Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development
Encyclopedia
Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) is an autonomous institution that strives for research
and training
of local people as well as practitioners on rural development
. The Academy is known for implementing Comilla Model
in 1960s that has been internationally recognised as a model project for rural development in the developing countries.
(as Pakistan
Academy of Rural Development), under the initiative of Dr Akhtar Hameed Khan
who became the institution's founder-Director. After the Partition of Pakistan, the institution was renamed to its present form.
town. The campus is spread over a vast area that also hosts residences, conference rooms, mosque, library, a health clinic, sports complex, and other amenities.
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
and training
Training
The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...
of local people as well as practitioners on rural development
Rural development
Rural development in general denotes economic development and community development actions and initiatives taken to improve the standard of living in non-urban neighbourhoods, remote villages and the countryside...
. The Academy is known for implementing Comilla Model
Comilla Model
The Comilla Model was a rural development programme launched in 1959 by the Pakistan Academy for Rural Development...
in 1960s that has been internationally recognised as a model project for rural development in the developing countries.
Foundation
BARD was established in 1959 in ComillaComilla District
The district of Comilla consists 4543 mosques, 379 temples, 98 churches, 34 Buddhist temples and six tombs.-Places of interest:Important landmarks include Kotbari, a cantonment, or military installation and Kandirpar, considered the heart of the Comilla district...
(as Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
Academy of Rural Development), under the initiative of Dr Akhtar Hameed Khan
Akhtar Hameed Khan
Akhtar Hameed Khan was a Pakistani development activist and social scientist credited for pioneering microcredit and microfinance initiatives, farmers' cooperatives, and rural training programmes in the developing world. He promoted participatory rural development in Pakistan and other developing...
who became the institution's founder-Director. After the Partition of Pakistan, the institution was renamed to its present form.
Location
The Academy is located at Kotbari, 10 km from ComillaComilla District
The district of Comilla consists 4543 mosques, 379 temples, 98 churches, 34 Buddhist temples and six tombs.-Places of interest:Important landmarks include Kotbari, a cantonment, or military installation and Kandirpar, considered the heart of the Comilla district...
town. The campus is spread over a vast area that also hosts residences, conference rooms, mosque, library, a health clinic, sports complex, and other amenities.
Objectives
One of the main functions of BARD is to provide training for both officials and non-official members of the public and private institutions working on rural development. The training is provided in the form of courses, visit programmes, workshops and seminars.Research
The research is basically aimed at collecting socio-economic data for planning and project preparation. Findings are also used for training and information materials by respective public bodies and planning institutions. Research also relate to the evaluation of national rural development programmes either independently or jointly with government agencies, universities and research organisations.Projects
Since its inception BARD has conducted a number of large and small scales development programmes.- TCCA - In 1960s the Academy evolved a new system of rural cooperatives where small farmers of Comilla sadar thana were organised into primary cooperatives in the form of the federation of Thana Central Cooperative Association. The model has been successfully replicated all over the country.
- The Thana Training and Development Centre (TTDC) (since 1962-63) is a model of decentralised and coordinated rural administration for development. Subsequently, it was renamed as Rural Works Programme (RWP).
- 1969, Thana Irrigation Programme.