Bangladesh Economics Olympiad

Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman is a prominent Bangladeshi economist and policy expert with extensive experience in government, research, and social development. He previously served as an Advisor to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh. Currently, he is the Chairperson of BRAC, one of the largest non-governmental development organizations in the world. In addition, he serves as the Executive Chairman of the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC), a leading policy research organization in Bangladesh.  He holds a Master’s in Economics from Dhaka University and a Ph.D. in Political Sociology from Manchester University. He founded the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) in 1996 and has contributed significantly to poverty analysis, governance, and social protection policies. His work includes leading the 62-village Analysis of Poverty Trends Project and drafting Bangladesh’s poverty reduction strategy in 2004. He has authored numerous influential publications on economic and social issues and remains actively engaged in policy research.

His contributions to governance, education, and social policy have earned him prestigious awards, including the Dr. John Meyer Global Citizenship Award from Tufts University and Rotary International Bangladesh’s Gold Medal Award.

Dr. Chowdhury Saima Ferdous is a member of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission and a Professor at the Department of International Business, University of Dhaka.

Dr. Ferdous is an accomplished academic with over 19 years of experience in research, academia, and administration. She excels in talent development, mentorship, and policy formulation, focusing on corporate governance, women’s empowerment, and ESG issues. She holds a Diploma in Social Science Research (2010), an MBA in Strategic Management (2001), and a BBA (2000) from Dhaka University, where she received a Gold Medal. 

Dr. Ferdous earned a PhD from the University of Birmingham in 2009 via a Commonwealth Scholarship, focusing on corporate governance, and served on the Cadbury Research Committee. She is currently writing a case-based book on corporate governance in Bangladesh. Dr. Ferdous has held roles like Head of Research at the Center of Excellence for the Bangladesh Apparel Industry (2015–2018) and guest faculty at North South University, while presenting at global conferences like the Oxford Symposium on Women Leadership.

Dr. Mujeri holds a PhD in Economics from McMaster University, Canada, and is currently the Executive Director of the Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development (InM). He previously served as Director General of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies and Chief Economist of Bangladesh Bank. His past roles include Poverty Monitoring Advisor at UNDP Cambodia, Project Leader for IDRC's MIMAP in Bangladesh, Director of Research at CIRDAP, and Visiting Faculty at the University of Queensland. He has also worked with the Bangladesh Planning Commission and taught at Rajshahi University. Dr. Mujeri has extensive experience in development research and consulting for UN bodies, international organizations, and NGOs. He has traveled widely for seminars and policy work, and has published extensively in academic journals. His research interests include poverty and MDG analysis, macroeconomic policy, development modeling, rural and social development, poverty reduction strategies, program evaluation, and monetary policy.

Dr. Akhtaruzzaman has a PhD in Economics from CERDI, France. He is the Director General of the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management. Previously, he served as the Economic Adviser of Bangladesh Bank. In his role, he contributes to the formulation and management of monetary policy, provides guidance for policy research and analysis, and participates in high-powered policy-making committees. 

Prior to his current position, Dr. Akhtaruzzaman held several high-level roles within Bangladesh Bank, including General Manager of the Research Department and Senior Research Economist at the Policy Analysis Unit. He also served as a Post-Doctoral Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, where he conducted advanced research in trade and development. Earlier in his career, he was an academic at the University of Rajshahi, where he rose to the rank of Associate Professor of Economics.

Dr. Akhtaruzzaman holds a Ph.D. in Trade and Development Economics and an M.Phil. in Economics from the University of Clermont-Ferrand in France. He also earned a Master’s degree in Monetary and Development Economics from a French postgraduate research center affiliated with the same university. His academic training is complemented by extensive experience working with international institutions such as the World Bank Institute, where he led policy research on trade, finance, and capital markets.

A prolific researcher and institutional leader, Dr. Akhtaruzzaman has authored numerous policy reports and served as editor of Bangladesh Bank’s key publications, including the Monetary Policy Review and Financial Sector Review. He continues to be a central figure in regional economic cooperation through his leadership of the SAARCFINANCE cell, promoting dialogue and capacity-building among central banks in South Asia.

Mr. Meheriar Hasan is a seasoned banking and technology executive with over 35 years of experience in digital innovation and financial services. He is the current Chairperson of BRAC Bank PLC, elected in 2024 after joining the board as a nominated director in 2020. Renowned for his leadership in digital banking, Mr. Hasan has driven transformative initiatives at top global institutions, creating customer-centric digital platforms.

He previously served as Executive Vice President and Head of Direct to Consumer at Wells Fargo, where he led the bank’s digital transformation. He also helped build the digital banking division at U.S. Bank and played a key role in shaping Digital Insight, a major online banking platform for U.S. credit unions and regional banks. He is the founder of Terafina Inc., a leading provider of digital omnichannel sales solutions, and pioneered direct-to-consumer channels in the insurance industry at Transamerica.

Mr. Hasan sits on the board of bKash and has held board positions at several global firms. He was a Senior Adviser to McKinsey & Company (2012–2014) and taught at the USC Marshall School of Business (2006–2008). He holds a BA in Economics (minor in Mathematics), an MA in Economics, and an MS in Finance from the University of Arizona, USA.

Dedicated to financial inclusion and SME growth, Mr. Hasan aims to help BRAC Bank fulfill Sir Fazle Hasan Abed’s vision of becoming the first internationally recognized bank from Bangladesh.

Mr. Parvez steers the course as President of the Executive Committee of the BDEO. Currently an Assistant Director at Bangladesh Bank in the Chief Economist's Unit, he brings a rich background in academia as a former faculty member at the Dhaka School of Economics. There, he imparted knowledge in development, environmental, and entrepreneurial economics at the graduate level. Mr. Parvez is an accomplished economist and educator with a strong academic background and a passion for promoting economic literacy among youth. He currently serves as the President of the Bangladesh Economics Olympiad (BDEO), an organization dedicated to nurturing young talent in the field of economics and representing Bangladesh in international academic competitions. Under his leadership, BDEO has grown into a nationally recognized platform for identifying and mentoring future economists.

Mr. Parvez holds a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom and a Master’s in Economics from the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing, China. He also earned both his Bachelor of Social Science (BSS) and Master of Social Science (MSS) degrees in Economics from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

With a diverse international education and a deep commitment to economic education, Mr. Parvez has played a vital role in fostering critical thinking, analytical skills, and global awareness among high school and university students across Bangladesh. Through his work with the BDEO, he continues to inspire the next generation of economists and contribute to the broader goal of inclusive and informed economic