Governing Body
Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury
Chairperson
Mr. Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury assumed the position of Chairman at Sonali Bank PLC on September 5, 2024, after a distinguished 33-year career in civil service. He was a member of the 1984 Audit and Accounts Cadre and held critical roles in the Ministry of Finance, including Finance Secretary, before becoming the 12th Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of Bangladesh on July 17, 2018. His career is marked by profound expertise in Public Financial Management (PFM), governance, and administration. A pioneer of Public Sector Financial Management Reform, Mr. Chowdhury earned the Jana Prashashan Award (2017) for his efforts in improving public service delivery. He was a strong advocate for e-Governance in finance, overseeing the implementation of the Integrated Financial Management Information System (iBAS++), and initiated the creation of Government Pensioners and Employees Databases, enhancing transparency in public sector payments. He also played a key role in the formulation of Bangladesh’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Framework and the New Budget and Accounting Classification System (BACS), introduced in FY 2018-19. Mr. Chowdhury significantly modernized Bangladesh’s Public Debt Management System, including the introduction of long-term Treasury Bonds, which bolstered the country’s budget financing and promoted debt market development. He was also instrumental in initiating G2P (Government-to-Person) transfers for pensions and safety net programs, improving public service delivery. His contributions led to the drafting of the Financial Reporting Act, 2015, which set higher standards for financial reporting and auditing. He innovated the Automated Challan (A-Challan) system, which allowed taxpayers to make government payments through any bank branch, online, or via Mobile Financial Services. His leadership in streamlining payments using EFT/MICR cheques and near real-time transfers to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) at Bangladesh Bank enhanced cash management, fiscal reporting, and financial auditing. Mr. Chowdhury also served as a consultant on PFM reforms with World Bank and DFID-funded projects, and held significant roles in various organizations, including Bangladesh Bank, Sonali Bank, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and SAARC Development Fund. He is an experienced global leader, having represented Bangladesh in over 40 countries. He holds an MSc in Finance and Accounting from the University of Birmingham, UK, and a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Commerce from the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Md. Emranul Huq Chowdhury
Vice Chairperson
Md. Emranul Huq Chowdhury is the founder of ANTAR and currently serves as its Principal Adviser. He began his career in 1981 with BRAC and later became the Executive Director and CEO of UDDIPAN, where he served for three decades until 2018. A strong advocate for child rights, Mr. Chowdhury introduced child poverty as a significant issue in the global community, which later became a focus for Save the Children International. He also worked on peace-building initiatives and conflict resolution in various countries, including Indonesia and Thailand. He has held leadership roles in numerous national and international organizations, including as the Chairman of the Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF), ATSEC Bangladesh and South Asia, and the Credit and Development Forum (CDF). He was the founding chairman of the Child Rights Governance Assembly (CRGA) Bangladesh. He was the General Body Member of PKSF for two consecutive terms. He is one of the founder members of INAFI Bangladesh and served as its Board Member in several positions, including Vice-Chair in earlier terms. He had been appointed as a member of the National Child Rights Committee formed under the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Bangladesh. Mr. Chowdhury has participated in numerous international conferences and discussions, including chairing a session at the Global Conference on Microfinance, Remittances, and Development in Cotonou, Benin and presenting at the World Summit on Information Technology by United Nations held in Tokyo, Japan. He has also taught the Master's and PhD students at the University of Toronto, Canada and participated in the US government's Visitors Program. He played a key role in the successful negotiation to bring back Bangladeshi children exploited as camel jockeys in the UAE, leading to their rehabilitation. With a deep commitment to poverty alleviation and combating climate change, Mr. Chowdhury continues to work towards ensuring human dignity and socio-economic progress for Bangladesh.
Mosharrof Hossain
Treasurer
M. Mosharrof Hossain, Finance Director of BURO Bangladesh, is a founding member with 35 years of experience in the microfinance sector. He began his career with BURO Bangladesh at its inception, helping to establish it as a pioneering microfinance non-governmental organization. Over the course of his distinguished career, Hossain has evolved into a leading development manager and practitioner, contributing significantly to the advancement of the microfinance landscape in Bangladesh. The remarkable growth of BURO Bangladesh into a national-level institution is, in large part, a testament to Hossain’s unwavering dedication, hard work, and strategic leadership. His ability to seamlessly blend professional expertise with practical field experience has been pivotal in elevating the organization’s standards of transparency, accountability, and financial integrity. Hossain is recognized for his clear, articulate communication skills and his commitment to fostering stronger integration between finance and program operations. Beyond his internal leadership, Hossain represents BURO Bangladesh with distinction at national and international seminars, workshops, and dialogues, consistently strengthening the organization’s reputation and network. A central figure in BURO’s fundraising and partnership initiatives, Hossain has played a critical role in building and sustaining relationships with a broad range of donors and commercial banks in Bangladesh. Hossain’s areas of expertise include microenterprise and microfinance program design and implementation, institutional and organizational development, financial and program management, audit and accountancy, and financial and operational system design. His contributions continue to be instrumental in shaping the future of BURO Bangladesh and the broader microfinance sector in Bangladesh.
Aftabur Rahman Jafree
Member
Aftabur Rahman Jafree is the Chief Executive Officer of GHASHFUL, having first become involved with the organization in 1978 as a General Body member. He later joined as CEO in 2003. Mr. Jafree is an alumnus of Chittagong Faujdarhat Cadet College and holds a post-graduate degree from the University of Chittagong. He is actively engaged in various social and networking organizations. He serves as a Governing Body member of INAFI Bangladesh, FNB, and a member of the CDF General Body, He is part of several committees, including the Divisional Child Labor Welfare Council and the District Child Labor Monitoring Committee in Chattogram. He is also involved in the Technical Committee of Bangladesh Shishu Academy Chittagong, BSAF, NEARS, and the STI/AIDS Network Bangladesh. Additionally, Mr. Jafree serves as an Observer member of the District Legal Aid Committee in Chattogram and is the Convener of the World Child Labor Day Celebration Council – Chattogram.
Arinjoy Dhar
Member
Arinjoy Dhar is a globally experienced leader in financial inclusion, digital transformation, and sustainable development. He currently serves as Senior Director and Head of Microfinance at BRAC, overseeing one of the world’s largest microfinance programs, serving over 11 million clients—90% of whom are women. He also leads one of the world’s largest microinsurance initiatives through innovative products like health, credit, and livestock insurance, alongside pioneering climate-resilient innovations for marginalized communities. Before joining BRAC, Arinjoy spent over two decades at HSBC, holding senior leadership roles across Hong Kong, Mainland China, Bangladesh, and Canada. He most recently served as the Director and Country Head of Operational Excellence for HSBC’s Commercial Banking division in Hong Kong and earlier as the Chief Operating Officer of Commercial Banking for the Pearl River Delta region in China, where he led large-scale strategic initiatives across one of Asia’s most vital economic zones. He is also a director at Guardian Life Insurance Ltd., BRAC IT Services Ltd., and BRACNet, and serves on the Corporate Advisory Board of the MSBA programme at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Mr. Dhar holds a Master’s in Leadership Practice and Responsibilities from Lancaster University and is a Fellow of CIMA (UK), CPA Australia, and the Institute of Public Accountants Australia. He has completed executive education at Cambridge, McGill, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University and is an adjunct faculty member at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand. Mr. Dhar's blend of deep industry expertise, global perspective, and passion for data-driven impact will be invaluable to INAFI as we continue to shape the research and innovation for the MFI sector.
Mohammad Abdus Samad
Member
Mohammad Abdus Samad, born on February 3, 1964, in Natore, Bangladesh, holds a Master of Science in Statistics from Rajshahi University. He began his career in 1985 with BRAC and later worked at Grameen Bank as a Branch Manager before joining ASA in 1993. For more than 30 years now he has been closely associated with the implementation of ASA’s micro-finance program as well as with the organisation’s impact assessment team. As Executive Vice President (Program) at ASA, he is responsible for formulating policies and procedures for the effective operation of the microcredit program, conducting training sessions, representing ASA in workshops and seminars, and identifying new strategies and opportunities for efficient credit fund management. Mr. Samad served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Lakjaya Microfinance Ltd. in Sri Lanka from 2008 to 2009. He has worked as a consultant for both international and local organizations, including providing consultancy services to Life Bank in the Philippines from June 2006 to June 2007, as well as to several NGOs in Bangladesh. He has also participated in numerous international seminars on microfinance in countries such as Bolivia, India, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. He has attended several training courses on general management, project management, evaluation, and monitoring. With deep expertise and insight, he possesses a strong vision for the growth and development of the microfinance sector.
Former Chairpersons
Shib Narayan Kairy
(2015 - 2024)
Zakir Hossain
(2004 - 2014)