IPDC Finance’s Agraz: A chat with Dr Salehuddin Ahmed

Agraz, an online event organised by IPDC Finance, showcases the journey of Bangladesh to becoming an independent nation. Hosted by Anis A Khan, advisor of Tyser Risk Management, Bangladesh, the event features stories of noted Bangladeshi personalities, their memories of the Liberation War, their ideas for Bangladesh, and their vision for the country's prosperous future.

The 24th episode of the series featured Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, former Governor of Bangladesh Bank, a pioneering economic expert of Bangladesh, and currently, a Professor of Business School, BRAC University. The programme aired on IPDC Finance's Facebook page on September 9, 2021.

Born in Mohottoli, Old Dhaka, the economist Dr Salehuddin Ahmed's ancestral home is at Nabinagar Upazilla, Brahmanbaria. "I am the fourth of five brothers and three sisters with our father being an administrative officer at Dhaka University," smiles Dr Salehuddin. "We stayed in Old Dhaka for quite a while back then."

"I was staying close to Dhaka University since class ten and was a resident at the SM Hall," reveals Dr Salehuddin Ahmed. "I later joined the Department of Economics at Dhaka University, and became a lecturer there in 1970."

"My elder daughter is teaching at North South University while my younger son is an assistant professor at South Dakota State University," shared Dr Salehuddin Ahmed. "Ironically, all three of us are now teaching at different universities."

Dr Salehuddin passed from Dhaka Collegiate School in 1963 and passed from Dhaka College in 1965 as a student of Science. "I went to McMaster University for my PhD in Economics in 1973 and graduated in 1978," says the former Governor of Bangladesh Bank. "I returned to Dhaka within ten days after completing my PhD."

"McMaster University was close to Niagara Falls and I have met many renowned Bangladeshis back in my McMaster days," smiles Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, the Nawab Sir Salimullah Foundation Gold Medal awardee of 2006. "I was also awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award back in 2006 while I was the governor."

Dr Salehuddin Ahmed started his career as a lecturer in DU, and the erstwhile Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP) in 1970. He shared a bit about his journey through multiple positions in civil services. "I became the Assistant Commissioner of Dhaka District after CSP and a first-class magistrate of Pirojpur district after a couple of years," revealed Dr Salehuddin.

"I still remember, Humayun Ahmed's father was a sub-divisional police officer at Pirojpur who was killed alongside others back then," shared Dr Salehuddin. "I built a memorial for them at the bank of Boleshar river."

Coming back from Pirojpur, Dr Salehuddin Ahmed joined an organisation named National Foundation for Research on Human Resource Development (NFRHRD) as a research associate, which merged with the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) soon afterward. "I joined Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) later on," says the economist. "While my time in CIRDAP, I had the privilege to travel to almost all Asia Pacific nations."

From 1993 to 1995, Dr Salehuddin served as the Director-General of Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD), where he met with many NGOs. "Following on, I served as Director-General of the NGO Affairs Bureau in the Prime Minister's Office before moving to Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF)."

"I took charge as the Governor of Bangladesh Bank in May 2005," shared Dr Salehuddin, the winner of Marcentaile Bank Award 2014 for Economics. "Taking the challenge, I entered the macroeconomy from the microeconomy of PKSF"

Responding to the audiences' questions, Dr Salehuddin shared some advice on the economic development of Bangladesh. "Economic development is focused on the cities, and neglects the rural areas," shared the renowned economist. "This centralisation does not bode well for the nation in the long term."

Dr Salehuddin retired from his governorship in 2009 and joined North South University that same year as a part-time professor. In 2010, he became a full-time professor of the university and took Masters of Business Administration classes till 2014. In January 2014, he joined BRAC University.

Dr Salehuddin has authored over 80 books till now alongside numerous articles and journals. "There are no shortcuts in life, hard work and empathy go a long way," concludes Dr Salehuddin Ahmed.