What is the Bangladesh Reform Tracker?
The Bangladesh Reform Tracker is an independent, citizen-led platform that tracks, monitors, and shares progress on reform commitments across key areas in Bangladesh. It brings together reform-relevant information in one place, making reform updates clear and easy to follow for citizens.
Why this Tracker?
Reform commitments have been and continue to be announced, often with claims of their progress or completion. However, information on how far reforms have actually progressed is spread across ministries, gazettes, press briefings and/or reports, making it difficult for citizens to follow reform-related developments and assess their delivery over time. The Bangladesh Reform Tracker was created in response to this gap by making reform progress clear and accessible to promote transparency, strengthen accountability, and support informed public dialogue as regards Bangladesh’s reform journey.
How did we do it?
Identification
Reform proposals are identified from official and credible sources such as reform commission reports, the July Charter and other official government publications.
Expert Validation
Subject-matter experts are sought out to review and validate identified reform proposals within each domain to ensure accuracy and relevance before tracking begins.
Progress Tracking
Reform proposals are periodically updated using official documents, e.g., circulars, notices, ordinances, and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with relevant government officials, experts and key stakeholders.
Development of Tracker Database
These updates will be used to populate a five-stage framework:
Database Development
The data and information collected through the tracking process are entered into a standardised database, from which this Reform Tracker draws from. Each reform proposal is logged using the same tracking process and framework to ensure consistency across all reform domains. This database is periodically updated, or as and when new evidence becomes available, ensuring users are able to access the most recent status of reforms.
Behind the Tracker
The overall leadership for this initiative was provided by Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), and Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow, CPD.
The core team behind this initiative included Towfiqul Islam Khan, Additional Director, Research, CPD; Najeeba Mohammed Altaf, Senior Research Associate, CPD; Shourza Talukder, Senior Research Associate; Khawja Masham Fahim, Programme Associate, CPD; and Jubair Zahir Chowdhury, Programme Associate.
The tracking of reform proposals in the Media domain was prepared in partnership with Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) under the leadership of Mr Hasibur Rahman, Executive Director.
Other experts involved in the exercise include Professor Nurul Huda Sakib; Mr Md. Avi Hossain, and Mr Asinur Reza.
Special thanks to Avra Bhattacharjee, Additional Director, Dialogue Communication and Outreach, CPD; Tarannum Jinan, Senior Administrative Associate, CPD; and Rifat Bin Aowlad, Dialogue Associate, CPD, without whom this tracker wouldn’t have been possible.
Stakeholder Consultations
A total of 173 key stakeholders were consulted to inform this tracking exercise.
Website Development
The Reform Tracker website was developed under a professional contract.
Disclaimer
The content on this website is based on publicly available information and interviews with key experts and stakeholders. The views expressed in the Reform Tracker website do not necessarily reflect those of any individual or organisation.