UBINIG
{{Short description|Non-governmental organization based in Dhaka, Bangladesh}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = UBINIG
| image = UBINIG logo.png
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| formation = 1984
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| headquarters = Dhaka, Bangladesh
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| region_served = Bangladesh
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| language = Bengali
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| website = {{URL|https://www.ubinig.org/}}
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UBINIG (Unnayan Bikalper Nitinirdharoni Gobeshona, the Policy Research for Development Alternatives) is a non-governmental organization based in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.{{Cite web |title=Star Magazine |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/magazine/2003/09/04/spft.htm |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=archive.thedailystar.net}} Founded in 1984, the organization has established nine vidyaghar (learning places). Farida Akhtar is the organization's executive director.{{Cite web |title=Law and Our Rights |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/law/2007/03/05/event.htm |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=archive.thedailystar.net}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-09 |title=Advisers to the interim government |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/advisers-the-interim-government-3672791 |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}
History
UBINIG (Policy Research for Development Alternative) was established in 1984 by Farhad Mazhar.{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://ubinig.org/index.php/campaign/index/english |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=ubinig.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=::: Star Weekend Magazine ::: |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/magazine/2005/07/02/cover.htm |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=archive.thedailystar.net}} It founded Prabartana, an organization promoting traditional agriculture and textile manufacturing in 1989. It founded Naya Krishi Andolon, which campaigns against genetically modified and hybrid corps.{{Cite web |date=2019-02-26 |title=Environmental activists raise concern over Golden Rice |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/news/environmental-activists-raise-concern-over-golden-rice-1707373 |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=::: Star Weekend Magazine ::: |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/10/03/endeavour.htm |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=archive.thedailystar.net}}
UBINIG's stated goals include equality and justice, diversity, and the promotion of social rights and responsibilities. It
seeks to train communities in environmental concerns, trade policies, family planning, and labor rights, particularly as they apply to women employed in the clothing industry. It has conducted research on the nutritional values of regional food supplies {{cite web|title=SIAN CASE STUDY - NAYAKRISHI & MOG|publisher=McGill University|url=https://www.mcgill.ca/cine/resources/data/bangladesh/|access-date=2009-05-20}} and made major contributions to the formulation of policies protecting biodiversity in the region.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5oSB_Dmwio4C&dq=UBINIG+seed+bank&pg=PA153|title=Participatory approaches to the conservation and use of plant genetic resources|publisher=Biodiversity International|year=2000|isbn=978-92-9043-444-3|editor-last=Esbern Friis-Hansen|editor-last2=Bhuwon Ratna Sthapit}} The organization opposes the use of hybrid seed varieties in the region as requiring burdensome purchase costs along with additional needs for fertilizers, pesticides, and water.{{cite web|url=http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/about/the_global_dimension/teaching_resources/poverty/the_poverty_challenge_fact_sheet_on_partners.pdf|title=The Poverty Challenge|publisher=Bournemouth University|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615230204/http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/about/the_global_dimension/teaching_resources/poverty/the_poverty_challenge_fact_sheet_on_partners.pdf|archive-date=2011-06-15|access-date=2009-05-20}} In 2008, the organization expressed its opposition to a leading Bangladeshi NGO, BRAC, which promoted hybrid varieties.{{cite news|title=Growing discontent|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/feb/20/internationalaidanddevelopment.bangladesh|work=The Guardian|access-date=2009-05-20 | location=London | first=Annie | last=Kelly | date=2008-02-20}}