Prof. Dr. M. Azizur Rahman
Founder of Uttara University
Professor Dr. M. Azizur Rahman is a Freedom Fighter, Entrepreneur, Economic Advisor to USAID, Chairman of DAT Ltd and DAR Trust, and the Founder Vice-Chancellor of Uttara University. Dr. Rahman, hailing from Bogra, Bangladesh, was appointed as the first VC by the Chancellor and the President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh in 2003, a position he has held for the past two decades until his retirement in 2023. Dr. Rahman has served as the university's guardian since its establishment, and his contribution to the university has been significant and enduring over the years.
Dr. Rahman is a renowned academician and an eminent economist with exceptional achievements nationally and internationally. He is an accomplished academician and entrepreneur with a diverse background in economics, development, higher education institutes and agricultural research. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree from the Department of Agricultural Economics at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in 1972, earning a first-class degree with first position. He also completed his Master of Science degree in 1973 from the same department at BAU. He then pursued his higher studies, leading to a PhD in Economics in the United States, with the prestigious scholarship awarded by the International Development Agency, World Bank. He obtained his MA and PhD in Economics from Vanderbilt University in 1988 and returned to Bangladesh to contribute to the country.
Dr. Rahman has an impressive record in the garments and buying house export business since the early nineties. He possesses research acumen in development economics and thirty years of teaching experience at various universities at home and abroad. He has taught at Vanderbilt University, USA, Owen Graduate School of Management in the USA, and the Institute of Management and Information Technology (IMIT) under the National University in Bangladesh, which he established. He is the chief sponsor of various educational institutes, notably the Uttara University, for which he also served as the project director. He has also served as an Economic Adviser for the USAID of the US Embassy of Bangladesh from 1989 to 1997, contributing his valuable expertise to economics. He also served as an economist at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and an economic analyst at the University of Colorado, Boulder, USA. Dr. Rahman's research interests include Micro & Macro-economic Theory, Money & Banking, and Human Development. He has published over 300 research papers in various academic journals, including the Bangladesh Journal of Public Administration and the Bangladesh Development Studies.
Dr. Rahman's ideas for developing higher education are centered on maintaining discipline and quality in education. His commitment to these principles has been instrumental in shaping the ethos of Uttara University and several other educational institutes in Bangladesh, of which he is the founder Chairman. The motto of Uttara University, "Excellence in Higher Education and Research", reflects Dr. Rahman's resolute dedication to providing premium education to students from all walks of life and has helped shape the lives and futures of countless students, empowering them to realize their full potential. His contribution has led to extensive development in the higher education sector in Bangladesh. Uttara University has helped thousands of deserving and meritorious students from middle and lower-middle-class families by providing them with quality higher education at an affordable cost under the 'Founder Scholarship' and has inspired countless students and educators to strive for excellence in their pursuit of knowledge.
Dr. Rahman is a seasoned professional with vast experience in development assistance and trading. He has served as the managing director of development assistance and trading (DAT) Limited and as the founder chairman of DAR Trust, which was established in 1996 and helps build social work organizations, including four higher education institutions and clinics in the private sector. His contributions extend to his experience as a consultant to the Bangladesh Water Development Board and as an economist for Sonali Bank, the largest Nationalized Commercial Bank (NCB). He has also served as the Principal Foreign Service National Adviser to the Foreign AID/Dhaka on USAID's private sector program in Bangladesh.
In addition to his exceptional career as an economist and academician, Dr. Rahman is an accomplished author and poet. He is awarded for his outstanding performance as an English writer by the Folklore Research Institution of Rajshahi University. He has several books of poetry, including Essence of Life and Musings of the Soul, published from the United States, Footprints on the Sand and Elixir of Life, published from the United Kingdom, Rhythms of Reality, published from Canada, and Sandcastle by the Sea, Harmony of Thoughts, and Aesthetic Aspiration, published from APPL, Bangladesh. His Footprints on the Sand was displayed at the prestigious Frankfurt Book Fair, Germany, from 19-23 October 2016 at the USA pavilion. He has also authored several scholarly books, including Governance: Global Problems and Prospects, Development Study on Socio-Political Economy and Development Aspects of Bangladesh and Economic Thoughts on Development. Dr. Rahman has also authored a book on the perspective development economics of Bangladesh in Bengali titled Prekkhit: Unnoyon Orthoniti. How to Remain Young is another well-known book by him about leading a healthy lifestyle. His research articles on social, economic, and human resource development have been published in numerous national and international journals and newspapers.
Dr. Rahman is a proud Freedom Fighter who risked his life during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971. His ancestral home in Bogra was a training camp for which he was arrested during the war of independence. All his works serve as a testament to his fervent patriotism. He is a lifetime member of the Bangladesh Economic Association, Bangla Academy, and the Asiatic Society, reflecting his ongoing commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering intellectual curiosity. He enjoys golf and is a member of the Kurmitola Golf Club. His dream is to disseminate higher education to Bangladesh, and he has spent his whole life working toward bringing higher education across the country.
Above all, Dr. Rahman is a loving husband to his esteemed wife, Prof. Dr. Eaysmin Ara Lekha. He is also a proud father to two meritorious sons, whose achievements also correspond to Dr. Rahman's firm commitment to excellence in all areas of life, giving the audience a glimpse into his personal life.