Professor Dr. M. Azizur Rahman is the Founder Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Uttara University. He was appointed as a 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. Dr. Rahman is serving as the guardian of the university 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, both nationally and internationally. He is an accomplished academician with a diverse background in economics and agricultural research. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree from the Department of Agricultural Economics at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in 1972 where he earned 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 went on to pursue his higher studies leading to PhD in Economics in the United States with the prestigious scholarship awarded by World Bank. He successfully obtained his PhD in Economics from Vanderbilt University in 1988.
Dr. Rahman has an impressive thirty years of teaching experience at various universities both at home and abroad. He has taught at Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management, and Institute of Management and Information Technology (IMIT) under National University. He served as a professor and project director at Uttara University. 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 the field of economics. 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 Bangladesh Journal of Public Administration and The Bangladesh Development Studies.
Dr. Rahman’s ideas for the development of higher education are centered on the importance of 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, “quality education at affordable tuition”, is a reflection of Dr. Rahman’s resolute dedication to providing higher 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 students from middle and lower-middle-class families by providing them with quality higher education at an affordable cost 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 the field of 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, established in 1996, which helps build social work organizations, including four higher education institutions 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 also 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 The 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 Sandwas displayed at 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 perspective development economics of Bangladesh in Bengali titled Prekkhit: Unnoyon Orthoniti. How to RemainYoung 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. All his works serve as a testament of 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. His dream is to disseminate higher education to entire Bangladesh and he has spent his whole life working toward his aim of bringing higher education across all of Bangladesh.
Above all, Dr. Rahman is a loving husband to his esteemed wife, Prof. Dr. Eaysmin Ara Lekha, who serves as the current Vice-Chancellor of Uttara University. He is also a proud father to two meritorious sons, whose achievements are also corresponding to Dr. Rahman’s firm commitment to excellence in all areas of life.