By
Quazi M. Ahmed
Founder & President, BOND
In today’s knowledge-driven world, research is more than a scholarly pursuit it is a strategic tool for solving national challenges, guiding policy, and powering innovation. Bangladesh has no shortage of bright minds and pressing research questions. But it often lacks access to advanced tools, global networks, and cutting-edge methodologies that drive impactful research.
At the same time, Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) around the world are making significant contributions to global research across disciplines from climate science and data analytics to public health, economics, and artificial intelligence.
BOND (Bridging Organization with NRBs for Development) believes that the key to accelerating Bangladesh’s research ecosystem lies in enabling remote collaboration between local researchers and the global Bangladeshi brain trust.
Why Remote Research Collaboration Matters
In an increasingly digital and borderless world, collaboration no longer requires co-location. Remote research partnerships offer a unique opportunity for:
- Sharing expertise and mentorship with emerging Bangladeshi researchers
- Accessing global datasets, tools, and methodologies
- Co-authoring papers, projects, and proposals with international credibility
- Raising Bangladesh’s visibility in global academic and innovation platforms
Remote collaboration is cost-effective, scalable, and inclusive opening doors for researchers across Bangladesh, not just in major cities or elite institutions.
The Diaspora Advantage in Research
NRBs hold positions in leading universities, research labs, think tanks, and innovation hubs worldwide. They bring with them:
- Deep subject-matter expertise
- Access to research funding and academic publishing platforms
- Experience with peer-reviewed processes and international standards
- Global networks that can amplify local discoveries
By collaborating with NRBs, Bangladeshi researchers can expand their knowledge horizons, improve their methodology, and elevate the impact of their work.
How BOND Supports Remote Research Collaboration
At BOND, we are building an ecosystem where Bangladeshi researchers and NRBs can discover, connect, and collaborate across disciplines and across borders. Our approach includes:
1. Curated Research Matchmaking
We maintain a growing database of NRB researchers willing to co-lead or advise projects in Bangladesh. Through a structured matchmaking process, we align them with local academics, scholars, or institutions based on shared research interests and goals.
2. Virtual Research Circles and Seminars
We facilitate regular online sessions where researchers can present ongoing work, share feedback, and spark cross-disciplinary ideas. These forums create a space for dialogue, critique, and learning from peers around the world.
3. Collaboration on Grant Applications and Publications
Securing international funding or publishing in high-impact journals is often a challenge for local researchers. NRB collaborators can provide critical support in framing proposals, meeting formatting standards, and navigating review processes.
Areas with High Potential for Collaboration
While research needs exist across sectors, remote collaboration with NRBs has shown particular promise in areas such as:
- Climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability
- Public health and epidemiology
- Agricultural innovation and food security
- Data science, machine learning, and AI
- Education reform and digital pedagogy
- Social policy, governance, and economics
These domains not only align with national priorities but also resonate with many NRBs’ own fields of expertise.
A Shared Investment in Knowledge
Research isn’t just about publishing papers it’s about building a culture of inquiry, rigor, and impact. Remote collaboration helps embed global standards into local practices, encourages peer learning, and fosters intellectual confidence.
For NRBs, it’s an opportunity to reconnect with their roots while contributing to Bangladesh’s long-term development. For local researchers, it’s a chance to be seen, heard, and supported on a global stage.
Final Thought
Bangladesh’s future will be shaped not just by infrastructure or industry, but by ideas. And ideas grow stronger through collaboration.
By enabling remote research partnerships between NRBs and Bangladesh-based researchers, BOND is not just building academic bridges we’re cultivating a smarter, more connected, and more empowered generation of thinkers.