【Webinar Report】Development of Drinking Water in Southwest Coastal Bangladesh: Special Focus on Reserch Method under the Situation of COVID-19

On Thursday, 2021 June 3^rd, an online lecture by Graduate School of International Relations (GSIR) doctoral candidate, Shota Yamada, was given. The presentation, titled “The Development of Drinking Water in Southwest Coastal Bangladesh: Special Focus on Research Method Under the Situation of COVID-19,” sought to reveal why the drinking water crisis in Bangladesh has not been solved.

Yamada argued that the regional and local features of the target area may not be fully considered when implementing drinking water related (AMAMIZU, etc.) development assistance. It was also emphasized that pursuing development philosophies, such as commercialization of NGOs, and generation of sense of ownership may hamper access to water sources, especially for people with lower incomes. While Yamada has close ties in Bangladesh and feels connected to the country, he faced many difficulties during his field research, including being unable to return to the country after the 2016 terrorist attack in Bangladesh and ongoing restrictions from COVID-19. In dealing with his limitations, a method using a field survey by proxy (consultant agency [NGO] in Bangladesh) was utilized.

The lecture concluded with a Q&A session, during which Yamada and members of the audience clarified and considered questions on proxy survey methodology, the benefits and challenges of using said methodology, and strategies to implement this method as an alternative research method during the COVID-19 era.

Written by Yami Roca and Yusy Widarahesty (Doctoral Students at the Graduate School of International Relations)