- History & mandate
Four Decades of Independent Research Excellence
Established as a premier non-profit research organization in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP) has spent over forty years generating empirical insights, shaping public policy, and fostering sustainable development frameworks. It was established in 1980 and is registered with the Government of Bangladesh under the Societies Act 1860. When it was established in 1980, it was virtually the first of its kind in the country and represented a new vision. Nationally and internationally, the organization is usually known as BUP. It is a well-established leading think-tank of Bangladesh.
Core Mandate: To bridge the gap between academic research & practical policy implementation, addressing critical challenges in environmental sustainability, climate vulnerability, & socioeconomic equity.
Registered NGO
Registered with the NGO Affairs Bureau, Government of Bangladesh.
Recognized
Over four decades of independent research, policy engagement and contributions to sustainable development in Bangladesh and beyond
Our Vision
The vision that inspirits BUP's work is the vision of Bangladesh as a democratic, economically self-reliant, just, and vibrant society in which every citizen will have access to opportunities for achieving their full human potential in an environment of individual and collective security.
Our Mission
In pursuit of the vision of BUP, its mission is to generate ideas and policy directions through research and dialogue on a continuing basis towards fostering a people-centred culture of development.
- what we do
Our Areas of Work
Environment & Ecosystems
Researching natural resource management, ecological balance, and sustainable infrastructure.
Climate Adaptation & Mitigation
Developing resilient strategies and sustainable energy solutions for vulnerable communities.
Socioeconomic Development
Studying poverty alleviation, rural development, and human welfare for sustainable progress.
Sub-regional Cooperation
Promoting regional collaboration, knowledge sharing, and community resilience across the Bay of Bengal.
- Our Journey
Milestones that shaped BUP
Institutional Profile & Governance
Legal Status
Founded in 1980 and registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 as an independent non-profit policy research institute.
Institutional Alignment
Holds official membership in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the UNFCCC Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN).
Core Philosophy
Bridges academic research, environmental and climate science, social development, green technology promotion, disaster management, and evidence-based public policy formulation
Chronological Milestones & Publications
1980–1994
Established macro-socioeconomic baselines; launched Bangladesh's first dedicated public opinion tracking program.
1997–2005
Founded the Asia Pacific Journal on Environment and Development.
2011
Spearheaded multi-country dialogues for the Bay of Bengal Initiative and the South Asian Growth Quadrangle (SAGQ), laying ground for frameworks like BIMSTEC and BBIN.
2007
Co-anchored regional climate, watershed, and crop modeling capacity workshops (APN CAPABLE) for scientists across Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan.
2007–2010
Served as the Secretariat for "Imagine a New South Asia" (INSA), feeding joint policy blueprints directly into SAARC Summits.
2008–2009
Played a foundational role drafting and revising the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP).
2010–2014
Key contributor to the FAO-backed Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) programme across 8 coastal nations.
2018–2019
Facilitated technology-sharing summits in South Korea (KICT/GTC) and hosted the Final National Synthesis Workshop at PKSF in Dhaka to introduce resilient coastal housing and household desalination technologies.
Strategic Portfolio & Focus Areas
Water Diplomacy & Basin Management
Long-term research on the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) basins to support bilateral river-sharing negotiations.
Bay of Bengal Climate Justice
Cross-border research and advocacy on shared ecological vulnerabilities in South Asia.
Technology Matching (Korea-CTCN)
Adapting household-level desalination units and high-density, salt-resistant building materials for coastal Bangladesh.
Macroeconomic Assessments & Finance
Conducting UNDP-funded vulnerability assessments (Agriculture, Energy, Water) and auditing coastal policies to unlock international climate funds.
Localized Resilience & Governance
Publishing community flood management manuals and organizing national roundtables with state bodies like the Planning Commission and Ministry of Environment.
- Leadership & Board
Guided by Experienced Leadership
BUP’s strategic direction and governance are anchored by a distinguished Board of Directors and senior researchers committed to scientific rigor and institutional integrity.
Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad (PhD)
Founder Chairman
One of Bangladesh’s most distinguished economists, development thinkers, institution builders, and respected public intellectuals. In recognition of his outstanding contributions at both national and international levels, Dr. Ahmad has received numerous prestigious awards and honours, including the Independence Award, Bangladesh’s highest civilian state honour, and the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second-highest civilian honour.
For more than six decades, he has made significant contributions to enriching Bangladesh’s development thinking and advancing its development journey.
Rezaul Karim (PhD)
Chairman
A distinguished Bangladeshi environmental specialist, hydrologist, and civil engineer with extensive international experience in environmental management, climate change, sustainable development, and water resources. He served in senior positions with the United Nations, including Chief of the Environment Unit at UNESCAP and Coordinator of the Asia Unit at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). His contributions to regional environmental cooperation, climate policy, and flood forecasting have supported sustainable development initiatives in Bangladesh and across the Asia-Pacific region.
Pratima Paul Majumder (PhD)
Vice-Chariman
A distinguished Bangladeshi economist, development researcher, and leading scholar in gender studies, women’s empowerment, and poverty alleviation. A former Senior Research Fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), she earned her PhD from the University of Warsaw, Poland, in 1978. Her pioneering research on women’s employment, labour rights, gender-responsive budgeting, urban poverty, and the ready-made garment industry has contributed significantly to development research and policy discourse in Bangladesh. She has authored numerous influential publications.
Jahangir Alam Khan (PhD)
Vice-Chairman
An eminent agricultural economist, distinguished researcher, academic, and freedom fighter of Bangladeshi with over four decades of contributions to agricultural economics, rural development, and public policy. He formerly served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Global Village and Director General of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI). A prolific scholar and author, his extensive research has contributed significantly to agricultural development, poverty alleviation, and economic policy formulation in Bangladesh. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to research, he was awarded the prestigious Ekushey Padak in 2020.
K B Sajjadur Rasheed (PhD)
Member
A distinguished Bangladeshi geographer, environmental researcher, and academic with extensive experience in environmental management, climate change, water resources, and sustainable development. He served as the Chairman of the Department of Geography of the University of Dhaka. His extensive research, publications, and consultancy work have contributed significantly to environmental policy, natural resource management, and regional cooperation in Bangladesh and South Asia.
Professor Hannana Begum
Member
A distinguished Bangladeshi economist, academic, author, and women’s rights advocate, widely recognized for her contributions to gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and education. She formerly served as Principal of Eden Mohila College, Chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), and Director of Bangladesh Bank. A prolific author on gender and development issues, she has represented Bangladesh at United Nations forums on women’s rights. She has also held leadership positions in the Bangladesh Economic Association and Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, contributing significantly to women’s advancement, education policy, and socioeconomic development.
Bazlur Rahman Sikder (FCS)
Member
An experienced Bangladeshi corporate governance and company secretarial professional. A Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Bangladesh (ICSB), he formerly served as Company Secretary of STS Group, associated with prominent healthcare and educational institutions, including Apollo Hospitals Dhaka and International School Dhaka. He has also served on the Secretarial Practice (Standard) Sub-Committee of ICSB, contributing his professional experience to the field of company secretarial practice and corporate governance in Bangladesh.
Mohammad Abdul Mannan
Member
A distinguished Bangladeshi public administrator, development professional, author, and literary figure with extensive experience in governance, public administration, and institutional management. A former Additional Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh, he has held senior positions in several ministries and government institutions, including the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) and the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU). A graduate of the University of Dhaka, he has also contributed to public-sector modernization and development initiatives. An accomplished writer, he has authored and edited 49 books. He has been serving as Chairman of the Gazipur Development Authority since September 2024.
Md Rezaul Karim
Member
A renowned insurance professional and corporate leader of Bangladesh with over four decades of experience in insurance management, institutional governance, and financial services. He formerly served as Managing Director of Sadharan Bima Corporation and Managing Director & CEO of Pragati Insurance PLC, where he currently serves as an Advisor. He also held the prestigious position of Vice Chairman of the Asian Reinsurance Corporation, Bangkok. A graduate of the University of Dhaka, his extensive expertise in underwriting, claims management, reinsurance, and corporate leadership has contributed significantly to the development of insurance sector of the country.
Md. Shahidul Alam
Member
- Governance Framework & Institutional Compliance
Transparent Administration & Accountability
Operating under a robust structural framework, BUP adheres to rigorous administrative, ethical, and financial standards that satisfy national requirements and international donor expectations.