Mahabub Hossain

Mahabub Hossain, a Bangladeshi national trained in development economics in the University of Cambridge, U.K has made substantial contributions to research on development economics and agricultural policy in South and Southeast Asia.  Throughout his long career as an active researcher and research manager, he has contributed to advancement of knowledge in many fields such as agrarian structure and land reforms; rural non-farm activities; technology, credit and infrastructure policies; income distribution and poverty; and Asian rice economy.  His research based on detailed analysis of primary data collected from household level sample surveys has been instrumental in developing a deeper understanding of the operation of rural economy in general and the rice sector in particular. His early work on the evaluation of the Grameen Bank micro-credit program in Bangladesh published by the International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington DC is still widely cited in the literature on micro-credit.  The in-depth knowledge on the operation of agriculture and rural economy in Bangladesh that he has advanced with analysis of primary data has made substantial impact in the formulation of agricultural development policy in Bangladesh. For this contribution, he was awarded the first Gold Medal by the Bangladesh Agricultural Economist Association in 1984. His studies on the development of Asian rice economy, and constraints to technology adoption and impact of agricultural technology on income distribution and poverty has similarly influenced the formulation and priority setting of research programs at IRRI and in several national agricultural research systems. He joined BRAC in 2007 as its executive director, and directing this reputed development organization to address the challenge of the re-emergence of food insecurity in Bangladesh.

Mr. Hossain did his Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in Economics, from University of Calcutta, India, in 1966. Then he did his Masters of Arts in Economics, from University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 1969. After that he did Diploma in Development Economics from University of Cambridge, England in 1973. Finally he did Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Economics from University of Cambridge, England in 1977.

Mr. Hossain participated some special training such as Project Analysis, Education Program and Project Course, at the Economic Development Institute, the World Bank in April 1978 to June 1978 and also he did Management and Leadership Training, by O’Hare Associate in 1994.