The University of Dhaka has established the Department of Development Studies to provide challenging and innovative teaching in the field of development studies, a rapidly growing area of study concerned with the people, economy and society, and to foster high quality research on the problems of developing countries in general and Bangladesh in particular. Attracting students and scholars committed to interdisciplinary theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of social and economic change, the Department shall promote greater public understanding, advance independent analysis, and encourage further professional competence on issues related to development with a view to contributing towards poverty alleviation, the overarching goal of the country.