Atiur Rahman

Atiur Rahman
Born	(1951-08-03) August 3, 1951 Jamalpur district, Bangladesh
Occupation(s)	Economist, author, banking professional, professor
Years active	1975–present
Known for	10th Governor of Bangladesh Bank; banking reforms and economic development in Bangladesh

Atiur Rahman (; born 3 August 1951) is a distinguished Bangladeshi economist specializing in development, as well as an author and banking professional. He held the position of the 10th Governor at Bangladesh Bank, the nation's central financial institution, earning the nickname "the banker of the poor" due to his contributions to advancing Bangladesh’s economic landscape. Rahman is recognized for implementing reforms that substantially boosted the country's foreign exchange reserves and for pioneering banking automation and digital transformation. He stepped down on 15 March 2016 in the aftermath of the cyber robbery involving the loss of US$101 million from Bangladesh Bank’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Early life

Atiur Rahman was born on 13 December 1951 in a rural area within Jamalpur district. His father was an uneducated farmer without land ownership. Due to economic hardships, Rahman discontinued his schooling after third grade but soon resumed and succeeded in passing the sixth-grade examination. He gained admission to Mirzapur Cadet College in seventh grade, benefiting from tuition-free education funded by charitable sources. He successfully completed both SSC and HSC examinations, achieving placement on merit lists.

He obtained both his BSS and MSS degrees in economics from University of Dhaka. Subsequently, with support from a Commonwealth scholarship, he earned his Ph.D. from SOAS, University of London in 1977. His doctoral dissertation was later published as Peasants and Classes by Oxford University Press.

Career

Atiur Rahman commenced his professional journey as a planning officer at the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation in 1975. In 1994, he established Unnayan Shamannay, a non-governmental organization focused on development. He dedicated almost three decades to the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, retiring in 2006 as a Senior Research Fellow.

His leadership roles include serving as director of Sonali Bank—the largest state-owned bank in Bangladesh, and in 2001 he was appointed chairman of Janata Bank’s board of directors, which ranks as the country’s second-largest bank.

In 2006, Atiur Rahman joined the Department of Development Studies at University of Dhaka as a professor.

He has actively participated in various socio-cultural institutions such as Credit Development Forum, Bangladesh Economic Association, Asiatic Society, and Bangla Academy. His scholarly work primarily addresses poverty reduction strategies, with special emphasis on communities residing in shoal areas.

Central bank governor

Atiur Rahman was appointed as the 10th governor of Bangladesh Bank on 29 April 2009, commencing his four-year tenure on 3 May 2009 and subsequently extended until July 2016. During his leadership, he promoted economic progress through targeted lending schemes for women entrepreneurs and landless farmers, alongside initiatives emphasizing green finance. He played a pivotal role in modernizing the banking sector by implementing innovations such as the National Payment Switch, automated check clearing systems, mobile banking services, the Bangladesh Electronic Funds Transfer Network (BEFTN), and the Bangladesh Automated Clearing House (BACH). The BEFTN system facilitated seamless electronic fund transfers between bank accounts, significantly improving transaction speed and reliability. Under his governance, Bangladesh’s foreign currency reserves increased fourfold.

Following the 2016 Bangladesh Bank cyber heist, Atiur Rahman tendered his resignation in March 2016, expressing his willingness to step down if it served the nation’s interests. Soon after leaving office, he returned to academia as a professor in the Department of Development Studies at the University of Dhaka and was bestowed the title of 'Bangabandhu Professor.' On 1 November 2019, the Dhaka University Syndicate appointed him to the prestigious 'Bangabandhu Chair.' Additionally, he holds the position of Chairperson at Unnayan Shamannay.

Publications

Atiur Rahman frequently contributes columns to newspapers, addressing topics such as poverty alleviation, public spending, economic growth, and social welfare. By 2009, he had authored 45 works—16 in English and 29 in Bengali—primarily focusing on socio-economic themes. His latest research explores the socio-economic philosophies of Rabindranath Tagore. Notable publications include:

Bengali language

• Nai Nai Voy, Hobe Hobe Joy, Panjeree
• Tabo Bhovone Tabo Bhovne: Anyaprokash
• Agami Diner Bangladesh: Ekusa sataker Unnayana Bhabana, Pathak Samabes
• Alo andharer Bangladesh: Manab Unnayaner Sambhabana O Cyalenja, Mawla Bradarsa
• Apaunnayan: Samakalin Bangladesher Arthaniti, Samajniti, Pyapirasa
• Asahajoger Dinguli: Muktijuddher Prastutiparba, Sahitya Prokash
• Bangladesher Arek Nam: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib, Sahitya Prakash
• Bangladesher Unnayan Kon Pathe, Dipty Prokashony
• Bhasha Andolan Theke Muktijuddha: Atiur Rahmaner 7 Ti Grantha Pathaker Samikaran, Riddhi Prakash
• Janaganer Bajet: Amsagrahanamulaka Pariprekshita, Pathaka Samabesa
• Nirbachita Prabandha, Anyaprakash
• Muktijuddher Manush: Muktijuddher Swapna, Sahitya Prakash
• Svapnera Bangladesh, Khunje Phera, Dipti Prakasani
• Taba Bhubane Taba Vabane: Rabindranather Arthasamajik Vabana-bisayayak Racanasangkalan, Anyaprakash

English language

• Beel Dakatia: The Environmental Consequences of a Development Disaster, University Press
• Early Impact of Grameen, a Multi-Dimensional Analysis: Outcome of a BIDS Research Study, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies and Grameen Trust
• Education for Development: Lessons from East Asia for Bangladesh, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
• Peasants and Classes: A Study in Differentiation in Bangladesh, Zed Books, Limited (also hardcover)
• People's Report, 2002–2003, Bangladesh Environment by United Nations Development Programme and Unnayan Shamannay
• People's Report, 2004–2005: Bangladesh Environment by United Nations Development Programme and Unnayan Shamannay
• Sustainable Environment Management Programme (Bangladesh), Unnayan Shamannay

Recognition

• Honored as the Asia-Pacific Central Banker of the Year in 2015 by The Banker magazine, recognized for promoting credit access to farmers and small businesses while ensuring overall economic stability;
• Named Central Bank Governor of Asia in 2015 by The Emerging Markets Newspaper (Euromoney Group);
• Commended by the British Parliament in March 2015 for advancing women's empowerment initiatives;
• Awarded the GUSI Peace Prize International in 2014 for significant economic contributions aimed at poverty reduction;
• Received the World No Tobacco Day Award in 2012 from the World Health Organization (WHO);
• Conferred with the Indira Gandhi Gold Plaque in 2011;
• Honored with the Atish Dipankar Gold Medal in 2000;
• Recipient of the Chandrabati Gold Medal in 2008;
• Acknowledged by Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushil Koirala for corporate social responsibility efforts following the 2015 earthquake;
• Recipient of the Dharitri Bangladesh National Award (1421 Bengali calendar) in December 2015;
• Awarded the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 2016;
• Designated to hold the Bangabandhu Chair at the University of Dhaka in 2019.

Personal life

Atiur Rahman is married to Shahana Rahman, who serves as a pediatrics professor at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Together, they have three daughters.

See also

• List of Bangladeshi people

External links

• Official Website