Rehan Asif Asad
Rehan Asif Asad | |
|---|---|
রেহান আসিফ আসাদ | |
Asad in 2026 | |
| Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh | |
| Assumed office 17 February 2026 | |
| Prime Minister | Tarique Rahman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kella Barui Para, Godagari Upazila, Rajshahi District, Bangladesh |
| Party | Bangladesh Nationalist Party |
| Relations | Dr. M. Asaduzzaman (father) Barrister Aminul Haque (uncle) Enamul Haque (uncle) |
| Education | MIT Sloan School of Management (M.Sc. in Management and Engineering) RMIT University (B.Sc. in Telecommunications and Electrical Engineering) |
| Occupation | Engineer, technology professional, politician |
Rehan Asif Asad (Bengali: রেহান আসিফ আসাদ) is a Bangladeshi engineer, technology executive, and politician. He serves as an adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman with the rank of state minister, overseeing the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and the Ministry of Science and Technology. Appointed on 17 February 2026 following the formation of the new government after the 2026 Bangladeshi general election, Asad brings expertise in global operations and engineering to his roles in telecommunications, IT, and scientific development.[1][2]
Early life and family
Rehan Asif Asad was born in Kella Barui Para village in Godagari Upazila of Rajshahi District, northern Bangladesh. He hails from a prominent family with deep roots in public service, administration, and politics in the Rajshahi region.
His father, the late Dr. M. Asaduzzaman, served as the chairman and Executive Director of the Barendra Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), a key government body focused on irrigation and agricultural development in the Barind Tract. Asad is the nephew of the late Barrister Aminul Haque, who was a former Minister of Posts and Telecommunications in Bangladesh, and Enamul Haque, a former Inspector General of Bangladesh Police. This family legacy in government and law enforcement has influenced his entry into public life.
Education
Asad pursued higher education abroad, earning a Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications and Electrical Engineering from RMIT University in Australia. He later obtained a Master's degree in Management and Engineering from the MIT Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. His academic background combines technical engineering expertise with strategic management skills, preparing him for roles in technology policy and operations.
Professional career
Before entering politics, Asad built a career as a technology professional with international experience. He has held senior positions in global operations, including as Vice President of Global Markets Operations at Expedia Inc., where he focused on operations, sales, marketing, product management, and geopolitics.[3]
Asad has also participated in knowledge-sharing events, such as speaking sessions on turning vision into reality, drawing from his experience in international organizations and private sector roles. His professional trajectory emphasizes innovation in technology and operational efficiency.
Political career
Asad was appointed as one of ten advisers to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on 17 February 2026, shortly after the BNP-led government assumed power following the 2026 general election. He was among five advisers granted the status of state minister.[4][5][6]
On 20 February 2026, the Cabinet Division issued a notification assigning portfolios to eight advisers. Asad was given responsibility for two key ministries: Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and Science and Technology.[7][8] These assignments align with his engineering and technology background, positioning him to influence digital infrastructure, telecommunications policy, and scientific research in Bangladesh.
In his early days in office, Asad attended official events, including the unveiling of commemorative postage stamps for International Mother Language Day on 21 February 2026 at the Prime Minister’s Office, alongside Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and other officials.[9][10]
Personal life
Asad maintains a relatively low public profile beyond his professional and governmental duties. He is connected to influential networks in Bangladeshi administration, policing, and politics through his family.[11] His appointment has been noted in local Rajshahi media as a point of pride for the region, reflecting efforts to represent northern Bangladesh in the national government.[12]
References
- ^ "প্রধানমন্ত্রীর 'রাজনৈতিক উপদেষ্টা' হিসেবে যে ৩ জন নিয়োগ পেলেন". Jugantor (in Bengali). Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ "Khaborwala | The World, Seen Locally". khaborwala.com. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ "৮ উপদেষ্টাকে দফতর বণ্টন, কে কোন দায়িত্বে" [Distribution of offices to 8 advisors, who is responsible for what?] (in Bengali).
- ^ "Advisers With Minister Rank Under Tarique Rahman | PM Tarique appoints 10 advisers, including Mirza Abbas, Nazrul, and Rizvi | The Daily Star". www.thedailystar.net. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ "Prime Minister Tarique Rahman appoints 10 advisers, including Abbas, Nazrul, Rizvi". Prothomalo. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ "প্রধানমন্ত্রীর ৮ উপদেষ্টার দপ্তর বণ্টন, কে কোন দায়িত্বে".
- ^ "Portfolios assigned to eight advisers PM Tarique". The Business Standard. 21 February 2026.
- ^ "Eight advisers get portfolios | News". BSS.
- ^ "New Age | Bangladesh PM Tarique unveils stamps marking Int'l Mother Language Day".
- ^ Banglanews24. "PM Tarique Rahman unveils stamps marking Mother Language Day". banglanews24.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 21 February 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Rehan Asif Asad appointed adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman". Views Bangladesh. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ "Eight advisers to PM assigned portfolios". Dhaka Tribune. 20 February 2026. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
External links
- Media related to Rehan Asif Asad at Wikimedia Commons