Key Skills:

• Thorough knowledge and understanding of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices, Competition Policy issues and regulatory processes and their constraints in the context of Bangladesh
• Advising SMEs on regulatory processes to develop their business to increase competitiveness and to have greater access in the international markets
• Designing options for the reform of government regulatory processes to improve the business environment
• Liaising with high level government officials, private organizations, project donors and business entities
• Building networks and raising awareness on best practice and innovative local initiatives
• Organizing and coordinating meetings, seminars and roundtables.
• Developing survey questionnaires, coordinating survey teams and evaluating data


Work Experience:

June 2008 -
D.Net (Development Research Network)
Senior Research Associate

Working as a program coordinator at IPAI project. Started in late 2007, the program will run over five years. Phase One (12 months) focuses on secondary data research and three country-level field studies to pilot plausible research methods and frameworks to generate early results. Phase Two (4 years) will strive to generate the hard evidence of impact from a series of longitudinal and comparative field studies in a number of countries. Researchers will come from existing and new research networks, and teams to be formulated at both the global/regional and country-specific level where the field research will be carried out.

November 2007 – May 2008
CSR Centre
Operations Manager
The CSR Centre is a leading provider of complete solutions to CSR business needs in Bangladesh. Established with private sector start-up funding to raise CSR awareness, the CSR Centre’s goal is to promote sustainable development through responsible business practices. Registered as a Trust, the autonomous CSR Centre was set up as a non-profit Trust in August 2007.

The continuation programme of the CSR Centre from the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, my previous employer, worked with an internal and external team of the centre to lead and promote CSR in Bangladesh and serve the businesses in a greater context to adopted CSR in a strategic way by the Businesses.

Develop with a team the CSR Centre Business plan, Operational Plan and execute its existence in the business community.

Organize, coordinate and promote CSR on a workshop “Fundamentals of Corporate Social Responsibility”. May 16-18, 2008, Cox’s Bazaar.

April 2003 – October 2007
The Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI)
Research Associate
BEI is a non-profit, non-political research centre. Established in October 2000, the Institute has established for itself a reputation for excellence in its research and advocacy work focusing on the growth of private enterprise in Bangladesh. Currently working full-time as a research associate on projects including those highlighted below.

Corporate Social Responsibility Projects:

July 2006 – September 2007 Swisscontact- KATALYST
Developing a Business Plan for the CSR Centre
Responsible for working with a team of experts to enrich, strengthen, and expand BEI’s CSR Center’s activities through the formation of an Advisory Committee, development of a business plan, and the official launching of the CSR Center. Part of a team responsible for the development of a detailed ToR for the advisory committee, identification and establishment of the advisory committee, development of a detailed business plan including details of products and services to be offered by the Center, including market analysis and outlining of a strategy to enable the Center to become financially independent.

May 2006 – August 2007 Australian High Commission
Development and Adoption of a National CSR Code for the RMG Sector in Support of Female Garments Workers in Bangladesh
Responsible for working with the lead researcher in developing a National CSR Code for the RMG Sector with a focus on the basic fundamental rights of female garments workers. Responsibilities include interaction with key stakeholders including manufacturers, labor organizations, government, buyer representatives and other intermediary bodies involved in the sector.

June 2005 – May 2007 Bangladesh Enterprise Institute
Dialogue series on CSR Practices and Challenges in Bangladesh
Coordinating and organizing a series of Dialogues on CSR practices and Challenges in Bangladesh. In order to raise awareness of stakeholders on CSR issues, the Centre has organized seventeen roundtables dialogue series on CSR in Action till dated. Each month presenters from a local company, a multinational company and an NGO are asked to share their CSR implementation strategy and the challenges faced in practicing CSR in Bangladesh.

July 2005 – July 2006, Swisscontact- KATALYST
Documentary features on CSR Practices in Bangladesh
Coordinate and worked with the consultant and the documentary production firm to filming of three documentary features that highlights the environmental, social and corporate, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices of local firms from different sectors. The work is part of an initiative to develop three short motivational documentary features, based on the three broad CSR themes: environment, social and corporate commitments of firms and institutions. This project is being implemented with support from the Swisscontact-KATALYST.

October 2004 – January 2005, Swisscontact- KATALYST
Development of Case Studies on Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in Selected Bangladeshi Companies
Responsible for coordinating the five member survey team and interviewing, data collection and supporting in all capacity to develop and finalize the case studies. The project profiled six socially responsible firms from different sectors that have good CSR practices. The project aimed to develop case studies to highlight the success of firms that have adopted CSR principles.

Regulatory Reform Projects:
Nov. 2005 – February 2006, SouthAsia Enterprise Development Facility
and Foreign Investment Advisory Service
Administrative Barriers Review Study
Co-author of the mapping part of six targeted government processes [Duty drawback system by Customs, Customs clearances, especially for equipment and machinery imports, Bonded warehouse licensing procedures, Documentation for foreign private loans requirement by Board of Investment, Location clearance Certificate by the Department of Environment, and Environment Clearance Certificate by the Department of Environment]. Responsible for developing detailed process maps of the targeted regulatory processes through close interaction with high- to mid-level government regulatory officials. Co-authored the reports for this unique study conducted in Bangladesh to demonstrate to the government a methodology for reform of existing regulatory procedures that act as administrative barriers to the business community.

April 2003 – April 2004, SouthAsia Enterprise Development Facility
BEI-SEDF SME Advisory Service (BSAS)
BSAS was a project implemented by BEI and SEDF. BSAS was established to help SMEs navigate through the complex web of bureaucracy and to help them avoid various informal charges. The project also recommended changes to simplify the regulatory processes. Served as an advisor to assist SMEs to establish their businesses and accomplish the complex regulatory processes. The processes [obtain Trade License by Dhaka City Corporation, Obtain Import Registration Certificate (IRC) and export Registration Certificate (ERC) by Office of the Controller of Imports and Exports (CI&E) and Business Registration Processes by Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC).]

Competition Policy Projects:
May 2004 – July 2006, CUTS International, India
Advocacy and Capacity Building on Competition Policy and Law in Asia
Co-researcher for the country papers on Competition Scenario in Bangladesh and Competition Advocacy Strategy for Bangladesh. The project sought to accelerate the process towards implementation of a functional competition policy in Bangladesh, and among six other Asian countries in South and Southeast Asia.

Productivity Analyses and Mapping of Sub-Sectors:
March 2005 – July 2005, Swisscontact- KATALYST
Productivity Analysis of Selected SMEs in Bangladesh (Part II)
Conducted the survey and coordinated the five member survey team. The study focused on five selected sectors: Maize (Northern Bangladesh and Karnataka, Bangalore, India), Furniture (Mirpur, Gulshan and Banani), Poultry (Faridpur and Gazipur) and; Vegetables and Bamboo processing (greater Rajshahi District). Responsibilities included preparing productivity analysis tables. Conducted a market analysis of Maize production in India through a weeklong visit to Karnataka, Bangalore.

April 2004 – August 2004, Swisscontact- KATALYST
Productivity Baseline Study of SMEs in Bangladesh (Part I).
Conducted survey and coordinated the five member survey team. The study focused on four selected sectors: Pond Fisheries (Faridpur and Jessore), Plastic (Old Dhaka and greater Dhaka), Vegetables (Rangpur and Manikganj) and Agro-tools (Bogra and Dholaikhal, Dhaka). Developed and field-tested the survey questionnaires. Coordinated survey teams and tabulated and analyzed data.

June 2004 – June 2005 SouthAsia Enterprise Development Facility
Trade Promotion and Facilitation between Northeast India and Bangladesh
The project aimed to improve the trade scenario between Bangladesh and India in the spirit of South Asian sub-regional cooperation. The project aimed to eradicate existing NTBs (Non-Tariff Barriers) and reduce trade imbalance between Bangladesh and North East India. Responsibilities included organizing the National Core Group meetings and seminars of the project and communicating with the donor and the core group members.