Khurshid Alam appointed Islami Bank Chairman

Former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank Md Khurshid Alam has been appointed the new chairman of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC.

He was given the responsibility following the resignation of the bank’s Chairman Professor Dr M Zubaidur Rahman on Sunday, according to a decision taken by the central bank. Bangladesh Bank also sent an official letter to Islami Bank regarding the appointment.

Sources concerned said Khurshid Alam was appointed deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank in February 2024 on a three-year contractual basis. However, after the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024, he was compelled to resign along with four other senior officials of the central bank.

Khurshid Alam began his tenure with Bangladesh Bank in 1988 and has since served in various departments, including banking regulation and policy, banking inspection, SME and special programmes, green banking and CSR and debt management.

His extensive experience includes postings in Bangladesh Bank's Chattogram, Sylhet, and Rangpur offices.

Khurshid Alam played a pivotal role in establishing the Sustainable Finance Department within Bangladesh Bank and has been instrumental in formulating policies related to Green Banking, Sustainable Financing, CSR for the Banking Sector, Financial Inclusion & Literacy, and environmental Financial Issues.

He holds a degree in Management from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He earned his MBA degee from Stamford University Bangladesh. He further enhanced his skills by completing an Advanced Training Course on Econometric Analysis from the Bureau of Economic Research, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Earlier, Professor Dr M Zubaidur Rahman stepped down from the chairman’s post following advice from the central bank. He was appointed chairman on 23 July last year after the resignation of the bank’s previous Chairman Obayed Ullah Al Masud.

A board meeting of Islami Bank was scheduled to be held yesterday, but it did not take place amid protests staged by a customer forum.