Research & Publications

Publications

Journal Article The Cost of Discipline? Exploring the Impact of Corporal Punishment on Children's Foundational Learning Skills in Bangladesh
With Marjan Hossain, Sheikh Touhidul Haque
International Journal of Educational Development, 2025, Online Appendix
Using 2019 MICS data and an instrumental variable approach, we find that corporal punishment in Bangladesh significantly reduces children's foundational reading and numeracy skills, particularly among boys. The findings underscore the need for stronger enforcement of bans and targeted early-childhood interventions.

Working Papers

Working Paper Behind Closed Doors: Corporal Punishment at Home and Its Consequences for Emotional Regulation in Children-An Instrumental Variable Approach
With Arishfa Nawar Iqra and Md. Robiul Hossain
Under Review at Child Abuse & Neglect journal
Corporal punishment remains common despite evidence of harm. Using survey data and an instrumental-variables strategy, this paper examines its effects on children’s psychological outcomes. Linear Probability Models show strong positive associations with emotional regulation problems and anxiety/depression, but 2SLS estimates reveal a causal effect only on emotional regulation difficulties—especially for girls—with no consistent impact on anxiety or depression.
Working Paper Belief Measurement: The Role of Survey Incentives
With Atiya Rahman
We investigate if monetary incentives improve the accuracy of reported beliefs about social norms in rural Bangladesh. Results from a randomized survey experiment show that while incentives modestly reduce misperceptions, these effects are statistically fragile after adjusting for multiple hypothesis testing, suggesting limited cost-efficiency for sensitive norm research.
Working Paper Perception Versus Reality: Social Media, Elopement Fears, and Marriage Decisions in Rural Bangladesh
With Munshi Sulaiman and Shaila Ahmed
Using RCT data from rural Bangladesh, we examine the link between daughters' social media use and parental fears of elopement. We find that social media use increases perceived elopement risk and the likelihood of self-chosen marriage. However, the program intervention significantly reduces early marriage rates, particularly among social media users, highlighting the need to integrate digital literacy with empowerment.
Working Paper Women’s Property Rights and Fertility: Cross-Country Evidence
With Shaila Ahmed, Akmam Binte Arif, and Sheikh Touhidul Haque
Using a balanced panel of 136 countries (2002–2022), this paper instruments an index of women’s ownership and inheritance rights with colonial legal origin to estimate causal effects on fertility. Strengthening property rights from the 25th to the 75th percentile increases the total fertility rate by about 0.50 births per woman, a result robust across specifications, bounds tests, and regional and income subsamples.

Selected Work in Progress

In Progress Optimizing Cash Transfers with Social Empowerment Interventions to Reduce Child Marriage in Bangladesh
With Munshi Sulaiman, Shaila Ahmed, Khandker Wahedur Rahman, Sakib Mahmood.
AER RCT Registration. Update: Midline is completed; Endline survey is scheduled in January 2026
In Progress Play-Based Learning in Crisis Contexts: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Educational and Psychosocial Outcomes in Host Community Children
With Shaila Ahmed, Justine Howard, Sakila Yesmin, Muhammad Towkir Hossain.
AEA RCT Registration. Update: Both baseline and endline survey is completed; Analysis and paper writing are ongoing as of December 2025.

Policy Writings/Reports

Research Projects

This section includes the projects that I worked only as a (Trainee) Research Associate

Partnership for Research on Progress and Resilience in Education (PREPARE) Bangladesh Round 1 and 2
In collaboration with Centre for Global Development (CGD) Europe
This study assesses foundational literacy and numeracy among children aged 5–18 in Bangladesh using phone-based ASER assessments. We find that while enrollment is higher for girls and younger children, significant learning gaps persist, particularly in rural areas and among those exposed to shocks like COVID-19 and natural disasters.
Parenting-For-Adolescent (PFA) Program (Pilot Study)
With Centre for Global Development (CGD) Europe
Despite high educational aspirations, parents in the Ultra Poor Graduation Program often marry daughters early due to reputational fears and a lack of communication. This study tests a counseling intervention adapted from the CONNECT program to bridge the parent-adolescent gap, aiming to reduce conflict, lower early marriage rates, and increase secondary school enrollment.