Dr. Atiur Rahman Former Governor, Bangladesh Bank
Dr. Atiur Rahman served as the 10th Governor of Bangladesh Bank, from May 01, 2009, to March 15, 2016. The defining feature of his tenure as the Governor was his decisive drive to alter the institutional objectives and ethos to support a pro-poor, inclusive, and sustainable development model through his flagship financial inclusion initiatives and environmentally benign banking initiatives. His record in taming inflation, maintaining a stable exchange rate, and enhancing foreign exchange reserves to advance financial stability in Bangladesh has been lauded domestically and internationally.Dr. Rahman made significant contributions at the 3GF conference, Rio+20, COP18, and SDG Global Compact-related international negotiations linking sustainability and socio-economic development goals. He was also a member of the UNEP Enquiry designing ‘global sustainable financing’.
Dr. Atiur Rahman is currently an Emeritus Professor at the Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka, and Chairing the Executive Committee of the Center for Advanced Research on Arts and Social Sciences in the same university. He was also a Bangabandhu Chair Professor there.He is the founding Chairperson of the national think tank- Unnayan Shamannay, and the Chair of Dhaka School of Banking Management (a subsidiary of BIBM affiliated with Dhaka University). Dr. Rahman is a Senior Fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) and a life member of Asiatic Society Bangladesh and Bangla Academy. Moreover, he is contributing as a member of the governing bodies of the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC), and Bangabandhu Agriculture Award Trust. He is also contributing globally to improving the state of inclusive sustainable development as a Special Adviser to Social Innovation Japan (SIJ), a diverse platform of change-makers led by Professor Emeritus Sei Yonekura of Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo. He also holds key positions at national cultural organizations- Executive Chair of Rabindra Sangeet Sammilon Parishad, and Vice President of Chhayanaut.
Dr. Rahman studied at Mirzapur Cadet College for his secondary and higher secondary education, followed by his undergraduate and graduate studies at the Department of Economics of the University of Dhaka. He was awarded the Commonwealth scholarship and went to the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London to pursue his M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics (1983).
Dr. Rahman was awarded a Commonwealth Development Fellowship at the University of Manitoba in Canada (1989), a Ford Foundation Post Doctoral Fellowship at The University of London (1991-92), and a Visiting Research Fellowship, at the Institute of South-East Asian Studies, Singapore (1998-99). He was also a visiting/adjunct professor in several universities, both at home and abroad.
Popularly known as the ‘Poor Peoples’ Economist’ and a ‘Green Governor’, Professor Atiur Rahman is also known for his literary works on the two greatest Bengali Personalities- Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Rabindranath Tagore. He has published over100 books in English and Bangla, besides, numerous papers in national and international journals. His book, ' Peasants and Classes’ published by both Oxford University Press, Delhi, and Zed Books, London, is considered semi-classic and taught worldwide. As part of the celebration of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary, he has published several books on his thoughts and works.Dr. Rahman’s work on Tagore has also been acclaimed both at home and abroad. These have emphasized Tagore’s thoughts on socio-economic development as well as the relevance of Tagore in contemporary development discourse.
He has recently been awarded the Bangla Academy Rabindra Puroshkar and Rabindra Shommanona by Rabindra Academy. Also, he has been awarded profusely both at home and abroad for his seminal work and professional performance. His significant achievements include- ‘The Best Central Bank Governor Asia and Pacific, 2015’, awarded by the Banker of the Financial Times; ‘The Central Bank Governor of the Year for Asia 2015’, awarded by the Emerging Markets of the Euro Money; ‘GUSI Peace Prize International 2014’, awarded by GUSI Foundation Manila; ‘Indira Gandhi Gold Plaque 2011’ for his outstanding contribution towards human progress, Asiatic Society, Kolkata; ‘A Regulator with a Human Face’, awarded by Dhaka University; ‘Sheltech Award 2010’ for financial inclusion; and ‘National Literary Award (Banga Academy Award)’ for 2015.He has most recently been awarded the prestigious Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah Gold Medal 2021 (by Dhaka Ahsania Mission) for his contribution to the society.