Researchers & officials

Executive Director

Md. Mamun-Ur-Rashid is the Executive Director of Development Research Initiative (dRi) and a senior level qualitative research expert. He has more than Twenty years of experience in the field of social research. He has expertise in designing research plan, research instrument development and coordinating field research. He has contributed in numerous assignments including situation analysis, needs assessment, baseline assessment, mid-term and impact evaluations of development projects. He has proven track records of working in all districts of the country including socially and politically sensitive areas like Cox’s Bazar and Narayanganj, hard-to-reach areas of Barguna, Potuakhali, Khulna and Rangamati and low-income settlements in Dhaka, Chittagong and Comilla. His area of specialization includes – gender and inequality, poverty and vulnerability, public health, food security, food price volatility, urban challenges, climate change, gender, livelihood, social safety nets and other development issues. He has worked for both academic institutions such as BRAC University, Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Manchester, and development partners including the World Bank, World Food Program (WFP), Oxfam, BRAC and Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD).

Coordinator; Research, Innovation and Knowledge Management

AnindyaBarai studied Anthropology at Jahangirnagar University and have competitive experience and skill in mix-method research. He has experience in quantitative and qualitative research design, tool development, field management, data processing and analysis, writing research reports. He has more than 8 years of experience in social research including human rights, refugee situation, social safety-net issues, public health, nutrition, gender and women empowerment, education, urban poverty etc. He started working in social development research with BRAC University (BRAC Institute of Global Health) as Assistant Researcher. He is currently working as “Coordinator; Research, Innovation and Knowledge Management” at dRi and for dRi he had the opportunity to work with various national and international organizations such as The World Bank, WFP, UNDP, UNHCR, Save the Children, IFPRI, World Fish, University of Amsterdam, BRAC, Oxford Policy Management and other organizations.

As Coordinator; Research, Innovation and Knowledge Management, he is responsible for developing Technical and Financial Proposal for dRi, report writing, research design, data processing & analysis, coordinating and managing the research projects of dRi.

Senior Research Associate – II

Shameem Reza Khan is an expert in mix-method research and has a Master’s degree in Anthropology from Jahangirnagar University. He is currently working as a Research Associate-II at dRi and is widely experienced in quantitative and qualitative research tool development and field management. His expertise includes data processing, analysis and producing final reports for the study. He has almost 14 years of research experience in social research with special focus on challenging and often sensitive issues that include policing, climate change and local adaptation strategies, migration, education, gender, women empowerment, urban poverty, food security, legal issues and social safety-net. On each of these issues, he had the opportunity to work both at the policy level as well as the implementation level in Bangladesh. He has a long experience of working with people from diverse backgrounds and perceptions that has enhanced his ability to work with and manage multicultural teams. His professional and academic background has afforded him the opportunity to become familiar with the consolidated and unconsolidated challenges of development sector. He has worked with many national and international NGOs and research organizations such as, Save the Children, icddrb, BRAC, BRAC Development Institute (BDI), Plan International Bangladesh, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), The Asia Foundation, GIZ, World Vision and other organizations. His vision is to continue working in development programs, primarily focusing on facilitating expansion and adaptation of interventions to better address the needs of groups and communities.

Research Associate – I

Md. Moniruzzaman has graduated with a Master’s in Bangla and is experienced in mix-method research. With over 8 years of experience in research activities, he is skilled in quantitative and qualitative research tools development, field management, data processing and analysis, qualitative and quantitative data collection, monitoring and supervising research team and ensuring data quality. He worked in the fields of nutrition, women empowerment, urban poverty, climate change and local adaptation strategies, food security and social safety-net. He worked in many projects of donor agencies including BRAC University, Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Manchester, World Bank, World Food Program (WFP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Save the Children and other local and international organizations. Currently he is working as Research Associate-1 at dRi.

Research Associate – II

Mr. Sabbir Ahmed Dhali, a Master of Anthropology is an expert in mix-method research. He is a development researcher with hands on experience at quantitative and qualitative research tools development, field management, report writing and presenting the findings in an articulated way. He has 8 years of research experience in social research including maternal health, nutrition, gender and women empowerment, urban poverty, climate change impacts and local adaptation strategies, and social safety-net issues. In addition he has experience in Resettlement projects. Especially in power sector. He has worked in three individual projects of Power Cell, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR). In these projects he has been responsible to development Inventory of losses (IoL) survey questionnaire, market survey questionnaire, providing training to the resettlement worker team, assisting the Management Information System (MIS) expert to manage data, helping in preparing the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) report, keeping communication with the project officials etc.  He also has experience working in a project with Department of Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and a project of Information and Communication Technology Division (ICT). In the RHD project he assisted the social development expert in preparing the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report. In ICT project he has assisted the social development expert preparing the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report, Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), Environmental and Social Management Procedure (ESMP) report. He was also responsible for developing the survey tools, providing training to the survey team, field management etc. He has worked with BRAC (RED), BRAC University, D-net, Plan International and Data search.

Research Associate – II

Zabir Hossain has a Master’s degree in Anthropology from Jahangirnagar University and he is experienced in mix-method research. He is a development researcher with hands on experience in quantitative and qualitative research tool development, field management, data processing and analysis, producing final reports and presenting the findings in an articulated way. He has almost 7 years of research experience in social research including public health, nutrition, gender and women empowerment, urban poverty, climate change and local adaptation strategies, food security and social safety-net issues. He has experience of working with BRAC (HRLs program). He is now working as Research Associate-II at dRi (Development Research Initiative).

Junior Research Associate

Tanmoy Dhar completed his MA in Philosophy from Jahangirnagar University. He is working as a Junior Research Associate at the Development Research Initiative (dRi) since March 2021. Previously he worked at The Hunger Project Bangladesh, Save The Children Bangladesh, Development Research Initiative (dRi), and other local and International organizations’ research teams. From his research experience, he has gained expertise in research design, research methodology, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and report writing. He has a clear understanding and interest in good governance, political and religious violence, gender equity, religious freedom, pluralism, democracy practice, tolerance, and integrity.

Junior Research Associate

Shabiha Sultana Lubna studied Anthropology at Jahangirnagar University and have competitive experience and skill in qualitative research. She has more than 3 years of experience in social research including human rights, social safety-net issues, public health, nutrition, gender and women empowerment, education, urban poverty etc. She started working in social development research with BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH). Following her passion and interest, now she is working at Development Research Initiative (dRi) as a Research Assistant and have accustomed with the different phase of research. She has got the opportunity to work on both the qualitative and quantitative with different renowned organizations including Friendship Bangladesh, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), CIPRB, The World Bank, The Hunger Project, BRAC, Heart Foundation etc. She is also engaging with some voluntary organizations like Physically Challenged Development Foundation (PDF) which aims at working for the physically challenged students; ‘Badhan- A voluntary blood donation organization and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and other voluntary organizations gave her some experiences of leadership role in project or program coordination and management.

Research Assistant

Nawshin Afroj Khan with a background in Anthropology, holds both her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from Jahangirnagar University. As a Research Assistant at dRi, she plays a pivotal role in planning and designing research projects, conducting training sessions, devising field plans, preparing desk reports, and supporting the research coordinator in crafting final project reports for donors. Her previous experience includes a part-time position as a Research Officer at the National Heart Foundation and Research Institute.

After her postgraduate studies, Nawshin engaged in various qualitative research roles, contributing her skills to projects with renowned organizations such as CIPRB, BRAC, BRAC JPG, and DATA. Her academic prowess shines through in her dissertation titled “Modern Technology of Child Birth and Its Effects on Society,” showcasing her keen interest in societal dynamics, culture, public health, gender, women’s empowerment, and education. Nawshin’s professional journey is driven by an insatiable desire to delve into proper ethnography and a commitment to building a successful career through continuous learning and honest work.