Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
Iqbal Ahmed was born in Sylhet in the northeast of Bangladesh in the late 1950s. He was to become one of its famous and successful sons. He became a visionary entrepreneur, a successful businessman, a banker and a philanthropist.
In 2013, Iqbal Ahmed founded NRB Bank PLC., a fourth-generation bank in Bangladesh. He was the bank’s first Chairman and was re-elected as Chairman on March 23, 2025. It is his vision to turn NRB Bank PLC. into one of the most successful banks in Bangladesh. Establishing NRB Bank PLC. is one of Iqbal’s biggest achievements.
Iqbal is also the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Seamark Group of Companies which he grew from a small enterprise to an internationally renowned business founded on his passion for export, innovation and customer service.
He and his company have been the recipient of many awards recognising his contributions to business and regeneration.
His clear vision for the business has led to a string of prestigious awards for Seamark in the UK such as the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement in 1998, whilst Seamark BD in Bangladesh is a recipient of many gold trophy Awards from the Government for achieving the highest exports of seafood.
His personal recognition came when he was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2001 for his services to International Trade and when he received an honorary Doctor of Business Administration and honorary Fellowship award in the UK.
He has been a Commercially Important Person in Bangladesh since the early 2000.
He formed a charity called Iqbal Bros Foundation which oversaw his charitable works cementing his commitment to the local communities and education and the promotion of corporate social responsibility. He supported Lucy Cavendish College Cambridge University’s scholarship programme awarding outstanding students regardless of background to access a world-class university. He was also a donor to the Manchester Metropolitan University’s First Generation scholarship programme which provides access to education and creates opportunities for underprivileged students whose parents did not go to university.
He chaired UKBCCI (UK Bangladesh Catalysts of Commerce & Industry) since its inception. UKBCCI is a leading umbrella organisation for successful British-Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in the UK and Bangladesh.
Iqbal has been associated with many government bodies in the UK and Bangladesh either as advisor, director, mentor or member.
He is a motivational speaker. He has the ability to speak with such authority thus regularly sought as a speaker at international events and academic institutions.
Iqbal published his autobiography in the UK in 2017 and a Bengali version of the book in Bangladesh in 2020.
Ms. Ferdous Ara Begum is a distinguished Gender Issues Specialist in Bangladesh. Her extensive experience includes being a former member of the UN CEDAW Committee and serving on the Board of Directors of Grameen Bank. Additionally, she has held the position of Ex-Honorary Advisor on Trafficking with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and has worked as an Expert Consultant on Gender Issues for UNFPA. Notably, she was the former Chair of the Working Group for the General Recommendation on the 'Older Women and of their Human Rights' within the CEDAW Committee, which was adopted in October 2010
Throughout her long career, she has held several positions in the Government of Bangladesh, including Commissioner of Taxes at the National Board of Revenue, Director General of the Department of Women Affairs, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Establishment, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, and Director General of Bangladesh Television, among others.
Ms. Begum possesses impeccable educational credentials. She completed her BA (Honors) and MA in Economics from the University of Dhaka. After that, she pursued a Master of Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA. She also completed a Certificate Course in Development Administration at Princeton University, USA, and studied Gender Issues and Participatory Governance at KIT, The Netherlands.
Over 32 years of public service, she has been active in educating and creating public awareness on importance of women's rights and actively influenced women's financial independence. She helped mainstream women's and child rights issues in government policies, awareness for HIV/AIDS and reproductive rights. She has been taken initiatives to engage NGOs as a partner for program implementation. While working at the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, one of her important responsibilities was to oversee 34 gender specific projects that were designed to provide social and legal protection for women and children.
She had served as the Chairperson of the Government and Civil Society Committee at the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. She has initiated various efforts for GO-NGO collaboration, enabling NGOs and civil society to contribute to shaping government policies and programs. Additionally, she has actively engaged in the concepts of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Platform for Action (PFA), and the MDGs at the grassroots level. She has also focused on strengthening the WID focal point mechanism to bridge the gap between policy and implementation.
Mr. Shaikh Md. Salim is a former Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank, the central bank of Bangladesh.
Mr. Salim an impressive academic background having earned a Master of Business Administration in Financial Management from the University of Hull, UK, in 2003. Prior to this, he completed his Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a focus on Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) from Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) in 1987. Later, Mr. Salim has accumulated six years of valuable professional experience working with various private-sector firms, honing his skills in real-world business environments. Additionally, in 1997, he enriched his knowledge by obtaining a Certificate Course in Economics from the National University.
Mr. Salim began his banking professional journey as an Assistant Director at Bangladesh Bank from January 1993, the central bank of Bangladesh, and advanced to the esteemed role of Executive Director over the course of his career. With over 30 years of extensive experience at Bangladesh Bank, he has developed a profound expertise in various domains, including financial analysis, project management, data-driven decision-making, credit appraisal, and evaluation of the performance of banks and non-bank financial institutions.
His significant contributions encompass policy formulation and implementation, particularly aimed at promoting the development of Cottage, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (CMSMEs). Mr. Salim has been instrumental in enhancing the financial capabilities of CMSMEs through targeted financing initiatives and by managing diverse promotional events, fairs, and rallies.
Additionally, he has excelled in supervision and evaluation of banking sector operations, ensuring compliance and performance excellence. His teaching and training experience at the Bangladesh Bank Training Academy includes course design, coordination, preparation of study materials, development of annual training programs, course delivery, and evaluation of examination scripts. Mr. Salim's multifaceted skills and extensive background position him as a highly regarded professional in the banking and financial sectors.
Mr. Md. Quamrul Islam Chowdhury is the former Managing Director and CEO of Mercantile Bank PLC.
He earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Marketing from the University of Dhaka, graduating in 1980 and 1981, respectively. Mr. Chowdhury commenced his banking career at National Bank Limited in 1983 as a Probationary Officer and boasts an impressive 40 years of experience in the banking sector.
Throughout his career, he held the position of Senior Assistant Vice President and Branch In-Charge at NCC Bank, overseeing the Jubilee Road Branch in Chittagong. Mr. Chowdhury is recognized for his unwavering commitment and success in identifying business opportunities and delivering innovative solutions to address various challenges in banking operations.
His expertise spans a broad spectrum, including International Trade, Card and Retail Banking, as well as Mobile Financial Services. Additionally, he has facilitated numerous training programs, seminars, and workshops both domestically and internationally, including in the USA, Japan, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. Mr. Chowdhury’s extensive background and dedication to the banking industry make him a distinguished leader in the field.
Mr. SK. Matiur Rahman is a highly accomplished financial professional previously held the position of Deputy Managing Director at Prime Bank PLC.
With over 35 years of diverse leadership experience in the financial sector, Mr. Rahman began his career as a Probationary Officer at Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd. in 1989. Throughout his career, he has gained invaluable expertise, particularly in the fields of Treasury Management, Foreign Remittance, Correspondent Banking, International Trade, and Foreign Exchange. Notably, he served as the Chairman of the Technical Committee for the Bangladesh Foreign Exchange Dealers Association (BAFEDA) in 2021, further demonstrating his influential role in shaping the country’s financial landscape.
A graduate of Dhaka University, Mr. Rahman holds both an Honours and Master’s degree in Finance. He has continually enhanced his knowledge through various local and international training programs, seminars and workshops, further solidifying his reputation as a seasoned leader in the financial industry.
Mr. A.K.M. Mizanur Rahman FCA is a distinguished Independent Director at Standard Ceramic Industries Ltd. He also served as an Independent Director for several prominent organizations including Padma Islami Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Beach Hatchery Ltd. and Gemini Sea Food Ltd.
Mr. Rahman completed his Chartered Accountancy qualifications from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) in 1983 and earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Dhaka in 1975.
He is the Managing Partner of Shafiq Mizan Rahman & Augustine, Chartered Accountants. With a career spanning decades, he has earned a reputation as a seasoned professional in the field of accounting and corporate governance.
In addition to his professional career, Mr. Rahman has been deeply involved in various social and professional organizations. He is a life member of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, and the Bangladesh Lions Foundation. Furthermore, he is an active member of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Mr. Rahman attended numerous seminars and conferences both domestically and internationally. He served as the Chairman of the Dhaka Regional Council of ICAB in 1997 and held the position of Past President of the Lions Club of Dhaka Shahabagh. He has also been an International Director for OISCA International Japan and a Director of Sadharan Bima Corporation and Beach Hatchery Ltd.
His exemplary leadership and contributions have made him a respected figure in both the accounting profession.
Mr. Tarek Reaz Khan has recently joined NRB Bank PLC. as the Managing Director & CEO for 3-years tenure. Prior to joining NRB Bank PLC., Mr. Tarek served as the MD & CEO of Padma Bank PLC.
After completing Masters in Marketing from the University of Dhaka in 1994, Mr. Tarek served in multiple Large Local Conglomerate before starting his banking career with the Standard Chartered Bank as a Trainee Officer in 1997. In his long colorful career of 30 years, he had served at Standard Chartered Bank Bangladesh in different positions including senior management positions particularly in the domain of Retail and Branch Banking, where he served for 16 years. He also served at The Premier Bank PLC. as Deputy Managing Director, COO and CAMLCO, Bank Alfalah Bangladesh as Country Head of Retail Banking and Branches and Mutual Trust Bank PLC. as the Deputy Managing Director, COO and CAMLCO.
Mr. Tarek has led multiple strategic organizational transformation initiatives across different banks, where he served and contributed significantly towards the fundamental improvement in the specific areas of Business, Risk, Operations, Support Functions, Technology and HR, which ensured growth of those banks. He had overseas attachment exposure in the UAE, India and Malaysia during his time with Standard Chartered Bank. He also had attachment exposure in Pakistan during his time with Bank Alfalah Bangladesh Operations. He participated in many professional and management development trainings, workshops and seminars both at home and abroad. He has travelled to 33 countries of the world.
In his personal life, he is married and father of three children.
