Varendra University research highlights policy gaps in SDGs, Tourism and FDI
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Three research studies by a researcher from the Department of Business Administration at Varendra University have been published in international journals, focusing on Bangladesh’s SDG implementation, tourism development and foreign direct investment (FDI). The studies examine corporate social responsibility in the country’s banking sector, the relationship between economic growth and tourism, and the importance of institutional capacity in ensuring the economic benefits of FDI.
Professor Dr. Kaniz Habiba Afrin, Head of the Department of Business Administration and Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law at Varendra University, is associated with the studies.
Published in Wiley’s Journal of Public Affairs in 2025, the study titled Does Corporate Social Responsibility Support Progress Toward Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Bangladesh? analyzed the CSR activities of 32 scheduled banks in Bangladesh between 2018 and 2022.
The study found that while banks contributed to education and disaster response, their contributions to SDG areas such as environmental protection, climate action, clean energy and sustainable consumption remained comparatively limited.
The research called for more targeted allocation of banks’ CSR spending toward environmental and climate-related SDG initiatives.
Meanwhile, the study Exploring the Nexus Between Economic Growth and Tourism Demand: The Role of Sustainable Development Goals, published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, examined the relationship between economic growth and tourism demand.
According to the findings, economic growth contributes to higher tourism demand through increased national income and exports. At the same time, SDGs have a positive impact on tourism demand and influence the relationship between economic growth and tourism.
The third study analyzed the impact of FDI based on the experiences of South Asian countries. It found that simply increasing FDI does not guarantee the benefits of economic growth. Institutional quality, human capital and trade openness play important roles in determining the economic benefits derived from FDI.
Professor Dr. Kaniz Habiba Afrin said the objective of the research was not to directly formulate government policy. Rather, the primary aim was to provide policymakers with relevant information and analysis to support decision-making.
Varendra University said the studies also demonstrate the growing capacity of regional universities in Bangladesh to conduct internationally recognized research.
