Dr Nazneen Ahmed becomes new ED of CPD 

Dr Nazneen Ahmed has been appointed as the Executive Director (ED) of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), effective from 1 September 2026. 

Former ED Dr Fahmida Khatun will assume the role of Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), following the completion of her nine-and-a-half-year tenure.

A distinguished development economist, Dr Ahmed brings nearly three decades of experience in economic research, policy analysis and development practice in Bangladesh and internationally, according to a press release.

Prior to joining CPD as the Executive Director, Dr Ahmed served at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the Country Economist at UNDP Bangladesh (for two years) and then a Policy Advisor at the UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific in New York (for three years).

Before joining UNDP, Dr Ahmed was a researcher at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), where she completed an illustrious 25-year career. She joined BIDS as a Research Associate in July 1998, progressed through successive research positions and became a Research Director.

The research and policy interests of Dr Nazneen span a wide range of macroeconomic and development issues, including international trade, industry and employment, governance, gender equality, social protection and inclusive growth.

She has numerous publications including articles in peer-reviewed international and national journals; book chapters with reputed international publishers and research reports with international organisations.

Over the course of her career she has worked with a number of international organisations, including the World Bank, DFID, UNCTAD, ILO, IFC, the European Union, IFPRI, IDB etc.

Dr Ahmed holds a PhD in Economics from Wageningen University, the Netherlands and a Master’sin Development Economics from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom. Before that, she completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from the University of Dhaka. She is a Chevening Scholar.