This brief presents the first representative energy baseline of Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector, examining the current state and potential of rooftop solar. Although panels are spreading fast, little is known about how much they contribute to factories’ energy needs or how much roof space remains unused. Drawing on a technical audit of 339 export garment factories sampled from the Mapped in Bangladesh frame of 3,320 plants, the brief analyzes solar ownership by factory size, trade association membership, and geographic cluster. It then estimates rooftop potential under two deliberately cautious scenarios, in which 25% and 50% of reported usable roof area proves deployable, and extrapolates the results to the full sector using size-weighted methods. The findings show that about 29% of factories own solar panels, yet the median system supplies only around 2% of an adopter’s energy needs. Adoption rises steeply with factory size and is concentrated among factories affiliated with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), while the Chattogram cluster lags behind others. Rooftop solar could provide 175–350 MW of capacity, meeting roughly 11–22% of the sector’s grid electricity requirements. The brief recommends targeted financing, aggregated purchasing for small and medium factories, a dedicated Chattogram program, net metering as the default design, and verification of actual generation rather than installations alone.
Author: Faisal, Saadman
Type: Evidence and Insights
Publisher: BIGD
Year: 2026
Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) industry faces mounting buyer and regulatory pressure to decarbonize, yet it has lacked a representative baseline of its energy use. This study builds the first such baseline from on-site technical energy assessments of 339 export-oriented factories, drawn from the Mapped in Bangladesh frame of 3,320 plants. Because the sample skews toward larger factories affiliated with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, its representativeness is tested against the frame and corrected with weights where needed. The assessment covers energy sources, power quality and metering, lighting, thermal systems, mechanical systems, rooftop solar, and water and effluent management. The findings show that while grid electricity is universal, 86% of factories also run diesel generators, and 93.7% have no sub-metering. Indoor lighting has effectively converted to light-emitting diodes and sewing motors have largely been upgraded, but over-illumination, limited heat recovery, and the lack of variable-speed drives on auxiliary motors remain gaps. About 29% of factories own solar panels, yet the median system supplies only around 2% of energy needs, and rooftop solar could meet roughly 11–22% of the sector’s grid electricity requirements. Treated-water reuse and rainwater harvesting are also rare. The study closes with recommendations for factories and for the sector and its institutions.
Authors: Faisal, Saadman; Mahmud, Tahmid Bin; and Islam, Mohaimenul
Type: Report
Publisher: BIGD
Year: 2026
Mathkendro Saltamami 2026 is the first yearly review of the work done at Mathkendro. BIGD, BRAC University, set up this field centre in 2023 in Kumira Union, Tala Upazila, Satkhira. Written in accessible Bangla for local residents, students, policymakers, and practitioners, it summarizes qualitative studies based on in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, consultation meetings, and participatory discussions with citizens, elected representatives, service providers, and other stakeholders. The publication opens with a profile of Kumira, followed by six thematic accounts: primary school governance, access to old-age and disability allowances, public trust in union parishads, the functioning of ward meetings, young volunteers in rural communities, and the unpaid work of caregivers of persons with disabilities. Across these themes, the findings point to recurring gaps in participation, accountability, information, and inclusion. Committees often exist only on paper, procedures are complex, misinformation excludes marginalized groups from entitlements, and women’s contributions as volunteers and caregivers remain under-recognized. The publication recommends community-inclusive school management, simpler and more transparent social protection processes, stronger ward meetings and social audits, institutional support for youth volunteers, and the inclusion of caregivers in support programs.
Authors: Al-Mamun,Md.; Hossain, Faruq; and Goswami, Madhuri
Type: Report
Publisher: BIGD
Year: 2024
In developing countries, cultural barriers often limit women’s movement outside the household. With the advantage of remote work and flexible hours, the online gig economy offers a promising avenue. In this randomized controlled trial, we train women on work-from-home digital jobs and estimate its effect on their labor market outcomes. Intention-to-treat results show that women in the treatment group are 10 percentage points (18%) more likely to be employed, with a corresponding increase in hours worked by 27% and income by 38%. The benefit/cost ratio for the program is estimated at 3.01, indicating considerable benefits from the program compared with costs.
Authors: Arman Mohammad Raied; Bhattacharjee Anindita; Das Narayan; Gomes Mohima; and Mahmood Sakib
Type: Journal Article
Publisher: University of Chicago Press Journals
Year: 2026
Previous studies based on a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the Ultra-Poor Graduation (UPG) program in Bangladesh have shown that the model effectively reduces extreme poverty by providing resources and support for self-employment, enabling households to escape poverty traps and build long-term economic independence. In 2024, we conducted a follow-up survey to examine intergenerational impacts on the original program households and on children who were present at baseline in 2007, focusing on economic mobility, health, and education. While the treatment group received UPG support during 2007–2009, about 25% of control households enrolled from 2011 onward. Our findings show positive effects on economic empowerment (such as engagement in earning activities, income and savings) for the next generation, with stronger impacts for girls. These effects span girls of all ages. While impacts on years of schooling and age at marriage are limited or contrary to expectations, younger girls are significantly less likely to experience early childbearing. Improvements in access to healthcare appear to be an important mechanism alongside economic empowerment in driving this reduction. Overall, the results provide strong evidence of the persistence of program impacts across generations, particularly in improving the life trajectories of girls.
Authors: Ahmed, Shaila; Burgess, Robin; Chowdhury, Shyamal; Haque, Sheikh Touhidul; Hossain, Marzuk A. N.; Matin, Imran; and Sulaiman, Munshi, PhD
Type: Working Paper
Publisher: VeriXiv
Year: 2026
The May–August 2026 issue of our newsletter features the inaugural edition of BIGD’s State and Future of Democracy in Bangladesh conference. The issue also brings highlights from an eventful quarter: a national research dissemination event on women’s political participation with UN Women Bangladesh; a high-level roundtable with the International Growth Centre on strengthening social protection through the Family Card program; the latest iteration of the Young Researchers’ Fellowship (YRF) program; an introduction to our new Digital Intelligence and Implementation Research (DIIR) unit; a new Tong Alaap podcast episode on media, violence, and women’s work; and a selection of our latest publications.
Type: BIGD Reviews
Publisher: BIGD
Year: 2026
Natural disasters, including tropical cyclones, tidal surges, and riverbank erosion, pose severe environmental and socio-economic challenges. Among these, riverbank erosion has emerged as a critical issue in Bangladesh, leading to both physical displacement and psychological distress. Despite its far-reaching consequences, limited research has examined the mental health impacts of riverbank erosion, particularly in relation to anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This cross-sectional study investigates the prevalence and determinants of anxiety and PTSD among communities affected by riverbank erosion in the southwestern region of Bangladesh, specifically in Gabura Union, located in the Shyamnagar sub-district of Satkhira District. The study was conducted between May and July 2024, using a multistage stratified sampling strategy. A total of 385 residents, aged 12 to 65 years, who have lived in the area for more than 15 years and have no previous diagnosed mental disorders, were surveyed. Among these, 280 were exposed to severe riverbank erosion, while 105 were not. Data were collected using valid scales for PTSD (PCL-5) and anxiety (GAD-7), and key risk factors, such as loss of livestock, displacement, and social support, were also assessed. Findings reveal that 63.63% of participants had positive anxiety scores, while 69.87% showed positive PTSD scores, with significantly higher prevalence among those directly affected by erosion. Vulnerability was particularly prevalent among middle-aged individuals (30–49 years), those from joint families, and illiterate individuals. The erosion-induced devastation resulted in 63.57% of respondents losing livestock and 64.65% experiencing displacement, exacerbating risks of PTSD, anxiety, insomnia, and passive suicidal thoughts. However, social support played a crucial role in mitigating psychological distress. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions and social assistance programs to support affected populations. Policy measures should focus on enhancing resilience through community-based mental health care and sustainable social protection strategies.
Authors: Karim, Md. Zawadul; Al-Mamun, Md.; and Parvin, Masuma
Type: Journal Article
Publisher: Natural Hazards
Year: 2026
Drawing on original data from 724 couples in Nairobi, Kenya, this policy brief examines how individuals value financial privacy and transparency within their relationships. The study finds considerable variation in preferences, with some individuals willing to give up income to keep financial information private, and others willing to do so in order to make it visible to their spouse instead. The brief explores the motivations behind these choices, including maintaining financial autonomy, managing household spending more effectively, planning ahead for emergencies, supporting extended family members, building trust between partners, and facilitating smoother joint decision-making. It also offers practical recommendations for digital financial service providers, policymakers, and researchers on designing financial products, services, and policies that can better accommodate differing individual preferences for privacy and transparency in intimate relationships.
Type: Policy Brief
Publisher: BIGD
Year: 2026
In developing countries, cultural barriers often limit women’s movement outside the household. With the additional burden of childcare requiring flexible working hours and a muted demand for female employment in local markets, women’s labor force participation has persistently lagged in these countries. Providing remote work, flexible hours, and linkages to the global market, online freelancing offers a promising avenue to mitigate female unemployment. In this paper, we experimentally measure the effects of online freelancing training on females. Results indicate that a year after the intervention, women in treatment are 19% more likely to be employed, with a corresponding increase in income by 40% and hours worked by 29%. Welfare, as proxied by food expenditure, increases by 29%. Even though more than a half the participants were students, the program does not reduce school enrollment. The benefit-cost ratio of the intervention is estimated at 6.55, suggesting considerable benefits compared to costs.
Authors: Das, Narayan; Arman, Mohammad Raied; Bhattacharjee, Anindita; Gomes, Mohima; and Mahmood, Sakib
Type: Journal Article
Publisher: SSRN
Year: 2024
In developing countries, cultural barriers often limit women’s movement outside the household. With the advantage of remote work and flexible hours, the online gig economy offers a promising avenue. In this randomized controlled trial, we train women on work-from-home digital jobs and estimate its effect on their labor market outcomes. Intention-to-treat results show that women in the treatment group are 10 percentage points (18%) more likely to be employed, with a corresponding increase in hours worked by 27% and income by 38%. The benefit/cost ratio for the program is estimated at 3.01, indicating considerable benefits from the program compared with costs.
Authors: Arman, Mohammad Raied; Bhattacharjee, Anindita; Das, Narayan; Gomes, Mohima; and Mahmood, Sakib
Type: Journal Article
Publisher: Economic Development and Cultural Change
Year: 2026
