Dr. AtiurRahman, in an in-depth conversation with host, Anis A. Khan, shared his inspiration behind his dedication to empowering the poor and the disadvantaged both as a teacher and a regulator during his checkered career.
Born in 1951, in a small village in Jamalpur district, Dr.Rahman studied at Mirzapur Cadet College for his secondary and higher secondary education, followed by his undergraduate and graduate studies at the Department of Economics of the University of Dhaka.
Dr. Rahman has been a renowned economist in his varied roles as a University Professor, researcher, banker, and a leader in the pro-poor, environment-friendly and gender-sensitive development paradigm.
Dr. Rahman took the helm of the Central Bank of Bangladesh for four-year tenure on May 1, 2009, as the 10th Governor of Bangladesh Bank, the country's monetary policy authority, financial sector regulator and supervisor. He is considered an authority on matters related to the fiscal budget in Bangladesh.
Dr. Rahman is credited for instituting changes in the banking industry of Bangladesh that greatly increased the foreign exchange reserves of the country and brought massive automation and digitization in the banking sector of Bangladesh.
During his tenure, achievements include the creation of the National Payment Switch of Bangladesh; introducing automated check clearing for banks in Bangladesh using local currency cheques; starting mobile banking; establishing the Bangladesh Electronic Funds Transfer Network (BEFTN) and installing the Bangladesh Automated Clearing House (BACH).
He has also been recognized as Asia's Central Banker of the Year' by London-based The Financial Times-owned magazine, prestigious Indira Gandhi Gold Plaque from Asiatic Society, Kolkata. Mr. Rahman also received the 'GUSI Peace Prize International 2014' award to recognize his work in establishing peace by reducing poverty in Bangladesh.
Mominul Islam, the Managing Director and CEO of IPDC Finance Limited, said, "We are extremely honoured to have associated with such a protagonist behind the restructuring of Bangladesh. He has been a torchbearer of financial inclusion in Bangladesh.
