Faruque Ahmed

Chairperson, Trustee Board

Mr. Faruque Ahmed is the Chairperson of the RDRS Board of Trustees. His election occurred during the 66th meeting of the Board, and his three-year tenure began on April 27, 2024. Mr. Ahmed has been a member of the RDRS Board of Trustees since March 16, 2020, and his continued commitment to the organization's mission underscores his passion for development.

Mr. Faruque Ahmed with a master's degree in Economics from Dhaka University and another master's in Health Sciences from Johns Hopkins University, USA, brings extensive experience in the development sector. Previously, he was the Executive Director of BRAC International and worked at the World Bank office in Dhaka. Mr. Ahmed was a board member of the vaccine alliance, GAVI, in Geneva and worked in various committees of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank.

Currently, Mr. Ahmed is a board member of the Social Marketing Company (SMC) Enterprise and an active member of the Bangladesh Health Watch working group.

Dr. S. M. Akbar

Treasurer, Trustee Board

Dr. S. M. Akbar has over 40 years of experience at various levels with different international banks and joint venture financial institutions in different countries of Asia and Europe. He attended international management training programme on different areas of Banking and Finance. He had demonstrated remarkable skills in turning around sick enterprises. He has also gained field level experience in managing operations of small and medium micro finance organisations of Bangladesh.

Dr. Akbar has been awarded by different organisations for his outstanding management contribution in banking, including Gold medal for outstanding contribution in investment banking. He was member of various chambers of commerce and trade bodies including Foreign Investors Chambers of Commerce and Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industries. He is also member of various social and voluntary organisations including Red Cross, Anjuman Mafidul Islam and Mother & Child Hospital.

Dr. Akbar achieved an MBA from UK and a PhD from USA.

Professor M. Moynul Haque PhD

Member, Trustee Board

Prof. Dr. M. Moynul Haque has more than 39 years experiences in the field of education and research. Currently, he is serving in the Department of Agronomy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur. He also served as Dean (Faculty of Agriculture), Registrar, Director (Planning and Development), Director (Outreach Program), Director (Transport), Additional Director (Institutional Quality Assurance Cell), Head of the Department and Syndicate Member of the university. Professor Haque was awarded certificate of scientific achievement by BARI-ACIAR in recognition of his outstanding contribution to research and development of pulses. He also developed 10 high yielding varieties of different crops popularly cultivated in the country. He supervised 45 MS and PhD students and published 145 research articles in different national and international journals. Professor Haque has been associated with RDRS Trustee Board since 16 April 2016.

Professor Haque has MS and PhD degree in Agronomy. He is also fellow of different international institutions including IRRI, Philippines; Asian Vegetable Research and Development Centre, Taiwan; Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Danish Plant Directorate, Denmark; Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi and MTC Global, Bangalore, India.

Philip Biswas

Member , Trustee Board

Philip Biswas has specialization in organization Development & Management, Microfinance Operation & Management, and Children Scholarship Program. He is Founder Executive Director of Rural Reconstruction Foundation (RRF). He has served as member of Board and Executive Committee of different national and international forums and organizations. Mr. Philip has joined in RDRS General Board on 23 December 2019.

Philip Biswas has Bachelor Degree in Arts from Notre Dame College, Dhaka. He has also a Diploma in Development Studies from Coady International Institute, St. Francis Xavier University, Canada.

Shabbir Ahmed Chowdhury

Member , Trustee Board

Shabbir Ahmed Chowdhury is the Honorary Advisor of the Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development (InM). He has a long professional career in the field of Development. Mr Chowdhury has started his career with BRAC as a field worker in 1976 and became Director BRAC Microfinance Programme, Training Programme, and later BRAC International Programme. During his splendid professional career, he was a Consultant to the Family Bank (Bank Ul Ushra), Khartoum, Sudan to develop Microfinance program for the Bank, a consultant to UNICEF, East and South African Region to develop Strategic Plan document for the UNICEF funded organisations held in Mauritius, Africa and conducted many workshops, developed strategic plan document and training courses in microfinance, management, group dynamics, team building and many other subjects for National and International Organisations in Bangladesh and abroad. He was also a consultant to Shree Project of DFID to conduct a study on Saving systems of the extreme poor. Involved in developing BRAC Post-Graduate Diploma Curriculum in Leadership and Management jointly with School for International Training (SIT), USA, Organisation of Rural Association for Progress (ORAP), Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Mr. Chowdhury has joined InM in 2013 as Director Education Programme. While in InM he developed and implemented a six-month Diploma in Microfinance Programme of twenty-one credits. Trained over 300 mid and senior-level microfinance staff of MFIs, Banks and Government officials.

Mr. Chowdhury was awarded Honorary Citizenship by the Municipality of General Trias, Cavite, Peoples Republic of Philippines. Professional member of the Microfinance Network (MFN), Mexico 2006-2009, General Body member of InM from 2019-2020, Lifelong member of Dhaka University Alumni Association, General Board Member of Association of Land Reform and Development (ALRD), Association for Realisation of Basic Needs-ARBAN and Uddipan.

Mr. Chowdhury has a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Dhaka and another M.A. in Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, The Netherlands. He was awarded a certificate on Strategic Leadership for Microfinance from Harvard Business School, USA. Awarded certificate on Boulder Microfinance Training, Naropa University, USA organised by CGAP, World Bank. Awarded certificate on Micro Banking Internal Control Practices, in Jakarta, Indonesia organised by the Bank Rakyat Indonesia.

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Zahida Ispahani

Member , Trustee Board

Zahida Ispahani is the Director of M. M. Ispahani Limited, Ispahani Tea Limited, ISPI Securities Limited, The Free School Street Property Limited, ISPI Travels Limited, and Financial Express. She is the Chairman of A.B. Ispahani Securities Limited, and MIDAS Limited. She is an honorary Adviser of the Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute and Hospital since 2001. She served as a Secretary at 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 a Philanthropist, serving several orphanages, social and community trusts, and organisations. Zahida Ispahani is a graduate in Economics from the University of Punjab, Pakistan

Anna Minj

Member , Trustee Board

Anna Minj is a seasoned professional in the development sector with extensive ground-level experience in leading multi-sectoral program planning and management. She specializes in poverty reduction, integrated holistic development, women's empowerment, livelihood security, ultra-poor graduation, gender equality mainstreaming, and Indigenous people's rights. Anna has a proven track record in program development, policy and strategy formulation, and driving successful operationalization with measurable results and impactful changes. Her expertise in gender programming and mainstreaming is evident at both organizational and programmatic levels.

She has held senior positions at prestigious national and international organizations, including CARITAS, CARE Bangladesh, and BRAC, the world's largest development organization. She excels in leading diverse teams and has actively participated in numerous national and international forums.

She is the Chairperson of the National Coalition of Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh, Vice-Chair of SIL International Bangladesh, and an executive board member of several development organizations. Her past roles include Chairperson of the Bangladesh Community Radio Association, executive board member of Stromme Foundation-Norway, convener for Girls NOT Brides Bangladesh Chapter, and the Engaging Men & Boys Alliance, Bangladesh.

Currently, she is the Director of Programmes at BRAC International, an organization operating in 14 countries across Asia and Africa. BRAC International implements a wide range of programmes focused on education, health, youth empowerment, ultra-poor graduation, early childhood development, agriculture food security, and climate change. She holds a postgraduate degree in Project Planning and Management from the University of Manchester, UK, and an MSc in Zoology/Fisheries from Jagannath University, Bangladesh.

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Tapan Kumar Karmaker

Secretary, Trustee Board and Executive Director, RDRS Bangladesh

Mr. Tapan Kumar Karmaker is currently serving as the Executive Director of RDRS Bangladesh. Immediately before taking the present responsibility, he served as the Cluster Director, Microfinance of BRAC International Holdings B.V.

Mr. Karmaker is an experienced development professional with more than 35 years of experience in implementing integrated development program in the areas of Microfinance, Health, Food Security & Livelihood, Education, WaSH, and Adolescent Empowerment. He has served more than 18 years in a senior management position in both national and international organizations of which 2 years as the CEO of BRAC Rwanda Microfinance Company PLC, 2 years as Managing Director, BRAC Microfinance of West Africa, 4 years as Country Representative of BRAC Sierra Leon and 10 Years as Director (Microfinance) of RDRS Bangladesh.

He has in-depth knowledge and skills in program management including planning and monitoring, resource mobilization, finance and budgeting, human resources management, training facilitation, risk management, and successful & effective implementation of Microfinance programs in post-conflict countries. He is highly committed to the transformation of the lives and livelihood of underprivileged and economically disadvantaged population of the country.

Mr. Tapan Kumar Karmaker has a Master’s of Commerce in Management from Dhaka University.

 

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