Debapriya Bhattacharya

Debapriya Bhattacharya

Official portrait
Born 29 April 1956
Nationality Bangladeshi
Field Economics
Alma mater Plekhanov Institute of National Economy, Moscow
Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford

Debapriya Bhattacharya (Bengali: দেবপ্রিয় ভট্টাচার্য), (born 1956) is a macro-economist and public policy analyst from Bangladesh and Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD),[1] Dhaka – a globally reputed think-tank in Bangladesh. He was the first Executive Director of the CPD (1999–2007), also worked as a Senior Research Fellow at Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS).

He is the Chair of Southern Voice on Post-MDG International Development Goals[2] – a network of 48 think tanks from South Asia, Africa, and Latin America that has identified a unique space and scope for itself to contribute to this post-MDG dialogue. He had been the Special Adviser on LDCs to the Secretary General, UNCTAD (2009–2010). He was the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the WTO, UN office, and other international organisations in Geneva (2007–2009). He was the President of UNCTAD’s governing board as well as the coordinator of LDC Group in the UN System in Geneva.

Bhattacharya is engaged in high-level policy designing and advising on behalf of the national government and various bilateral and international development agencies at home and in a number of developing countries. He serves in the boards of a number of national, regional, and international development organisations and networks. Dr Deb is the chair of the External Advisory Board of Overseas Development Institute (ODI), London for the programme on low-income countries. He is also the chair of LDC IV Monitor[3] – an independent partnership for monitoring the Istanbul Programme of Action[4] (IPoA), adopted during the UN LDC IV Conference held in May 2011.[5] Bhattacharya was the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Economic Association[6] for three consecutive terms. He is a member of the governing body[7] of BRAC, largest NGO of the world. He is a Member of the Editorial Board, South Asian Studies, Colombo, and Trade Insights, Kathmandu also the Regional Editor of the Oxford Development Studies.

Early life and education

Bhattcharya studied at St. Gregory's High School, Dhaka and Dhaka College, Dhaka. He did his M.Sc. in Economics with distinction. He obtained his Ph.D. (Economics) from the Plekhanov Institute of National Economy, Moscow. He researched as a post-doctoral fellow at the Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.

In 2004–05 was associated with the Center for Global Development (CGD), Washington D.C. as a Senior Fulbright Fellow. He was also a Visiting Fellow at the United Nations University-Institute of New Technology (UNU-INTECH), Maastricht and Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. Also, he has conducted joint research with the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE), Tokyo and Institute of Development Planning and Management (IDPM), Manchester.

Career

Bhattacharya is a macro-economist and public policy analyst. As an institution builder, created a globally recognized think-tank in Bangladesh, viz. the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), with a demand-driven research and outreach portfolio as well as endowed with a gender-balanced professional group and adequate programme funding. CPD was recognized as one of the top 228 think-tanks in the world in 2007. Raised $5.5 mln research grants in 8 years. Till November 2007, he steered the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), the most influential private sector think-tank of Bangladesh as its Executive Director. Prior to joining CPD he worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS). He served as Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to Geneva from 2007 to early 2009. He joined back Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in April 2009. At present he is the Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka.[8]

With a PhD in Economics from Plekhanov Institute of National Economy, Moscow and post-doctoral tenures in reputed international institutions such as the Queen Elizabeth House, Oxford University and Center for Global Development, Washington DC, have 27 years of experience in policy-oriented research and quality publications in the areas of trade and international economics, macro-economics and development policies. Among many major projects implemented, had been the Bangladesh Team Leader of “Participatory Review of Structural Adjustment Programmes” (SAPRI), a project of the World Bank, national governments and global civil society and also co-authored the global synthesis report. Led the “Independent Review of Bangladesh’s Development” for more than a decade which provided critical analysis of the state of the economy on an ongoing basis. Spearheaded a participatory citizen’s initiative leading to preparation of a “Vision 2021” document for Bangladesh.

Bhattacharya has been associated with a number of national, regional and international professional organisations. He was the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Economic Association for three consecutive terms. He was a member of the Panel of Advisory Board of the International Centre for Trade and Development (ICTSD), Geneva. He is currently the Regional Editor of the Oxford Development Studies, Member of the Editorial Board, South Asian Studies, Colombo and Chairperson of the EU-LDC Network. He was a member of the "Investment" and "WTO" Task Forces set up by the South Asia Centre for Policy Studies (SACEPS).

He was the Study Director of the Structural Adjustment Participatory Review Initiative (SAPRI) in Bangladesh, a multi-country exercise of the Governments, the World Bank and a global network of civil society organisations. He was also the Study Director for the CPD’s Pre-Election Policy Brief Programme (2001) and Policy Review Programme (2003).

Was elected General Secretary of the Bangladesh Economic Association for three consecutive tenures. He also served as a member of the governing body of BRAC – the largest NGO of the world.[9] He also sits in the Academic Council of the BRAC University.

Was engaged in high-level policy designing and advising on behalf of the national government and various bilateral and international development agencies at home and in a number of developing countries. Authored many strategy documents for WTO negotiations. Prepared the first-ever country-level Trade-Related Technical Assistance Need Assessment for Bangladesh under the multi-agency Integrated Framework. For UNDP, prepared the first-ever disaggregated Human Development Index for Bangladesh and Nepal. Since 2001, has regularly contributed to the preparation of the Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Has cross-country experience in development issues. Undertook short-term assignments in Costa Rica for CARE International, in India for the World Bank, in Nepal for the UNDP, in Sri Lanka for the British ODA, in Malaysia for the EDI, World Bank, Mongolia for the APO, and Bulgaria and Moscow for UN-DESA.

Present positions:

Global issues

LDC IV Monitor

Bhattacharya is the Chair of LDC IV Monitor. Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), a partner institution of the LDC IV Monitor.[10] Bhattacharya organised the Expert Group Meeting (EGM) "Development Challenges of the Least Developed Countries: Tracking the International Commitments" in Dhaka on 7–9 September 2012. LDC IV Monitor is an independent global partnership for monitoring the outcome of the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (UN LDC IV).[11] LDC IV Monitor is undertaking policy research, organising dialogues and carrying out outreach activities related to delivery of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA)[12] adopted during the UN LDC IV Conference[13] held in May 2011. These activities are expected to complement the official follow-up and review mechanism of the IPoA. The Secretary-General of the United Nations has mentioned LDC IV Monitor in his first annual report to the General Assembly on implementation of the IPoA.

The operationalization of LDC IV Monitor is characterised by flexibility, flat structure and light secretariat. The core group of partner institutions constitutes the Steering Committee of LDC IV Monitor.[14] They include:

Southern Voice on Post-MDGs

Bhattacharya is the Chair of Southern Voice on Post-MDGs. The Southern Voice on Post-MDG International Development Goals (Southern Voice)[15] is a network of 48 think tanks from South Asia, Africa, and Latin America that has identified a unique space and scope for itself to contribute to this post-MDG dialogue. By providing quality data, evidence, and analyses that derive from research in the countries of the Global South, these think tanks seek to inform the discussion on the post-2015 framework, goals, and targets, and to help give shape to the debate itself. In the process, Southern Voice aims to enhance the quality of international development policy analysis, strengthen the global outreach capacity of Southern think tanks, and facilitate professional linkages between these think tanks and their respective governments. Bhattacharya recently was on an outreach mission to London, New York and Washington DC to disseminate the network’s document “First Approximations on Post-MDG International Development Goals” among the key players in the post-2015 processes. The other purpose of the mission was to understand the space available for the network’s strategic engagements in post-2015 global processes. On this mission Bhattacharya addressed three policy seminars organised by Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in London, United Nations Foundation in New York and Center for Global Development (CGD) in Washington DC. He met with Dr. Homi Kharas the Lead Author/Executive Secretary of the United Nations High Level Panel (HLP) as well as the key advisors to various members of the High Level Panel. Dr. Bhattacharya also called on the USG H. E. Gyan Acharya, UN-OHRLLS.[16]

As the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) approaches the deadline of 2015, the international development community is focusing on the one hand, on the experiences gathered so far regarding the implementation of MDGs, and, on the other, articulation of post-MDG framework, issues and targets. Taking note of the global power imbalance, knowledge asymmetry and MDG delivery experience, the Southern Voice on Post-MDGs seeks to channel its inputs from developing countries’ perspectives into the ongoing global discussions on post-MDGs (2015). This initiative intends to leverage the evidenced-based knowledge and policy experience in the South on think tanks to influence the emerging global development agenda.[17]

International assignments

Bhattacharya undertook assignments for a number of international organisations including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, UNCTAD, ILO as well as bilateral development agencies from the US, Japan, UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden. Also, he undertook short-term overseas assignments in Costa Rica for CARE International, in India for the World Bank, in Nepal for the UNDP, in Sri Lanka for the British ODA, in Malaysia for the EDI, World Bank, Mongolia for the APO, and Bulgaria and Moscow for the UN-DESA.

Bhattacharya has played a guiding role in organisation of the International Civil Society Forum 2005: For Advancing LDC Interests in the Sixth WTO held in Dhaka on 3–5 October 2005.

Currently, Member of the Task Force on Doha Round of the Brooks World Poverty Institute, Manchester; Associate Fellow of Asia Society, New York and member of International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council, New York. Member of the Advisory Group of the World Bank’s Trade Policy preparation team. Was a member of the founding Panel of Advisory Board of the International Centre for Trade and Development (ICTSD), Geneva. Was Chairperson of the EU-LDC Network. Member of OECD DEFINE network. Actively engaged in a number of international and regional networks on development finance, migration, environment and poverty.

Have published extensively – both scholarly outputs and popular thought pieces. Currently the Regional Editor of the Oxford Development Studies, Member of the Editorial Board, South Asian Studies, Colombo. Editorial Adviser of Trade Insights published by the South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE)[18]

Assignment in Geneva

Debapriya Bhattacharya speaking at WIPO seminar on 12 December 2007

On 20 October 2007, the Caretaker government of Bangladesh appointed Bhattacharya as Bangladesh's permanent representative (PR) based in Geneva. This was his first diplomatic assignment. Ambassador Bhattacharya assumed charge in Geneva in November. At the WTO he chaired a number of committees and sub-committees on different issues. He was also the coordinator of the LDCs. After the general election of 2008, a democratic government came into power and Debapriya resigned in February 2009. He returned to Bangladesh and joined back CPD.

As Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh in Geneva, led delegation to various forums of Doha Round including the July Ministerial 2008. Was member of the “Green Room” of the DG, WTO. Participated actively in many high level international conferences; was the Deputy Team Leader to UNCTAD XII and HLM on Aid Effectiveness in Accra (2008). Have participated in all the Ministerials of the WTO since Doha (2001). Coordinated inter-governmental processes as LDC Chair in the UN system in Geneva. Spearheaded the intergovernmental processes in UNCTAD as President of the Trade and Development Board (2008–09). Had close internal exposure to the UN System during the tenure in UNCTAD as Special Advisor to the Secretary General. Demonstrated capacity to mobilize an effective team in a short period as the Chair of Inter-divisional Task Force on LDC IV in UNCTAD. Conceptualized the first Public Symposium of UNCTAD.

Working with Government of Bangladesh

Bhattacharya regularly participates in high-level consultative bodies of the Government of Bangladesh. He was a (a) member of the Consultative Committee on Macro-economic Policy Advisory Committee, Ministry of Finance; (b) member of the Banking Sector Reform Committee; (c) member of the Advisory Committee of the Securities and Exchange Commission; (d) a member of the Panel of Economists, Fifth Five Year Plan (1997–2002), Ministry of Planning; (e) Member, National Committee on Utilisation of Gas Resources, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

He prepared the draft of the Industrial Policy (1999) of the country for the Ministry of Industries as well as a number of position papers for the Ministry of Commerce. He was a Director of Janata Bank (1996–2000), the second largest commercial bank of the country in the public sector. He was also a member of the Task Force on “Foreign Aid” constituted under the Adviser for Planning in the Interim Government of 1991.

Bhattacharya prepared the Trade-related Technical Assistance Need Assessment of Bangladesh, the first such country report prepared for support under the Integrated Framework of the WTO. He was a member of Bangladesh's official delegation to the WTO Fourth Ministerial Meeting held in Doha (November, 2001) and the Second Meeting of the LDC Trade Ministers held in Dhaka (June 2003). He provided leadership in conceiving and organising the Pre-Cancun LDC Civil Society Conference held in Dhaka (May 2003). He also played a critical role in the national preparatory process for the WTO Ministerial held in Cancun (September 2003). Currently he is a member of the Advisory Committee on WTO Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Government of Bangladesh.

Currently Bhattacharya, Bangladesh and Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI), Norway are jointly implementing a 3-year research programme "CPD-CMI Research Cooperation Programme[19] focusing on issues of common interest to both the organisations and the countries. The programme is to be implemented during 2010–2012 with support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The signing ceremony of the programme took place on 23 June 2010 at the CPD office. Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, CPD was present at the ceremony. H E Ms Ingebjorg Stofring, Ambassador of Norway in Bangladesh at that time signed the tripartite agreement on behalf of the Norwegian MFA. Dr Arne Wiig and Professor Mustafizur Rahman put their respective signatures on behalf of the CMI and CPD.

The broad objective of this programme is to contribute towards improved governance and inclusive growth in Bangladesh. The programme will be implemented under two themes “Inclusive Growth” and “Good Governance” and research will be carried out on the following seven areas: Inclusive Growth (Agricultural Trade with India: Implications for Food Security and Poverty, Private Sector Development: The Role of Education and Business Training, Governance and Energy in Bangladesh: The Role of FDI); Good Governance (The Parliament of Bangladesh, The Political Parties of Bangladesh, Political Governance in Bangladesh, Democracy and Corruption).

Public profile

Bhattacharya possesses excellent communication skills. Regularly participates as panel speaker in international events, and as commentator in national, regional and international electronic and print media. Have been quoted by Economist and the Wall Street Journal and interviewed by BBC, VoA and Deutsche Welle. He used to anchor/moderate a prime time talk show on development related issues/debates for four years (1996–2000) in Bangladesh Television. This fetched him mass popularity. He participates regularly in the national and international media as a commentator on contemporary economic issues.

Research interests

Bhattacharya's current interest relates to reform economics and strategic policy issues. His major works relate to foreign aid and global trade regime, investment and finance, industry and technology. He has also worked in the areas of regional cooperation, environment, human development, micro-credit and enterprise development. His current areas of research also includes development challenges of the least developed countries, multilateral trade negotiations, post-crisis financial architecture and macro-economics of green economy.

Social Engagements

Dr. Debapriya is the Chairman of Gandhi Ashram Trust, Noakhali, which also runs Abhoy Ashram, Comilla, and Vice President of Ramkrishna Mission, Dhaka. He is the President of Madaripur Legal Aid Association and a member of the governing board of BRAC International, largest NGO in the world. He is also socially active in his ancestral area where he is building a hospital in his parents’ memory.

Family

Dr. Debapriya hails from an ancient zamindar family from Ellenga, Tangail. Late Justice Debesh Bhattacharya and former Member of Parliament Chitra Bhattacharya are parents of Dr. Debapriya. He is married to Dr. Irina Bhattacharya, an economist and they have a daughter Alexandra who is a lawyer working on intellectual property rights at FBC WIPO, Geneva.

Publications

Bhattacharya has more than one hundred publications to his credit including chapters in books, monographs, journals, articles and research reports. He has contributed to the UN LDC Report 2000, UNCTAD-ICC Investment Guidelines, and Global Competitiveness Report 2001, 2002 and 2003 of the World Economic Forum.

His most recent publications include:

Book (Co-Editor)

Books

Book chapters

Journal articles

Policy briefs, reports and papers

Conferences, seminar papers, lectures

Newspaper and magazine articles

Newspaper interviews

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka, Bangladesh".
  2. ↑ "Southern Voice on Post-MDG International Development Goals".
  3. ↑ "LDC IV Monitor".
  4. ↑ "LDC IV Monitor : CPD official page".
  5. ↑ "The Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC-IV) in Istanbul,Turkey [9–13 May, 2011]".
  6. ↑ "BEA".
  7. ↑ "BRAC : Governing Body (Bangladesh)".
  8. ↑ "CPD Team".
  9. ↑ "BRAC: International Governing Body".
  10. ↑ "LDC IV Monitor : CPD page".
  11. ↑ "UN LDC IV".
  12. ↑ "IPoA".
  13. ↑ "LDC IV : Istanbul, 2011".
  14. ↑ "Concept Note : LDC IV Monitor".
  15. ↑ "First Approximations on Post-MDG International Development Goals".
  16. ↑ "Dr Deb's Outreach Activities : Southern Voice".
  17. ↑ "Southern Voice on Post-MDGs : Dhaka Expert Group Meeting, 11 – 13 January 2013".
  18. ↑ "SAWTEE".
  19. ↑ "CPD-CMI Research Colloquium".

External links