Mohammad Badrul Ahsan
Mohammad Badrul Ahsan | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 30, 1959 Narsingdi, Bangladesh |
| Died | February 6, 2020 (aged 60) Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, journalist, columnist, editor |
| Known for | Founding editor of First News; weekly column "Crosstalk" in The Daily Star |
Mohammad Badrul Ahsan (30 August 1959 – 6 February 2020) was a distinguished Bangladeshi economist, journalist, columnist, and the founding editor of the English-language weekly magazine First News. He achieved widespread acclaim through his weekly column Crosstalk published in The Daily Star, which he contributed to for 17 years.
Early life and education
Ahsan was born on 30 August 1959 in Narsingdi. His foundational education took place at Narinda School followed by studies at Notre Dame College, Dhaka. He earned a degree in economics from the University of Dhaka and further advanced his academic credentials at George Washington University and Kansas State University.
Career
Throughout his professional journey, Ahsan occupied senior positions within multinational companies, including serving as head of corporate affairs for Standard Chartered Bank in both Dhaka and Dubai. He chose to retire voluntarily in 2000 to dedicate himself fully to writing. His column Crosstalk became one of the most widely read opinion pieces in English across Bangladesh, recognized for its incisive analysis and eloquent prose.
Together with Professor Jay Laughlin from Kansas State University, he co-wrote the scholarly article "A Strategic Model for Multinational Corporate Social Responsibility in the Third World."
Ahsan also authored The night of the lost nose-pins, a work that chronicled the 2001 post-election violence in Bhola District, where it was reported that approximately 200 Hindu women were victims of gang rape by members affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
As the founding editor of First News, Ahsan managed all 355 editions, directing major feature stories, overseeing editorial content, and penning editorials. The publication eventually ceased operations due to disputes over ownership. Throughout his career, he maintained professional associations with notable personalities such as Syed Fahim Munaim, Mirza Ali Behrouze Ispahani, A. H. M. Moazzem Hossain, and Syed Badrul Ahsan.
Publications
- In Search of a Nation (1992), Mowla Brothers
- A Good Man in the Woods and Other Essays (2004)
- The Parallax View: A Collection of Critical Essays (2016)
- Grameen Bank and Muhammad Yunus
- Crosstalk Essays
Death
On 6 February 2020, Ahsan passed away in Uttara, Dhaka.