DHAKA, Nov 24, 2024 (BSS) – Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) today observed that Universal Basic Income (UBI) can potentially be a promising tool to reduce poverty, empower citizens, and streamline social protection, even within the constraints of the current fiscal framework.

The private think-tank made the observation at a dialogue on ‘Assessing the Viability of Universal Basic Income (UBI) in Bangladesh’ at a hotel in the city.

CPD with support from the European Union organized the event.

Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, member of National Standing Committee of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP); Dr K A S Murshid, chair of the Taskforce On “Re-strategising the Economy and Mobilising Resources for Equitable and Sustainable Development” and Former Director General, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) and Zonayed Saki, kendrio shomonnyok of the Gono Shonghoti Andolon were present as the guest of honour at the event.

Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said universal health care and education side by side UBI can be introduced. “It is a good programme, we can go forward with it,” he added.

Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow of CPD and convener of the Citizen’s Platform for SDGs chaired the programme while Sharmind Neelormi, professor of the Department of Economics of the Jahangirnagar University and member of the White Paper Committee, Dr Imran Matin, member of the White Paper Committee and executive director of BRAC Institute for Governance and Development, Rizwan Rahman, former president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and managing director of ETBL Holdings Limited, Aneeka Rahman, senior social protection economist of the World Bank and Iole Valentina LUCCHESE, Attaché - Programme Manager of Social Protection of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh made remarks as distinguished discussants.

Nargis Khanam, additional secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare, also made special remarks.

Professor Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow of CPD and core group member of Citizen’s Platform delivered concluding remarks while Towfiqul Islam Khan, senior research fellow of CPD made the keynote presentation.

Debapriya Bhattacharya said UBI has been a topic of extensive discussion globally, providing a transformative approach to social security.

In this regard, he said CPD presented findings from a frontier study that explores the viability of implementing UBI in Bangladesh, tailored specifically to the country's unique socio-economic context at the dialogue.

In his presentation, Towfiqul Islam Khan said globally, the voices advocating for fundamental rights—such as the right to food and universal entitlements are growing louder.

As part of its development aspiration, Bangladesh aims to achieve universal health coverage, universal social protection, and a universal pension scheme, he added.

He mentioned that commensurating with Universal Human Rights, advancing towards more comprehensive social protection in Bangladesh can be achieved by introducing UBI.

Towfiqul Islam Khan said the National Constitution of Bangladesh pledges the provision of basic necessities of life for all its citizens and the right to social security.

National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) 2015 envisioned to provide a guaranteed minimum income (GMI) to all in Bangladesh who need the support, he added.

He said guarantee of a minimum quality of life, based on both employment income for those who work and social protection benefits for those vulnerable populations who cannot, is embedded in Vision 2041.