Dr. Syed Ferhat Anwar is a former Professor of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Dhaka; the leading business school of the country and has also served as the Director of the Institute. He has been in the teaching profession for more than 37 years. In September 2022 he has been elected as the President of Asia Marketing Federation for a period of two years. He is a former Independent Director of Meghna Bank PLC who made valuable contributions towards the growth and success of the bank during his tenure from October, 2020 to December, 2023 prior to joining at National Bank Limited as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Dr. Ferhat completed his PhD in Marketing Systems, jointly under University of New Brunswick Canada and University of Dhaka; and Post Graduate Diploma in University Teaching from University of New Brunswick Canada. Prior to his PhD he completed his MBA from IBA, University of Dhaka and B.Sc. (Honors) and M.Sc. in Biochemistry from University of Dhaka. He has more than 75 publications in international and national journals and writer of 3 major books on business management. His most recent academic contribution has been a chapter on “Role of University of Dhaka in Entrepreneurship and Industrialization” on the 100th anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and ‘NODI for Sustainable Society: Focusing on the Third Space’, as part of the centennial of the University of Dhaka. In addition, as part of his Nation brand building venture, he has just completed an exhaustive research on brand equity measurement of Bangladesh which has been published in a special journal in July 2022, dedicated to the centenary of University of Dhaka and 50 years of Bangladesh Independence. This paper was awarded as the best paper in Journal of Business Administration. Professor Ferhat is also an inspirational speaker and a thought leader of the Asian region.
As an academic, he has contributed immensely in the development of business education of Bangladesh. Apart from teaching at the premium business school of Bangladesh, he was part of the team who helped formation of top private and public universities of the country. These include the first private university; North South University, followed by East West University, University of Liberal Arts, and United International University. He was also the Pro Vice Chancellor of East West University during its inception. He also served with BRAC from 1981-1987, with his last assignment as the Export Manager. He also helped formation of the business schools of three major public university, including, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Khulna University, and University of Professionals (formation of MIST). In addition, he has also developed the CSR curriculum for three different faculties of the University of Dhaka.
Dr. Ferhat has visited various international and regional academic institutes as visiting scholar; including, Brunel University, UK; Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou, China; Harvard Business School, USA; Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore, India; Indiana University, Bloomington, USA; Kellogg School of North Western University, USA; Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan; National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai, India; Pennsylvania State University, USA; Putra Business School of Universiti Putra, Malaysia; Sri-Lankan Institute of Marketing (SLIM), Stern Business School of NYU, USA; Tribhuvan University, Nepal; Sri Lanka; Universiti Selengor, Malaysia; etc.
He is at present involved with A2I with focus on strategies for SMART Bangladesh and application of 4IR technologies. He is also the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh Brand Forum; Director of Asian Center for Development; Chief Patron of Marketing Society Bangladesh and Marketing Institute of Bangladesh; Founder President of Kotler Center for Marketing Excellence, University of Dhaka; Founder Director of Bangladesh Marketing and Social Research Forum; Founder member of International Council for Small Business (ICSB), Bangladesh, which is an affiliate of Global ICSB, and Founder member of Institute of Management Consultants, Bangladesh.
He has been involved in many consulting assignments on marketing, social enterprise, and business strategy for various sectors, foremost being education, pharmaceuticals, apparel, ICT, real-estate, development, and agriculture. As a professional consultant he has completed more than 70 assignments and is still associated with government, multilateral, non-government, and private companies and business associations of the country.
He is an ardent contributor in Nation Brand building initiatives and an active participator in developing public and private sector growth strategies in Bangladesh. He has been part of several government delegation for multilateral and bilateral policy issues of the country. He is at present a Statutory Director in the board of Banglalink. He is also part of the advisory board member of Winrock international. He has served as Independent Director of the board of Singer (Bangladesh), the leading multinational electrical and electronic retail outlet. He also served as Independent Director of Bangladesh Diesel Plant, a business support venture of the Bangladesh Armed Forces and Moddhopara Mining Company. He served as Adviser to the Board of Center of Excellence for Bangladesh Apparel Industry (CEBAI) and Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI). He has also served as the 2nd Vice President of Asia Marketing Federation (AMF), He is also associated as member of various academic bodies of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Rajshahi University, University of Professionals, Begum Rokeya University, and Jagannatah University in Bangladesh.
Dr. Syed Ferhat Anwar
Member
Mr. Khalilur Rahman is one of the leading industrialists and business personalities of Bangladesh. He is the Chairman of KDS Group, one of the large business conglomerates of Bangladesh having footsteps in almost all the sectors. He is one of the Sponsor Director of National Bank Limited. He is also a member of Executive Committee and Risk Management Committee of the Board of Directors. He is a Bachelor of Science in Management and a Commercially Important Person (CIP). He is the President of Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CMCCI), Vice President of Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association (BICDA), Chairman of Bangladesh C. R. Coil Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BCRCMEA) and founder President of Patiya Samity at Chittagong City. He is a Shareholder of Al-Arafa Islami Bank Ltd. He is the Life Member of Bhatiary Golf and Country Club, Chittagong Boat Club, Chittagong Club Ltd, Chittagong Metropolitan Lions Club, Chittagong Press Club, Chittagong Institute Limited (Senior’s Club), Chittagong Maa & Shishu Hospital & Ziri Zanakollan Trust. He is the founder Chairman of Southern University Bangladesh and President of Khalilur Rahman Mohila College, Khalil Mir Degree College, Khalil Rahman Girls’ High School, Kartala Belkhain Mohabodhi High School, Khalilur Rahman Shishu Niketon (Kinder Garten), Saberia Khalilia Senior Madrasha & Shaindair Gouchiya Tayoubia Delwara Begum Sunnia Alim Madrasha.
He is a well-known philanthropist and engaged in different socio economic activities of the country.
Alhaj Khalilur Rahman
Member
Lieutenant General Md. Shafiqur Rahman, OSP (BAR), SPP, afwc, psc(Retd) is the representative Director of Sikder Insurance Company Ltd., a corporate shareholder of National Bank Ltd. He carries long 38 years’ experience of serving Bangladesh Army and the nation at home and abroad including five years of active service in Chittagong Hill Tracts and four years of peacekeeping across Asia, Africaand the Middle East. He was conferred with Bangladesh Army Medals, ‘SenaParodorshitaPadak– SPP’ in early 2014, ‘Outstanding Service Padak – OSP’ in 2018 and 2019 consecutively for excellence in military professionalism.
Prior to his retirement in January 2021, General Shafique was the Chief of General Staff of Bangladesh Army and before that he served as the Director General of Special Security Force. The General has the rare honour of commanding three Infantry Divisions including prestigious 24 Infantry Division in Chittagong.General Shafique obtained his ‘Masters of Defence Studies’ from the National University of Bangladesh. He was also awarded with the ‘Presidential Gold Medal’ in April 2014 for academic excellence in the Masters of Security Studies degree under Bangladesh University of Professionals. He has the honour of obtaining a diploma in Strategic Planning and Development from Cranfield University of the United Kingdom. He attended number of international seminars, workshop and symposiums in different countries and regions of the world.
Lieutenant General Md. Shafiqur Rahman, Osp (Bar), Spp, Afwc, Psc(Retd)