HDF

Management of Human Development Foundation:

As per Articles of Association of the organization, a Governing Board under the general control and supervision of a General Body manages the affairs of the Foundation. The General Body is composed of all members of the Foundation with the proviso that the total number of members shall not exceed 27. And the Governing Board shall be composed of not more than 11 members from among the members of the General Body. At present there are 20 members in the General Body and 9 members in the Governing Board. The term of the Board is for two years. Therefore, the election of the Board is held every alternate year. The Governing Board has the responsibility to determine the direction and scope of the activities of the Foundation. It also has the responsibility to approve projects and to approve and administer the annual and supplementary budgets. The Governing Board exercises full management and financial control of the Foundation.

Founder Chairman: Late Alamgir M.A. Kbir

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP). He was a devoted social worker all his life. As a devoted social worker, he played the role of a pioneer in establishing a number of social development organizations like Family Planning Association of Bangladesh; Association for the Correction and Social Rehabilitation of Bangladesh; Society for the Welfare of the Intellectually Disabled, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh; National Heart Foundation; Swanirvar Bangladesh and Probin Hitoishi Sangha etc. He was an Adviser of Bangladesh Caretaker Government in 1991. In recognition of his remarkable contribution in the field of family planning, he was offered Swadhinata Dibosh Award in 1978.

PRESENT CHAIRPERSON: DR. HAMIDA AKHTAR BEGUM

An eminent scholar in Bangladesh contributing to the field of psychology and related areas of social sciences including gender and development. Former Pro-VC of the International University of Business, Agriculture & Technology (IUBAT); Professor and Chairperson of Department of Psychology, University of Dhaka; Faculty Member of Department of Clinical Psychology and Department of Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka; Faculty Member, North South University.

She graduated with Honours in Philosophy from the University of Dhaka in 1961. She bagged two Master degrees one in Philosophy in 1962 and one in Psychology in 1963 from DU. Obtained Masters and PhD Degrees in Social Psychology in 1969 and 1973 respectively from the University of Manitoba, Canada.

She has held executive positions in a number of voluntary organizations such as Bangladesh Psychological Association, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Women for Women, Concerned Women for Family Development (CWFD), Bangladesh Women's Health Coalition and Centre for Psycho-Social Research and Training.

She was actively involved in the preparatory process of the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing '95 and attended meetings and workshops held in Dhaka, Manila and Jakarta. She also worked as a member of the Core Group for the preparation of National Policy and Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women in Bangladesh. Later she continued her activities as a member of the Steering Committee of the National Policy on Beijing Plus Five. In recognition of her contribution, Dr. Hamida Akhtar Begum's name has been enlisted in the Asia/Pacific Who's Who in 1997. She has over 80 publications including books and research articles published from home and abroad.

Members of the present Governing Board

Major General (Retd.) Prof. A R KhanMBBS, FCPS (Medicine), MRCP, FRCP.

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.

DR. HAMIDA AKHTAR BEGUM

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. 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.

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 has received many prestigious awards. Remarkable amongst these are ‘ ‘Goldman Environmental Prize’ (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’

Dr. Ayesha Banu

Eminent Bangladeshi educationist, researcher and social worker. Professor Department of Women and Gender Studies at Dhaka University. BSS Hons. in Sociology, University of Dhaka, 1985. MSS in Sociology, University of Dhaka, 1986. MA in Gender and Development, Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Sussex, UK (1993-1994). Ph.D., Dhaka University, 2008. 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 CPDas coordinator and BIDS as Research Associate.

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.

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

Members of the General Body

Sponsors (Membership Category – I) :

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

Ms. Khushi Kabir

Dr. Ayesha Banu

Dr. Zakir Hossain Raju

Head of the Dept. of Media and Communication of IUB. Formerly he was Senior Lecturer of Communication and Cultural Studies at Monash University, Sunway campus, Malaysia. Obtained PhD in Cinema Studies from La Trobe University, Melbourne in 2005. Taught at La Trobe and Monash University in Australia as well as at University of Dhaka. Served as a Visiting Scholar at Australian National University, Canberra in 1999 and at University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur in 2007. Author of the book Bangladesh Cinema and National Identity: In Search of the Modern? (Routledge: London, forthcoming). He has published research papers on Asian cinema in journals and anthologies published from UK, USA, Australia, China, Korea, India, Japan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. A filmmaker of international repute, he received accolades for his films from around the world including an award in European Anthropological Film Festival and Film Production grants from the Japan Foundation (Tokyo) and Threshold Foundation (San · Francisco). Served as Jury at the prestigious 35th Hawaii International Film Festival in 2015 and in the International Film Festivals in France (Vesoul) and Australia (Melbourne) earlier. He is an academic reviewer for Asian Journal of Communication (London/Singapore) and on the editorial board of the journals Bioscope: South Asian Screen Studies (Sage, USA) and Journal of South Asian Film and Media (Intellect, UK).

Government Officials (Membership Category – II): Currently lying vacant.

Eminent Individuals (Membership Category – III):

Ms. Sayeda Nayem Jahan

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Social Welfare, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

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 B. A (Hons.) and M. A 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.

Private Organizations (Membership Category – IV):

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.

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.

Members from Social Welfare Organizations (Membership Category - V) :

Dr. Rawshan Ara Firoz

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.

Lest We Forget

Late Alamgir M.A. Kabir, (1911-1996)

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP). He was a devoted social worker all his life. As a devoted social worker, he played the role of a pioneer in establishing a number of social development organizations like: Family Planning Association of Bangladesh; Association for the Correction and Social Rehabilitation of Bangladesh; Society for the Welfare of the Intellectually Disabled, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh; National Heart Foundation; Swanirvar Bangladesh and Probin Hitoishi Sangha etc. He was an Adviser of Bangladesh Caretaker Government in 1991. In recognition of his remarkable contribution in the field of family planning he was offered Swadhinata Dibosh Award in 1978.