Governance

Prof. Dr. Monzur-Ul-Amin Chowdhury, President of Ghashful and Adjunct Faculty, School of Liberal Arts and Social Science (SLASS) in Chittagong Independent University (CIU) Chittagong was born in Noajishpur under Raozan Upazila in Chattogram. He is also the Adjunct Faculty, Department of Sociology and Sustainable Development of Premier University. He was awarded D.P.I Scholarship by GoB. Dr. Monzur is a Senate member of CU since 1986, former member of Finance Committee and former Vice-President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He has 20 published research articles and seminar papers. One of his research works“The Working Children in Transport Sector (Tempo) in Chittagong Metropolitan City- A Sociological Profile”published in 2013;and another one “The Working Children in Road Transport Sector in Chittagong City, Bangladesh: A Sociological Profile”, was published in 2018. His interest in education & research was shaped by his father Abdul Hoque Chowdhury, Ekushey Padak receipient and an eminent scholar on history and culture. He has been with Ghashful since 2003 and Vice President of Ghashful for 3 Consecutive terms.

Mr. Kairy, a prominent name in the field of organizational accounting, Mr. Kairy has a glorious career, contributing to numerous successes of the organizations he has worked in. He is the Chief Operating Officer at SAJIDA Foundation.

Mr. Kairy began his career in the Accounts Section of BRAC in April 1982 and served there for 35 years. Upon reaching 60 years of age in June 2017, he retired as the Chief Financial Officer of BRAC and BRAC International, a role he has carried out with distinction for close to a decade. In July 2017 Mr. Kairy was appointed as the Treasurer of BRAC University upon approval of the Chancellor (President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh). He provided oversight to the building of a US$ 100 million state-of-the-art campus and ensured that the university continues to be financially sustainable. Mr. Kairy serves as honorary Chairperson of Dhaka Handicrafts Ltd., The Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh (FNB), INAFI Bangladesh, and RDRS Bangladesh.

Along with publishing a number of articles in national newspapers Mr. Kairy, in the last 23 years has provided lectures in different training institutes on Accounting and Financial Management. Mr. Kairy attained his Master of Commerce in Accounting from Dhaka University.

Mahruha Sultana completed her Master’s degrees in Botany from Chittagong University, and also has an MBA degree. She has served Government of Bangladesh and she retired as Secretary of Rural Development & Cooperative Division. She joined Ghashful as a member of the General Body and now she is currently contributing for the development and growth of the organization as the General Secretary of Ghashful Executive Committee.

Shahana Begum, completed her Honours and Master’s degrees in Sociology from Chittagong University. She joined Ghashful as a member of the General Body in 2014 and served as the General Secretary of Ghashful Executive Committee in the last 2017-2020 financial year. She is currently contributing for the development and growth of the organization as a member of Ghashful General body. She is General Manager, Bangladesh General Insurance Limited Co. (BGIC).

K A M Majedur Rahman is a seasoned banker and an experienced capital market professional. Spanning nearly four decades Mr. Rahman has worked in Bangladesh, Middle East, Africa and Australia in strategic business transformation, risk management, treasury, audit, fintech, HR, governance and stakeholder relationships.

Rahman served as the Managing Director of Dhaka Stock Exchange Limited, Managing Director & CEO of Premier Bank Limited, Country Head of Bank Alfalah Limited, Chief Risk Officer & Additional Managing Director of AB Bank Limited and Deputy Managing Director of IPDC Finance in Bangladesh. Currently, he is engaged as the Group CEO of A.K.Khan & Company Limited, one of the oldest conglomerates in Bangladesh.

Concurrently, Rahman serves as an Independent Director on the Board of Maldives Islamic Bank and Shahjalal Islami Bank Limited. He is also a sponsor Director of Financial Excellence Limited (FinExcel) and Vice Chairman of Valor of Bangladesh Limited, a non-profit knowledge sharing platform.

Mr. Rahman holds a Masters and Bachelor’s degree from Dhaka University. He has attended senior management development programme at Said Business School, Oxford and London Business School.

Shamiha Salim completed her Bachelors of Social Science (B.S.S. Honours) from University of Dhaka. She is one of the members of Ghashful General Body. She currently lives in Jamal Khan Road, Lichubagan, Chattogram. She was born on 2^nd of February, 1971 in the family of Md. Salim Ullah and Nurunnahar Begum at Chattogram. She is private job holder by profession.

Kabita Barua, joined Ghashful General Body in 2010 as a member. She is Director (Administration) of Ekushey Hospital and Zone Secretary of Dhrubo Parishad Music College, and is involved in various social development activities. She was the secretary of Sangeet Bhavan for a long time.

Prof. Dr. Golam Rahman is one of the honourable members of Ghashful General Body. He had been Founder Vice Chancellor (1 August 1991 – 22 August 1993) of the University of Khulna, Khulna and United International University (UIU), Dhaka. At present he is the Honorary Advisor of UIU. 

He had previously been Ex-Dean, Faculty of Architecture & Planning, and Ex-Head, Department of Urban & Regional Planning of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka. He is the Founder President of Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP). He had been the Ex-Vice President of Commonwealth Association of Planners (South-West Asia).

Completing BA (Hon’s) & MA in Geography from University of Dhaka, he had Post-graduated at Town & Regional Planning from The University of Sheffield, UK, and pursued MCRP in City & Regional Planning from The University of Oklahoma, USA. He had completed his Ph.D. in Rural Planning from Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka. 

He currently lives in Dhanmondi, Dhaka with family. He was born on 7^th of January, 1937 in the family of Late Naimuddin Ahmed and Late Amirunnesa Begum at Shatkhira.

Dr. Moinul Islam Mahmud, graduated from Chittagong Medical College, and served as a Lecturer in Physiology. He later joined IPGM and built his professional career as Resident Physician. Dr. Moinul finished Post Graduation in Medicine(MCPS) and did his Diploma and Fellowship in Gastroenterology from Vienna University in 1985. He was independent Director of Chittagong Stock Exchange Limited for consecutive 4 terms. He was Sr. Medical Officer of Meghna Petroleum limited, Chattogram. Currently he is the Managing Director of Sensiv (Pvt) Ltd.  a leading Diagnostic Laboratory in Chattogram. Heserved as the Chairman of the Chittagong Club Limited for four consecutive terms. He is serving as a President & In-charge of Chattogram Kidney Foundation and involved in many philanthropic activities.

Jahanara Begum is a General Member of Ghashful. She is a renowned face in the Banking sector working relentlessly since 1987. Passion to work for the social cause especially for the women and the children, she has been working with "CODEC" Community Development Centre as Women Affairs Secretary. is the founder charter President of the "Lions Club of Chittagong Parijat Elite" and is currently serving as Marketing & Communication Chairperson of Chittagong Parijat Elite, Lions Club. She is the Lifetime Member of Chittagong Lions Foundation and "WORK FOR DISABLED".  

Ln. Jahanara Begum is known for her acumen in the area of Trade Finance Business, Import & Export and inter-personal communication skills that attributes in her career and personality. At present, she is working as Senior Vice President, at ONE Bank Ltd SME-2 , Corporate Head Quarter, Chittagong Zone. Meanwhile, also served as the Manager of Chandgaon branch and CDA Avenue branch of ONE Bank Ltd , Chittagong Zone untill 2018.

Ln. Jahanara Begum started her career as a prudent Banker in 1987 in Foreign Exchange department, at AB bank LTD in Chittagong. Since then she has been working deligently in the banking sector for the benefit of rapid growth of an organization and introducing modern skill and management practice.

Ln. Jahanara Begum has a MA in Bangali from University of Chittagong and has received different trainings on Trade & Finance and attended various national & international seminars and workshops. She also participated in an international seminar on "Foreign Trade Seminar in Hong Kong " held in Hong kong.

Ms. Yasmeen Ahmed, Proprietor of Herald Traders is a prolific and successful entrepreneur in the field of leather footwear business. She has completed her graduation from Dhaka Open University. Ms. Ahmed started her career with Thai Airways International PCL and successfully served there for long 21 years as an Administrative Manager. Ms. Ahmed came from a noble Muslim family. Family legacy and her own inherent qualities gave her a great sense of value and direction which inspired her to bring successes in every sphere of life. After sudden death of her husband, Ms. Ahmed entered into business world and since then has been brilliantly running her own leather business. In parallel doing business, she participates many fairs and carnivals and demonstrates her leather products and receives accolades and appreciations. She also attends a number of seminars and courses at home and abroad. In addition, she holds various dignified positions of some NGOs and Associations and also actively involved in different social works. At present, she is on the Board of Ghashful NGO (1st NGO in Ctg.) She is also the member of Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs (BFWE), member of Professional Fellows Exchange Program of US State Department and also a member of Bangladesh Young Entrepreneurs (BYE2), Women Entrepreneurs Association (WEA) and SME Foundation. Ms. Ahmed is a founding member of Administrative Professional Welfare Association of Bangladesh (APWAB) since 1995 and now holds the exalted position of the President of APWAB. Besides, she is the Vice President of Lions Club of Chittagong Parijat Elite, Lions Clubs International District 315-B4, Bangladesh.

Zareen Mahmud Hosein is the Founder and ED of HerStory Foundation. The organization focuses on quality education and gender equality in Bangladesh through storytelling, capacity building and awareness. She is also the Founding Partner of Snehasish Mahmud & Co., Chartered Accountants. She is also the Managing Editor of taramonbd.com, an online media platform for and by women. Ms. Hosein serves on the Boards of the Aga Khan Foundation Bangladesh, Sajida Foundation, Bangladesh Mohila Samity, Shasha Denims Limited. She is the President, Entrepreneurs' Organization Bangladesh. Ms. Hosein is also an Acumen Bangladesh Fellow for 2020. She is also the recipient of the Women of Excellence Award from the Women Economic Forum in 2018 in New Delhi, India. Ms. Hosein started her career in New York City Mayor's Budget Office and then worked in KPMG LLP in New York before moving to Bangladesh. She has a BA in Economics from Smith College and an MPA from New York University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh.

Md. Ohiduzzaman is one of the members of Ghashful General Body. He currently lives in Kazi Para (Niamatpur House), Naogaon. He was born on 12^th January 1966 in the family of Late Anisur Rahman and Late Farida Yasmin at Naogaon. He passed B. Com and is a businessperson by profession. He became associated with Ghashful with a philanthropist motive.

Dr. Selima Huq is a medical doctor by profession. She is an altruistic social worker and is associated with multifarious social and developmental activities around the country. She is working at LabAid Diagnostic Centre at Gulshan since 1996. She also actively organizes and participates in medical camps all over Bangladesh. Previously she has worked at Holy Family Hospital and NGOs such as Unity Through Population Service (UTPS) etc. She has completed her Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.) degree from Dhaka Medical College. She also received a Diploma on Gynecology and Obstetrics, and D.F.P. & H.C. Degree from UK. She has had her schooling at Muslim Girl’s High School and Higher Secondary at Eder Girls’ College. At present she lives at Gulshan, Dhaka with her family after returning from United Kingdom since 1981. She is energetic and active in team building activities. She is a member of Gulshan Ladies Club and also run the day clinic. She is a member of Inner Wheel Club Buriganga and Rotarian Club as well. Also, she is a Medical Advisor of USA Embassy.

Mr. Md. Abdul Karim has been appointed as Executive Director, UCEP Bangladesh in the 331st BoG meeting held on July 18, 2021, with an immediate effect from July 19, 2021 for a period until further notice. 

Mr. Md. Abdul Karim is Member of Ghashful General Body since 2021. He brings 42 years of experience in the field administration, Foreign Service, Secretariat level highest position in the regulatory, development and revenue-related Ministries/Divisions. Mr. Karim is the President of Bangladesh Scouts Foundation, Bangladesh Chemical Society, Bangladesh Deaf Sports Federation and Chittagong University Alumni Association. He is the Chairman of IPDC Finance Ltd., Advisory Board Member of Asian University for Women (AUW), Chattogram and Secretary General of the South East Asian Cooperation (SEACO) Foundation, Dhaka

He previously served as Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Commerce, Fisheries and Livestock, Finance (Internal Resources Division) and Communications (Bridges Division). He was Economic Councilor of Bangladesh Embassy in Brussels, Chairman of Eastern Refinery Limited and Green Delta Insurance Company Ltd; Managing Director of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and Senior Advisor of BRAC.

Mr. Abdul Karim completed his education from the University of Chittagong and the University of Birmingham, UK. He was trained at home and abroad, travelled to 60 countries and represented Bangladesh in many international forums, conferences and Summits. He has written books and articles on local government, environment, empowerment of women and elderly, and disaster management etc. He has lectured at North South University, Bangladesh Public Administration Training Center, Bangladesh Military Academy, National Defense College, Bangladesh Civil Service Administration Academy and various other institutions. Mr. Karim has received the highest Scout Award of Bangladesh.

Jhuma Rahman is an Early Childhood Educator. She has a MA in English Literature from Dhaka University.   Ms. Rahman started her career in BRAC, the largest NGO, Non Formal Education Program as a Material Developer in the Chandina Learning Improvement Project. She also taught in Chittagong Grammar School as a teacher. Later Ms. Rahman moved to Canada.  She continued her passion for working with children in a new country. Ms. Rahman did her Diploma in Early Childhood Education from George Brown College, Toronto. She worked in Community Living Toronto as an Instructor in Scarborough ETS Program. She worked with Special Need individuals to enhance their social skills and work skills. She also worked in different Education Program: South Asian Family Support Program, Hillcrest Day Nursery, McLean House Daycare and different Lab Schools of George Brown College in Canada as an Early Childhood educator. Ms. Rahman joined in Aurora International School, Dhaka after moving to Bangladesh. She was Joint Secretary of Ghashful, National NGO of Bangladesh.

Golam Mostafa is playing the role of Treasurer of Ghashful General Body. He currently lives in Imperial Hill, Khulshi, Chattogram. He was born on 17th April 1951 in the family of Late Amir Hossen Mojumdar and Late Sajida Khatun at Chaddogram Zilla, Cumilla. He passed B.Com and is a private job holder by profession. He became associated with Ghashful with a humanitarian motive.

Prof. Dr. Zainab Begum was born on 3^rd January, 1944 in Chattogram. She is the retired Joint Secretary in the ministry of LGRD and Co – operatives of the Govt. of Bangladesh. She joined the Govt. Education Service in 1966 as lecturer of Zoology at Chittagong College and gathered 35 years of experience in teaching and administration. She did her Ph.D from the University of Clermont- Ferrand, France in 1978 with a prior one year intensive course in French Language at CAVILAM, ViChowdhury, France and DEA degree in Protistology from the same university in the year 1975 and 76 respectively. In 1978 on returning from France she joined Department of Zoology, Chittagong College as Asst. Professor and served as the Head of the Department in the capacity of Associate Professor, Professor, and finally Selection Grade Professor. She was the Head of the Dept. for about 30 years till 1998. 

She was selected by the Govt. of Bangladesh on deputation as the Joint Secretary, Ministry of LGRD and Co-operatives in 1998 to represent women empowerment in higher grade officials of the Govt. She is the President of Ghashful Paran Rahman School Management Committee. She introduced Qudrat-E-Khuda Gold Medal Award to authors, scientists who contributed in popular science written in Bangla Language. 

Parveen Mahmud, FCA is the Chairperson, Underprivileged Children’s Educational Programme (UCEP) Bangladesh. Ms. Mahmud started her career with BRAC, served as Deputy Managing Director of Palli Karma- Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), and was the Founding Managing Director of the Grameen Telecom Trust.

She was Partner, ACNABIN & Co., Chartered Accountants. Ms Mahmud is Past President and first female Council Member, Vice President and President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB). She is also the first female board member and first female President of a professional accounting body of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA), the apex accounting professional body of the SAARC. 

Ms. Mahmud serves as independent director of Apex Footwear Limited, Marico Bangladesh Ltd., Berger Paints Bangladesh Ltd., and serves in various Boards including Grameenphone Ltd., Bishsho Shahitto Kendro, TIB,CPD, PKSF, BRAC International etc. Ms. Mahmud was the Chairperson of Shasha Denims Ltd., Acid Survivors’ Foundation and Micro Industries Assistance Services (MIDAS). 

She is the President, Lions Club of Chittagong Parijat Elite, Lions Club International, District 315- B4, Bangladesh and a Melvin Jones Fellow.

Professor Mandal, an agricultural economist, has been involved in teaching, research and policy planning in agriculture and rural development for over four decades. Professor Mandal had his bachelor and masters in agricultural economics from BAU in 1973 and 1974, respectively. He did his PhD from the University of London in 1979 and post-doc studies from the University of Oxford in 1986-87. Major areas of Professor Mandal’s academic interests include agriculture and rural development, food and agricultural policy planning, irrigation and water resource management, agricultural technology, rural mechanisation and agribusiness development.

Professor Mandal was the Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh, during 2008-2011. He worked for the Bangladesh Planning Commission first as member of General Economics Division during 2000-2001 when he led the mid-term evaluation of the Fifth Five- Year Plan and completed the background studies for the Sixth Five Year Plan. He served the Planning Commission for the second term as member for Agriculture, Water Resources & Rural Institutions Division during 2011-2013 when he was involved in the evaluation and approval of many high profile projects relating to Blue Gold project, capital dredging of the Jamuna river, rural development, food security and poverty reduction.

Professor Mandal has been affiliated with BAU as its first Emeritus Professor of agricultural economics since 2017. He is currently a member of the syndicate of Bangladesh Agricultural University and Sylhet Agricultural University. He has been advising the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh as a member of its Expert Pool. He is currently a member of the Board of Governors of Brac- Bangladesh. Professor Mandal has been a member of the Independent Steering Committee (ISC) for the new CGIAR research program on Fish AgriFood Systems (FISH) of the WorldFish, Penang, Malaysia. Professor Mandal also advises Water Resources Group 2030 of the World Bank and CIMMYT- Bangladesh

Until recently, Professor Mandal was a government nominated member of the Board of Directors of the Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (Agricultural Research Foundation and also a Trustee of the Bangladesh Krishi Gobeshona Endowment Trust (BKGET) of the government. He also worked as a Senior Advisor to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Bangladesh during 2015-2016.

Professor Mandal led the preparation of important national policy documents such as Agricultural Mechanization Policy (2019), Reorganisation of the Department of Agricultural Marketing (2010), Reformation of Manpower Structure of the Department of Agricultural Extension- Ag economics and Ag engineering (2012), and Bangladesh Country Position Paper on Food Security for the SAARC Region (2007). He was also the lead researcher of the reports on Economics of Jute Production (2010), Synthesis of Agricultural Policies (2006), Bangladesh Fishery Research Vision- 2015 (2006), Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper-agriculture (2005), Dynamics of Aquaculture in Bangladesh (2004), National Agriculture Policy (1999), Flood Action Plan-12 & 13 (1991), and Agricultural Sector Review- Irrigation (1988).

He led many collaborative research projects with international funding and published his works widely as journal articles, reports, books and monographs. His co-edited book on “Rural Mechanization: A Driver to Agricultural Change and Rural Development” and his book in Bangla ‘Unnoyoner Golpo’ have been widely acclaimed. His edited Bangla book “Bangladesher Krishi Orthoniti- Bishoy O Bisletion” , first of its kind, is published by UPL. His extensive research works on irrigation institutions and water market significantly contributed to the consolidation of the privatisation policy for minor irrigation development of Bangladesh during 1990s. He has 86 published papers and book chapters, 72 conference papers and research reports and 13 books and monographs. He has received many prestigious awards.

He has worked as a visiting professor in many universities abroad including School of Development Studies of the University of East Anglia, UK in 1997 and 2000, and Faculty of Life Sciences of the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Kleve, Germany since 2013 through 2017.

Ms. Zahida Ispahani is the Director of M. M. Ispahani Limited, Ispahani Tea Limited, and ISPI Securities Limited. She is an Honorary Adviser of the Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute & Hospital since 2001, and now a Member of its Management Committee. She is also the Chairman of A.B. Ispahani Securities Limited, Director of MIDAS Ltd., The Free School Street Property, ISPI Travels Ltd., and Financial Express (IPL).

She started her career as an educationist. She served as a Secretary for six years at the United Nations Women’s Association in Bangladesh. She was the Founder Secretary and President for two terms at the SAARC Women Association in Bangladesh. She is the spouse of Late Mr. Mirza Ali Behrouze Ispahani the Chairperson of M M Ispahani group.       

She is a philanthropist, serving several orphanages, social and community trusts and organizations. Ms. Zahida Ispahani is a graduate in Economics from the University of Punjab, Pakistan.