Academy for Planning and Development  Situated in Sonargoan Road, Nilkhet (dhaka), the Academy for Planning and Development initially started as a project in 1980. It was brought under the government's revenue budget on 1 July 1984. In 1985, it was declared a 'Body Corporate' under the Government Educational and Training Institutions Ordinance, 1961. Its supervision and management were vested upon a fifteen-member board of governors. The academy receives financial assistance from the government and foreign donor agencies for carrying out its training, academic activities and development programmes. The Academy provides pre-service and in-service training to officers, conducts research and evaluation, disseminates information, and conducts departmental examinations of Bangladesh Civil Service (economic cadre) officers. Training programmes are organised for officers of the Planning Commission, Economic Relations Division, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division, planning cells, and projects under different ministries/ agencies and divisions as well as for the new entrants in the country's civil service. The Academy also conducts special training courses for officials of different organisations as and when called upon to do so. The research and evaluation studies of the Academy pertain mainly to economic and social development. Its consultancy service is provided to the ministries/ agencies in pre-investment feasibility studies and in the formulation, appraisal, monitoring and evaluation of development projects. It disseminates knowledge and experience in planning, economic development, project management, and other related subjects through publications, documentation services, and seminars and workshops.

The Academy is housed in a six-storied building and its premises have a total area of 0.87 acres. There is a specialised functional library with a reasonable collection of books, periodicals, journals, and research reports for the benefit of trainees and faculty members. Training aids and logistic support include video camera, LCD panel, video projector, TV, overhead projectors and movie projector. Attached to the main building is a 7-storied dormitory with residential accommodation and cafeteria for 70 trainees at a time. At present, the Academy's staff strength is 50. The Academy invites and utilises the services of renowned guest speakers from the government, autonomous training institutions, and the universities. The Academy provides three types of courses - regular day course, regular evening course (self-financed) and requested course. It also provides seminar and workshop facilities on different issues. Until December 1999 the Academy had provided training to 11032 officers of various cadres and public and private agencies. It develops professionally trained project management executives and administrators. At present, the Academy is undergoing an expansion programme with the financial assistance of the government to strengthen its training capabilities and to increase its physical facilities. [Sadat Ullah Khan]