DR. HAMIDA AKHTAR BEGUM

Eminent Bangladeshi educationist and social worker. Ex. Professor, Department of Psychology, Dhaka University; Former president of Women for Women. Author of a number of books on Psychology and Social Science. Member, Bangladesh Clinical Psychology Society; Faculty Member, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, North South University.

MAJOR GENERAL (RETD.) PROF. A. R. KHAN

Renowned physician and social worker. Honorary Chief Consultant, BIRDEM; former Advisor to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh; life member of Liver Foundation Bangladesh; Vice President, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, Former Director General, Bangladesh Armed Forces; Member to National Executive Council of the National Heart Foundation; Former Vice President of Red Crescent and Red Cross Society of Bangladsh; Ex Chairman, Glaxo Bangladesh Ltd.; Director, AB & IFIC Bank. Dr. A. R. Khan received Honorary Fellowship from Royal College of Physician of London (F.R.C.P) in 1984. He is also associated with a number of social welfare organizations such as Quderia Foundation Trust (Chairman), Daridra Durikaron Sangstha (Chairman), Arial Bil Maa-O-Shishu Foundation (Chairman), A. Razzaq Gulshanara Foundation (Chairman) and Padma Mohaviddalay (Founder President). He has been honoured with Membership of International Diabetes Federation in 1988. Dr. A. R. Khan has written over 25 books on different topics related to medical science. Among his original works Viral Hepatitis and its Seqalae, Poisoning by Plant Pesticide, Evaluation of Trimothoprin Sulphamethexazole, A Study of Ventilatory Function, Idiopathic Oedema in Adult Women, Zoster Varicellosus, Remittent Fever in Kala Zar are few to name.

Mrs. Selina Hossain

Executive Director, Fareea Lara Foundation. Ex-Chairman, Bangladesh Shishu Academy; Earned MA degree in Bengali language and literature from Rajshahi University in 1968. Selina Hossain is one of the most distinguished women writers of Bangladesh. She has published twenty-one novels, seven collections of short stories, four collections of prose writings and four collections of stories for children. Her works are a moving account of the contemporary social and political crises and conflicts as well as the recurrent cycles of the life of the struggling masses. Her major works include Hangor Nodi Grenade (1976) and Poka Makorer Ghor Bosoti (1996). Hossain is the winner of Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1980, Ekushey Padak in 2009 and Independence Day Award in 2018.

Ms. Khushi Kabir

Prominent social worker and Woman rights activist of Bangladesh. Khushi Kabir, Coordinator of Nijera Kori embodies the very spirit of the socioeconomic empowerment of women, peace, and democracy in Bangladesh. She is actively involved with a number of National and International social development organizations. She is the Chairperson of Association for Land Reform and Development, President, Association of Development Agencies of Bangladesh; Chairperson ADAB, Founder Trustee Centre for Policy Dialogue. She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Price in 2005.

Dr. Ayesha Banu

Ayesha Banu is currently teaching as a professor at the Department of Women and Gender Studies since 2001. She was awarded PhD degree on Bangladesh Women’s Movement from University of Dhaka in 2015. She received her first Masters in Sociology (1987), University of Dhaka, while her second Masters as a commonwealth scholar (1993-4), was from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, UK. She started her career as a researcher at the Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) in 1989. Her research interests rotate around: Women’s movement, methodological issues, poverty and livelihood, women and religion, body and sexuality, gender and development.  Author of “Shifts and Changes in Women’s Dress in Contemporary Dhaka: Some Preliminary Observations”, “Women Students of Dhaka University: Opportunities and Constraints” and many others. Member IDS Alumni Association, IDS, Sussex, UK. Worked in CPD as coordinator and BIDS as Research Associate.

Mrs. Sultana Kamal

Member, CPD Board of Trustees; Chairperson, TIB Board of Trustees; Former Executive Director, Ain o Salish Kendra and Former Advisor to the Caretaker Government. Sultana Kamal is a Lawyer and Human Rights Activist. She was appointed as an Advisor to the Caretaker Government in October 2006 from which she resigned with 3 other colleagues in December the same year. From September 2001 to March 2016 she lead one of the Country’s front line human rights organizations Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) as the Executive Director. She is the Founder President of manabadhikar shongskriti foundation (msf) founded in 2017.

Dr. Abdul Khaleque

Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology & Coordinator, Undergraduate Admissions North South University. Technical expert in Molecular Biology; Molecular Pathology & Biochemistry. Obtained Ph.D  in Molecular Genetics, Kumamoto University, Japan in 2002; M.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka    1994 (First Class); B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka 1992 (First Class). Worked as  Research Fellow, BIRDEM & ICDDRB; Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Scientist II, Zymed Division, Invitrogen Corporation, California, USA. Professional Affiliations: Editor, Bioresearch Communications, Bangladesh; Member, Cell Stress Society International, USA; Member, Society for Thermal Medicine, USA; Associate Member, American Association for Cancer Research, USA. Member, Global Network of Bangladeshi Biotechnologists, USA; Former Treasurer, Graduate Biochemists Association (GBA), Dhaka; Member, Bangladesh Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangladesh.; Advisor, Talent Assistance Scheme Alumni Association (TASAA), Bangladesh; Life Member, American Alumni Association (AAA), Bangladesh; Advisor, Bangladesh Biosafety & Biosecurity Association (BBBA), Dhaka. Have several publications in national and international journals.

Ms. Umme Muslima

District Election Officer, UNV Specialist, Deputy Director, Gender SpecialistDistrict Election Officer, UNV Specialist, Deputy Director, Gender Specialist, Dept of Youth development, World Bank-GoB Project, UNV Specialist.

worked as election officer in the Bangladesh election commission secretariat through PSC from 1984-1995, worked also with UN in Cambodia as UNV specialist. Former Deputy Director of the dept of youth development from 1995-2014.  Served as a Project Director (ICT program) from 2010-2013. Was gender specialist in a world-bank - GoB project from 2000-2006.  Obtained Commonwealth diploma from the Commonwealth Secretariat on Youth and Development.

Dr. Zakir Hossain Raju

Dr Zakir Hossain Raju is Professor and Head of the Dept. of Media and Communication at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) where he also served as Dean of Social Science during 2013-15 as well as. Currently, he is also the Director of the Centre for Social Science Research (CSSR) here. A scholar-teacher who delves into both theory and practice of Film and Media Studies, Dr Raju is currently the Vice-President of International Film Initiative of Bangladesh (IFIB) and has also served as President of Bangladesh Short Film Forum during 2016-18. As an example of his focus on research-led teaching, in 2015, Dr Raju introduced a semester-long course on Korean cinema and society, the only such course in South Asia and one of the twenty or so courses offered on Korean cinema in leading universities around the world. During 2014, he served as Korea Foundation Fellow (Visiting Professor) at Korean National University of Arts in Seoul. During 2008-10, Dr Raju served as Postgraduate Coordinator and Senior Lecturer of Communication and Cultural Studies at Monash University, Malaysia. He obtained PhD in Cinema Studies from La Trobe University, Melbourne in 2005. Before that, he taught at La Trobe and Monash University in Australia as well as at University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Raju served as a Visiting Scholar at Australian National University, Canberra in 1999 and at as an ASIA Fellow at University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur in 2007

Md. Abdul Halim

Md. Abdul Halim is a distinguished barrister in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, specializing in public law and writ matters. As the editor of Counsel Law Reports (CLR), he oversees the publication of monthly edited judgments from the Supreme Court. Halim holds an LL.M. in International Trade Law from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, courtesy of the prestigious British Chevening Scholarship, and an LL.B. from the University of London.

Admitted to the Hon'ble Society of Lincoln's Inn in 2003, Halim is an accomplished author with 55 books on legal issues, many of which are used as textbooks in law schools. He has been a guest lecturer at the National Law University, New Delhi, and has participated in various regional events, including the Young Leadership Programme in Dubai, conferences at the National Human Rights Commission in New Delhi and Bangkok, and the Regional RTI Conference in Dhaka. With his expertise and dedication, Halim continues to shape legal discourse both locally and internationally.

Dr. A. K. Azad Khan, MBBS, M.Phil (Oxon) FCPS

Secretary-General, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh. A renowned physician and social activist. President, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, an Honorary Fellow of University College London and a member of International Diabetics Federation. Life Member, Liver Foundation Bangladesh. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree from the University of Oxford in 1977. The University of Basel, Switzerland, conferred an honorary doctorate degree on him in 2009. Recently UK-based world's leading medical journal, The Lancet, has honoured him by publishing his profile in its February 25 issue. The journal accords such honors to leading physicians across the world, who have dedication in the field of medical care. He was awarded the highest state award -- the Swadhinata Padak by the Government of Bangladesh in the category of social service in 2018.

Mr. Abdullah Abu Sayeed

Renowned educationist, writer, television presenter and social activist Mr. Abdullah Abu Sayeed is a versatile genius of Bangladesh. He earned the degree of BA and MA in Bengali from the University of Dhaka. Mr. Sayeed was a professor of Bengali language in Dhaka College in mid-1970. In 1978, he founded the Bishwa Sahitya Kendra and since its inception he has been acting as the President & C.E.O. of the organization. Mr. Sayeed was given the 97th Ramon Magsaysay Award for cultivating in the youth of Bangladesh a love for literature and its humanizing values through exposure to the great books of Bengal and the world. He has also been honoured with Ekushey Padak (2005) and Bangla Academy Award (2011).

Dr. Muhammad Abdul Mazid

Renowned administrator and social activist. He obtained his BA (Hons.) and MA degree in English Literature from Dhaka University and later attained Ph.D. in Social Science from Victoria University, Delaware, USA. He joined in Bangladesh Civil Service in 1981. During his career as a Government administrator he served in different institutions, such as Director, Bangladesh Audit Department; Director, ERD; Director, Board of Investment; Secretary, IRD; Member, Planning Commission and Chairman, NBR. On retirement from the Government Service in 2010, he got himself involved with a number of social welfare organizations, such as Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Bangladesh NGO Foundation, Dhaka Ahsania Mission and Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology. Currently, he is serving as an adviser of A.K. Khan & Company Ltd. Earlier he acted as the Chief Coordinator of  Bangladesh Diabetic Society. Dr. Muhammad Abdul Mazid was made the first Chairman of the demutualized Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE). Dr. Muhammad Abdul Mazid is the author of a number of books on a variety of subjects ranging from biography to research works. He has been honored with Lions Club Celebrity Padak in 2007 and Sir Salimullaha Gold Medel in 2008.

Professor Dr Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman

Pro vice-chancellor of the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT). Professor Dr Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman is a practising clinical psychologist and a hypnotherapist, trained in hypnotherapy from UCL, London, UK, and from South Africa. He obtained his PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Manitoba, Canada, in 1993, where his study focus was experimental approach to the cognitive development of multiply handicapped children and adolescents, while he also studied developmental psychopathology. He started his psychology career as a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Dhaka University in January, 1981, and finally served as a professor of Clinical Psychology Department at the University of Dhaka from 2003, and served as chairperson of the same department from 2005 to 2008. From July 2021, he is on LPR as Professor of Dhaka University, but continuing his role as an independent researcher, writer, clinical practitioner, research supervisor, clinical supervisor, and consultant.

Dr. Nilufar Banu

President, Women for Women; Executive Director, Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP). Obtained B.A. (Hon’s) & M.A. in Sociology in 1975 and 1976 respectively from Dhaka University. Ph.D. in 2010 from Dhaka University. Steering Committee Member of Peoples Forum of MGDs (PFM), 2008. Governing Council Member of Society for International Development (SID), Italy, Rome, 2004 —2011.

Ms. Syeda Rizwana Hasan

An enrolled lawyer with the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Ms. Rizwana did her masters and graduation in law from the University of Dhaka with distinction. Presently, she is working as Chief Executive of BELA. Ms. Rizwana is the Chairperson of RDRS, Member of FIVDB, Nijera Kori and Association of Land Reforms and Development (ALARD). She is also a member of the Environmental Law Commission of IUCN. Ms. Rizwana received  ‘Goldman Environmental Prize in 2009 and ‘Ramon Magsaysay Award’ in 2012.

Dr. Rawshan Ara Firoz

Professor of Philosophy Department of Dhaka University. President Rokeya Hall Alumnae Association, Dhaka University.Former Joint Secretary of Dhaka University Teachers Association. BA Honors in Philosophy in 1966 and MA in 1967 from Dhaka University. Diploma in Youth Development from Asia Pacific Commonwealth Center (Chandigarh) in 1979. In 1968 she started her career as a professor in Sher-Bangla College. Member of Quantum Foundation and Advisory Members of the Moitri Samaj Kollam Sangha and Central Kochi-Kanchar Mela in Dhaka. Author of যে যেখানে দাঁড়িয়ে, নির্বাসন, 'বুমেরাং’

Mr. Kazi Rafiqul Alam

President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM), has dedicated his life to advancing adult and continuing education. Under his leadership, DAM has expanded into a multi-dimensional initiative with 104 projects and institutions, earning recognition and awards for its societal contributions. Mr. Alam has pioneered the development of Community Resource Centres (Ganokendras), facilitating adult education and community development. He has contributed extensively to public policy on education in Bangladesh, serving on government committees and assisting in formulating literacy and Non-Formal Education (NFE) policies. Alam's work extends internationally, including developing training materials for UNESCO and moderating workshops globally. Currently, he chairs the Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE) and serves as President of the Bangladesh Literacy Association, advocating for literacy and education.