Abdur Rouf Talukder
Abdur Rouf Talukder | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 15, 1964 Sirajganj District, Bangladesh |
| Occupation(s) | Civil servant, economist |
| Years active | 1985–2024 |
| Known for | 12th governor of Bangladesh Bank (2022–2024) |
Abdur Rouf Talukder held the position of the 12th governor of Bangladesh Bank from 2022 until 2024. Prior to this role, he served as the senior secretary at the Ministry of Finance and was also a director at Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
Early life
Born on 15 August 1964, Talukder hails from Sirajganj District, Bangladesh.
Education
Talukder completed his Secondary School Certificate at St. Joseph Higher Secondary School and obtained an MBA from the Institute of Business Administration under the University of Dhaka. Additionally, he earned a master's degree in development studies from the University of Birmingham. His professional development includes training programs at Harvard Kennedy School, IMF Institute, Crown Agents Training Center, and the Institute of Public Finance in Dhaka.
He is married to Selina Rawshan and they have two children.
Career
Talukder entered the Bangladesh Civil Service in 1985, focusing on public finance and economic management. Over an 18-year period within the Finance Division, he progressed through multiple roles before being appointed as Finance Secretary on 17 July 2018.
Throughout his career, he held significant positions such as additional secretary for budget and macroeconomics and served as acting secretary of the Ministry of Finance. His experience also extends to roles within the Ministries of Industries, Food, Information, and a diplomatic post as First Secretary (Commercial) at the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.
He was part of delegations representing Bangladesh at organizations including the World Bank and contributed as a board member for institutions like Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute, Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre, Hotels International Limited, and Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
On 11 June 2022, Talukder assumed office as governor of Bangladesh Bank. He stepped down on 9 August 2024 following his absence from official duties amid political turmoil related to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Criticism
During his tenure as governor, Talukder was assigned a D rating by Global Finance magazine, which contrasted with higher grades given to his counterparts—Sri Lanka's central bank governor received an A−, while India's Shaktikanta Das earned an A+.
Furthermore, Talukder implemented a prohibition on journalists entering Bangladesh Bank premises, a move without precedent that resulted in a media boycott concerning coverage of his activities.