Bangladesh Bank
বাংলা      

Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin Former Governor, Bangladesh Bank

Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin, the 7th Governor of Bangladesh Bank, from November 24, 1998, to November 22, 2001, was a distinguished figure whose contributions spanned academia, public service, and the corporate world. Dr. Farashuddin's professional journey commenced as a Lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University of Dhaka in 1964. His path then led him to the Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP) between 1966 and 1973, where he held pivotal administrative roles, including Sub-Divisional Officer, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Additional Commissioner, Deputy Secretary, and Joint Secretary.

He was the Private Secretary to the Father of the Nation, Bangubandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the Prime Minister and the President during 1973-1975. He also served as the rapporteur of the UNDP Governing Council in 1980, member of the Bangladesh Delegation of the First UNLDC Conference held in Paris in 1981 and the Board of Directors for Agrani Bank and the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB), Film Censor Board, National Tea Company, General Insurance Corporation, British American Tobacco, Bangladesh in 1980s and 1990s.

Mr. Farashuddin served as the Joint Secretary (Investment) at the Ministry of Finance during 1983-1985, Consultant for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1983 and formulated the first draft in 1983 of the Grameen Bank Ordinance, 1984. He played a vital role as the controller of Capital Issues and accomplished unloading of significant number and amount of multinational company's shares to rejuvenate the Dhaka Stock Exchange in 1984. Dr. Farashuddin was also Syndicate Member at the University of Dhaka and Jagannath University, Chairman of the Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad, Chairman for Bangladesh Shilpa Rin Sangstha and member in the 5th Five Year Plan Formulation Advisory Committee, Chairman of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and 8th National Pay and Services Commission.

He was a Senior Fellow and Member of the Board of Trustees at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) and Founder Member in establishing the Bangladesh School of Economics, Senate Member at the University of Dhaka, visiting Professor at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Dhaka and East West University, Founding Vice-Chancellor of East West University (EWU), Chairman of Sonali Bank, Chairperson of Planning Commission Reorganization Committee.

Dr. Farashuddin's academic journey started at Sylhet Government High School in 1958 and Sylhet MC College in 1960. He earned a prestigious 1st Class 1st Position in BA (Honours) in Economics from the University of Dhaka in 1963 and completed his MA in Economics at the same institution in 1964. He also obtained MA in Political Economy from Boston University, United Sates in 1978 and PhD on "Cost Benefit Analysis of Labour, Foreign Exchange, and Government Revenue in the Context of Bangladesh," from Boston University, United Sates in 1979.

Dr. Farashuddin distinguished himself as the outstanding foreign student at Boston University, USA in 1978, Sorojini Naido Gold Medal in 2008, Mercantile Bank Gold Medal in 2010, and outstanding leadership in higher education from Bloomsburg University, USA in 2012 along with esteemed Sylhet Ratna. He was awarded the Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah Gold Medal in 2013, fellow of the Bangla Academy and BIDS-Banik Barta Economist Award in 2015 and higher education award from the Australian Academy of Business Learning in 2016.

Dr. Farashuddin authored of various books that delve into the realms of economics, democracy, and education.

Born on April 14, 1942, in the village of Ratanpur in Nayapara Union, Madhabpur, Habiganj District, Dr. Farashuddin is married to Suraiya Farashuddin (known as Asma), and together, they were blessed with a loving son and a cherished daughter.