Bangladesh Diaspora Assessment

Status: Completed

IDG conducted an assessment for USAID to understand the capacity and interest of the US Bangladeshi diaspora in being involved with the development activities of Bangladesh. The study was designed as a mixed-method investigation, including a desk study of existing research about the US Bangladeshi diaspora and its organizations, focus groups in target cities, interviews with diaspora leaders, and a pilot online survey.

IDG’s assessment helped identify the following trends in the US Bangladeshi community:

  • The US Bangladeshi diaspora is relatively limited in size and is dispersed throughout the United States.
  • The US Bangladeshi diaspora is an important source of remittance inflow for Bangladesh and remits US$10 billion or more each year to Bangladesh, comprising 13-15% of total remittances received.
  • Significant numbers of US Bangladeshi diasporans are interested in helping anyone in need in Bangladesh as opposed to assisting specific individuals, groups, or organizations in the country.
  • In all phases of this assessment, diaspora concerns about government corruption, safety/security, red tape, high taxation levels, policy unpredictability and uncertainty in Bangladesh were high.
  • US Bangladeshi diasporans indicate that they believe a lack of frequent communication between USAID/Bangladesh and the US diaspora community and the lack of a point person to spearhead this communication are important obstacles to further US Bangladeshi diaspora engagement.

Region

  • Asia

Country / Countries

  • Bangladesh
Asia

IDG’s assessment helped identify ways in which USAID could further develop its engagement with the US Bangladesh diaspora, develop diaspora philanthropic efforts, and support diaspora business investments to aid development efforts in Bangladesh.

Areas of Expertise

Governance

This assessment found that a most of the US Bangladeshi diaspora have concerns and believe that a barrier to Bangladeshi development is government corruption, safety/security, red tape, high taxation levels, policy unpredictability and uncertainty. Property right concerns, including worries about property-right protection and difficulties in obtaining building permits, also are perceived to be impediments to diaspora investment and thus development by the community. The assessment showed that improvements in governance could increase diaspora investment and involvement.

Economic Governance

This assessment found that a most of the US Bangladeshi diaspora have concerns and believe that a barrier to Bangladeshi development is government corruption, safety/security, red tape, high taxation levels, policy unpredictability and uncertainty.  The assessment showed that improvements in economic governance could increase diaspora investment and involvement.

Capacity Building

The analysis found US Bangladeshi diasporas are highly skilled and actively involved in supporting Bangladesh’s development, including by building capacity of local companies, government and civil society organizations.

  • Project Status: Completed
  • Location: Bangladesh