Khalilur Rahman (economist)
Khalilur Rahman | |
|---|---|
খলিলুর রহমান | |
Rahman in 2026 | |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
| Assumed office 17 February 2026 | |
| President | Mohammed Shahabuddin |
| Prime Minister | Tarique Rahman |
| Preceded by | Md. Touhid Hossain (as Adviser) |
| National Security Adviser of Bangladesh | |
| In office 9 April 2025 – 17 February 2026 | |
| Chief Adviser | Muhammad Yunus |
| Preceded by | Tarique Ahmed Siddique |
| Succeeded by | AKM Shamsul Islam |
| High Representative on Rohingya Issue and Priority Matters | |
| In office 19 November 2024 – 17 February 2026 | |
| Chief Adviser | Muhammad Yunus |
| Personal details | |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater |
|
Khalilur Rahman is a Bangladeshi diplomat, economist, and a former UN official. He is the incumbent minister of foreign affairs of Bangladesh since February 2026.[1]
Education
Rahman earned a first-class MA in Economics from the University of Dhaka and briefly worked at American Express International Bank in 1979.[2] He studied at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University and earned a MA in law and diplomacy. Then he studied at Harvard Kennedy School of Harvard University and earned his PhD degree in economics.[3]
Career
Rahman joined the foreign service through the Bangladesh Civil Service in 1979.[2]
Rahman diplomatic tenure includes roles in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and as Private Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.[4] He was a spokesperson for Least Developed Countries at the UN Economic and Financial Committee. He served in the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations from 1986 to 1991.[5] He was the first secretary.[6] He served as the Chief of the UNCTAD secretariat's New York office.[7]
In 1991, Rahman joined the Secretary-General of the United Nations as a Special Adviser at UNCTAD in Geneva.[2] He served as the Head of Economic, Social, and Development Affairs at the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General, and the Secretary of the Secretary-General's High-level Panel on Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries.[2][5] He was the Chair of the United Nations Interagency Group on Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade.[2]
Rahman contributed significantly to flagship UN reports and played a key role in drafting the Programme of Action for the 2001 Brussels LDCs Conference, introducing duty- and quota-free access for LDC exports.[2]
In 2001, Rahman briefly served as private Secretary to Justice Latifur Rahman, Chief Adviser of the caretaker government.[2]
A founding member of East West University in Dhaka, Rahman continues to served on its Board of Trustees.[8]
In 2012, he was appointed head of Policy Development, Coordination and Monitoring Service for the Least Developed Countries at United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States.[5][9]
High Representative to the Chief Adviser
Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina led Awami League government, Rahman was appointed an ambassador of Muhmmad Yunus, head of the interim government, on Rohingya issue and other key priorities.[10] He went on an official trip to Kunming, China, accompanying Ferdousi Shahriar, director general of the Myanmar wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from 28 February to 2 March 2025.[11]
References
- ^ "Gazette notification on allocation of portfolios to ministers, state ministers". Prothomalo. 2026-02-18. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Khalilur Rahman appointed as CA's high representative". The Business Standard. 2024-11-19. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ "H.E. Khalilur Rahman". dohaforum.org. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
- ^ "Dr Khalilur Rahman made High Representative to CA". en.bonikbarta.com. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ a b c "Speakers' Biographies" (PDF). United Nations. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ Development, United Nations Conference on Trade and (1987). List of Participants. The Conference. p. 6.
- ^ "PRESS BRIEFING ON TENTH UN CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT". press.un.org. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
- ^ "Khalilur Rahman appointed as CA's high representative". The Business Standard. 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Dr Khalilur Rahman made High Representative to CA". dailycountrytodaybd.com. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ "Khalilur Rahman appointed as CA's high representative". Daily Sun. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ "Ferdousi Shahriar, Director General, Myanmar Wing to travel to Kunming, China from 28. February to 02 March 2025 (excluding travel time)" (PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2 June 2025.