Two digital platforms launched to enhance access to policy-relevant data

Two prototype digital platforms—the Bangladesh Energy Dashboard (BED) and the Bangladesh Social Protection Dashboard (BSD)—were unveiled today to enhance access to timely, policy-relevant data.

Policy Exchange Bangladesh, in collaboration with the International Growth Centre (IGC) and the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), convened a roundtable titled "Unlocking public data for policy impact in Bangladesh" to launch the two platforms.

The Bangladesh Energy Dashboard (BED), an initiative developed by IGC Bangladesh, offers interactive visualisations and downloadable datasets related to electricity generation, fuel costs, capacity utilisation, and distribution patterns, Policy Exchange Bangladesh said in a statement today.

"The platform is intended to support more strategic and transparent planning within the energy sector."

The Bangladesh Social Protection Dashboard (BSD), jointly developed by IGC and BIGD, aggregates socio-economic and social protection data at the local level.

The platform is envisioned to assist district- and sub-district-level officials in aligning programmatic interventions with local needs, thereby improving service delivery and targeting.

The event brought together senior policymakers, researchers, and development professionals to examine innovations in public data systems and their role in advancing evidence-informed decision-making.

The event commenced with opening remarks by Imran Matin, executive director of BIGD, followed by technical presentations and policy dialogues.

Hossain Zillur Rahman, executive chairman of the Power and Participation Research Centre; Kabir Uddin Ahmed, director at the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; and Robin Burgess, co-founder and director of the IGC, also spoke at the event.

Shahid Vaziralli, head of the research programme at IGC; Md Monzurul Islam, superintending engineer at Power Grid Bangladesh PLC; Towfiqul Islam Khan, senior research fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue; and Dilara Begum, joint secretary at the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, also shared their views at the event.