MAGD Program Thesis Papers (BRAC Institute of Governance and Development)
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Item Cost overrun in infrastructure projects: case study of Bangladesh roads & highways department(BRAC University, 2023-01) Khan, Md. A. Alim; Khair, RizwanTransportation infrastructure plays a vital role in every nation’s Socio-Economic development and hence the size of the road network in a country is often used to assess the extent of its national development. In Bangladesh, Roads and Highways Department (RHD) is responsible for the construction and the maintenance of the major road and bridge networks. Since establishment of RHD the size of the major road network in Bangladesh has grown from 2500 kms to the present network of 22,476 kms. To keep up with the growth of the economy, roads and bridges built and maintained under RHD plays a vital role, which also includes safety and reliability of the road network. A proper development of the transportation road network will reduce the cost of transportation, both in terms of money and time; will also help in the integration of various regions within the country and may also create opportunity to create international road network. Objective of the study includes collection of necessary information of road and bridge development projects ranges over previous 20 years, to analyse the data and corelate causes of cost overrun and key factors involved. In preliminary assessment for this study includes the key factors to be considered. The factors considered for this thesis are, type of projects; Key Personnel; source of Funding; requirement of changes in the original plan; project size in terms of value, utility relocation requirement may need to be considered. Within the scope of this thesis, corelations between cost overrun was considered over the factors that is discussed above and it was found that cost overrun is positively related with time overrun, contract revisions, land acquisition and projects which includes bridges. 'Project duration' has been found to have the greatest effect on cost overrun. This is followed by 'project with bridge', which again is followed by variable - 'land acquisition'. This ranking may help decision makers employ limited resources to execute project management more prudently. Further research and evaluation in this sector may also create further fundings and the appropriateness the outcome may be evaluated for the department. Impact of the prevention may play a vital role to cost saving and reduce the waste in form of potential national economic and financial losses. It could easily be understood that a minor improvement to the efficacy of the Roads development section may greatly impact improving the markets, production, jobs, health, education and other social services.Item Policy innovations for improving food safety in Bangladesh – a mixed method study(BRAC University, 2025) Amin, Kazi Hafizul; Bhuiyan, M. Musharraf HossainFood safety has become a growing governance and public health concern in Bangladesh, affecting consumer confidence, export competitiveness, and overall quality of life. Despite policy reforms such as the National Food Safety Act 2013 and the establishment of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), the effectiveness of food safety management remains limited due to weak institutional coordination, resource constraints, and inadequate public awareness. This thesis examines the policy innovations that aim to strengthen food safety governance in Bangladesh through a mixed-method study combining qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Primary data was collected through interviews with policymakers, regulators, producers, and consumers, complemented by secondary data from government and international reports. The analysis identifies three key dimensions of reform: (1) institutional collaboration and regulatory integration; (2) technological innovation, including digital monitoring and traceability; and (3) multi-stakeholder participation to ensure accountability and sustainability. Findings indicate that while Bangladesh has made progress in establishing a legal framework for food safety, enforcement remains inconsistent across agencies. Innovations such as risk-based inspection, public–private partnerships, and awareness campaigns show promise for scaling up through stronger policy alignment and capacity development. The study concludes that food safety improvement in Bangladesh requires coordinated institutional reform, evidence-based policymaking, and citizen engagement to ensure sustainable outcomes.Item Cost overrun in infrastructure projects: case study of Bangladesh roads & highways department(BRAC University, 2023-01) Khan, Md. A. Alim; Khair, RizwanTransportation infrastructure plays a vital role in every nation’s Socio-Economic development and hence the size of the road network in a country is often used to assess the extent of its national development. In Bangladesh, Roads and Highways Department (RHD) is responsible for the construction and the maintenance of the major road and bridge networks. Since establishment of RHD the size of the major road network in Bangladesh has grown from 2500 kms to the present network of 22,476 kms. To keep up with the growth of the economy, roads and bridges built and maintained under RHD plays a vital role, which also includes safety and reliability of the road network. A proper development of the transportation road network will reduce the cost of transportation, both in terms of money and time; will also help in the integration of various regions within the country and may also create opportunity to create international road network. Objective of the study includes collection of necessary information of road and bridge development projects ranges over previous 20 years, to analyse the data and corelate causes of cost overrun and key factors involved. In preliminary assessment for this study includes the key factors to be considered. The factors considered for this thesis are, type of projects; Key Personnel; source of Funding; requirement of changes in the original plan; project size in terms of value, utility relocation requirement may need to be considered. Within the scope of this thesis, corelations between cost overrun was considered over the factors that is discussed above and it was found that cost overrun is positively related with time overrun, contract revisions, land acquisition and projects which includes bridges. 'Project duration' has been found to have the greatest effect on cost overrun. This is followed by 'project with bridge', which again is followed by variable - 'land acquisition'. This ranking may help decision makers employ limited resources to execute project management more prudently. Further research and evaluation in this sector may also create further fundings and the appropriateness the outcome may be evaluated for the department. Impact of the prevention may play a vital role to cost saving and reduce the waste in form of potential national economic and financial losses. It could easily be understood that a minor improvement to the efficacy of the Roads development section may greatly impact improving the markets, production, jobs, health, education and other social services.Item Job satisfaction level of junior consultants and its associated factors working in upazila health complexes of Bangladesh–a mixed method study(BRAC University, 2025) Ezaz-ul Haque, Shah Md.; Rabbani, AtonuThis policy note examines the job satisfaction of junior consultants working in Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs) across Bangladesh. Junior consultants, who are post-graduate specialists in areas such as medicine, surgery, gynecology, and pediatrics, play a vital role in these rural facilities. The study used a mixed-methods approach to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. Fifty junior consultants were surveyed using a standardized Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS), and in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with ten consultants to explore the main reasons behind their dissatisfaction. The results showed that 72% of respondents were unhappy, mainly because of low salary, lack of promotion opportunities, and difficult working conditions. Additionally, qualitative findings revealed problems such as professional isolation, inadequate infrastructure, lack of housing and school facilities for families, and gender bias, particularly affecting female doctors. The study proposes four main policy options to boost job satisfaction: Increasing salary and benefits, providing career development and advancement opportunities, improving work-life balance and enhancing the workplace environment. A comparative policy analysis used PEST (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological) and Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA). Both assessments ranked career development and advancement opportunities as the most effective and practical policy option. This includes creating clear promotion paths and offering specialized training. The study recommends creating a merit-based and transparent system for promotions and transfers. It suggests policies that diversify career paths into administrative roles and clinical excellence. It also emphasizes the need for quality housing, educational support for consultants’ children, and addressing gender-specific issues through awareness and policy changes. In conclusion, career development was found to be the most sustainable and impactful way to improve job satisfaction among junior consultants in UHCsItem Analyzing the factors behind weakness in English language skills among higher secondary students in upazila level institutions of Bangladesh: challenges and recommendations(BRAC University, 2025-06) Nusrat, Salma Mostafa; Ahmed, ShailaAll of us know that English is spoken all over the world as it is an international language but it is a matter of great regret that most of the students of Upazila level institutions of Bangladesh are not good in English language. It is a big issue for our country as we need skilled manpower who will be able to compete in national and international level. Without having good knowledge in English it is almost impossible for a person to be a skilled manpower. So, the researcher tries to find out major causes of this problem. The researcher has given some recommendations to overcome this problem. The recommendations will help to alleviate this problem.Item FPTP vs. PR: reassessing Bangladesh’s electoral system for increased representation, stability and accountability(BRAC University, 2025-07) Ibnat, Afia; Idris, NabilaThis policy memo assesses the performance and viability of Bangladesh's First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) electoral system in light of recent political changes, including the ousting of the Awami League (AL) government in August 2024 and subsequent reform agenda of the interim government under Professor Muhammad Yunus. It evaluates potential transitions to Proportional Representation (PR) or mixed electoral models, particularly within the proposed bicameral legislature from the Electoral Reform Commission of Bangladesh. Drawing on comparative experiences from South Asia, including Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and India, the memo weighs the trade-off s between representation, accountability and stability. The memo ultimately recommends implementing a bicameral parliament, with a lower house elected through FPTP and an upper house through PR. It further advocates for adopting the Saint-Laguë seat allocation method, instituting a 3% vote threshold for party eligibility in the upper house, and establishing mechanisms to prevent the entry of extremist parties. In addition, this memo proposes reforms to enhance the representation of women and minorities, as well as to strengthen institutional checks and balances, thereby ensuring the sustainability of democratic governance in Bangladesh.Item Food security in Bangladesh: improving with modern storage facilities (such as silo)(BRAC University, 2025) Musfikuzzaman, Kh.; Ahmed, ShailaClimate change, population pressure, and antiquated storage methods are all contributing factors to Bangladesh's increasing food security problems. The goal of this policy note is to eliminate inefficiencies, lower post-harvest losses, and improve disaster resilience by promoting the switch from conventional godowns to contemporary silo-based grain storage. Better grain quality, reduced loss rates, and more effective land use are just a few of the long-term operational and financial advantages that silos provide, despite their high initial cost. It's critical to increase the percentage of public storage that is currently silo-based to at least 50% by 2040, since it is at just 17.8%. Climate resilience and sustainable food security depend on infrastructure investment, workforce adaptability, and strategic policy support.Item AI-driven governance in the public finance sector: lessons from high, middle, and low-income countries for Bangladesh(BRAC University, 2025-11) Madhurja, Ahmmed; Idris, NabilaProblem Bangladesh stands a critical point to modernize its public finance sector to support its next phase of economic growth, moving from LDC status. To manage the economic shifts that will occur after graduation in 2026, it is imperative to address long-standing issues with efficiency and governance (Dawar & Dutta, 2025). To deal with the economic shifts that will occur after graduation, the government must raise tax revenue and spend funds more wisely (General Economics Division (GED), 2020). Bangladesh risks falling behind other nations and losing public trust without a clear plan to integrate modern technology in its policy solution, like- AI. Findings The country has initiated some reforms. Systems like the Integrated Budget and Accounting System (iBAS++) and electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) are already in place (Bhuiyan, Rahman, & Uddin, 2020). Bangladesh isn't quite prepared for a widespread AI rollout. It lacks a clear legal framework for AI, has a shortage of skilled workers, and possesses insufficient data infrastructure to train models (UNESCO, 2025). By taking lessons from other countries, it shows that success is possible. For example, a small AI pilot project in Armenia has shown the potential for increasing efficiency in tax collection (Farooq & Vatyan, 2025) and by establishing strong legal frameworks and trust, Estonia has emerged as a leader in digital governance with its “Bürokratt”, an AI agent for better online public services (e-Estonia, 2025). Recommendations The best path for Bangladesh is a careful, phased approach using a hybrid model that combines a cautious, "sandbox" method with strong public-private partnerships. This strategy should be rolled out in three stages, starting with small, low-risk pilot projects in the first 18 months, such as using AI for fraud detection in the e-GP system and creating a taxpayer chatbot. The second phase, from months 19-36, should expand successful pilots and build local talent by partnering with universities to create research centers, like the model used in Armenia (Farooq & Vatyan, 2025). The last stage, which begins in month 37, will concentrate on completely incorporating effective AI tools into important government systems. Integration of AI will build trust, control risks, and ensure AI adoption in a way that is sustainable and advantageous for the nation's future.Item Assessing the effectiveness of government food subsidies on rice and wheat in bangladesh: economic implications for low-income households(BRAC University, 2025-11) Asaduzzaman, Md. Shiekh; Haque, Sheikh TouhidulGovernment food subsidy schemes, such as the Open Market Sale (OMS) initiative, are critical to Bangladesh's attempts to stabilize grain prices, improve food affordability, and safeguard low-income households from economic volatility. This extensive study looks into the efficiency of rice and wheat subsidy systems, with a special emphasis on their influence on food security, price stability, and endurance in disadvantaged groups. We used a mixed-methods approach, combining a stratified household survey, quantitative analysis (descriptive statistics, regression modeling, and difference-in-differences estimate), and qualitative interviews with policymakers, beneficiaries, and stakeholders. Our data show that subsidized food grain distribution considerably reduces price volatility—particularly during seasonal price peaks—while increasing calorie intake and dietary stability in low-income families. Beneficiary families have a 10% higher monthly staple intake and a 15% lower rate of extremely low food security than control groups. OMS initiatives help to improve market access and stabilize prices during economic downturns, which contributes to urban food security. However, both general subsidy programs and OMS schemes confront ongoing obstacles such as mistargeting, leakages, governance concerns, and logistical inefficiencies. Beneficiaries recognize the significance of subsidies and OMS activities during lean seasons, but they express worries about registration problems and unequal distribution. Drawing on worldwide best practices (such as India's Public Distribution System and Ethiopia's Productive Safety Net Program), the report suggests better targeting using digital technologies, the use of poverty maps, and transparent delivery methods. To summarize, while Bangladesh's food subsidy and OMS programs are vital safety nets that protect low-income populations from food insecurity and price volatility, their long-term viability is dependent on fixing systemic implementation issues. This study makes evidence-based recommendations to improve and optimize existing programs for better equity and effect.Item Reducing the system loss of gas distribution system in Bangladesh(BRAC University, 2025-06) Zaman, Masud; Bhuiyan, M. Musharraf HossainBangladesh’s reliance on natural gas, providing over 60% of total energy, faces a significant challenge: persistent system loss in its distribution network. These losses, caused by technical inefficiencies, illegal connections, metering inaccuracies, and pipeline leaks, contribute to energy insecurity, financial instability for state-owned gas companies, and environmental degradation through methane emissions. Despite a range of interventions, Bangladesh has not achieved a sustained reduction in gas distribution losses. This policy note synthesizes existing research and field interviews to analyze the drivers of system loss and recommend a feasible multi-dimensional strategy integrating technological, regulatory, financial, and institutional reforms. Drawing on domestic data and international case studies, this note proposes a roadmap focused on actionable solutions aligned with national energy goals and international sustainability commitments. Bangladesh’s gas distribution system suffers from persistent and escalating system losses, ranging from 7.5% to 14% markedly higher than the global benchmark of 2%. These losses represent not only a financial burden (≈ Tk 800 billion/year) but also a significant threat to the country’s energy security, industrial productivity, and climate commitments under SDG 7 and SDG 13.