Development economist Dr Nazneen Ahmed has been appointed executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), succeeding Dr Fahmida Khatun, who transitions to a Distinguished Fellow from 1 September. The appointments were approved at CPD’s 68th board meeting.
Nazneen brings nearly three decades of experience in economic research and policy analysis.
She joins CPD after serving with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a country economist in Bangladesh and a policy adviser at the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific in New York. Previously, she spent 25 years at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), rising from research associate to research director.
Her research spans international trade, employment, gender equality, social protection, and inclusive growth. She has collaborated with global institutions including the World Bank, ILO, UNCTAD, and the European Union.
Nazneen holds a PhD from Wageningen University, a master’s from the University of Sussex as a Chevening Scholar, and degrees from the University of Dhaka. CPD stated her expertise will bolster its push for evidence-based policymaking.
Fahmida steps down after nine and a half years as executive director, having joined CPD in 2003.
During her tenure, the think tank significantly expanded its research programmes, institutional capacity, and financial standing, with annual income rising by 171 per cent and the Development Fund growing by approximately 590 per cent.
An alumna of University College London and Columbia University, Fahmida serves on notable boards, including Bangladesh Bank and BRAC, and contributes to high-level UN panels.
