infographics, articles, papers etc. and present their findings in a webinar consisting of expert panelists.
Episode 01: Lessons from the East Asian Miracle
Md. Nurul Quadir, Sharmin Ahmad, Barrister M Amir-ul-Islam, and Barrister Tania Amir
Episode 02: Leadership lessons from our Wartime Government
Guest: Md. Nurul Quadir,Barrister M Amir-ul-Islam and Barrister Tania Amir
Publications:
1. Making of the Miracle – Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore
2. Diplomatic Manoeuvre – The Birth of Bangladesh