Bangladesh
State Minister Oath Shamsul Alam takes oath as state minister for planning
Dhaka, July 19: Dr. Shamsul Alam, a former member of the General Economics Division of the Planning Commission, has been sworn in as the new state minister in the cabinet. President Md. Abdul Hamid administered the oath of office to him at Bangabhaban on Sunday (July 19) at 7.30 pm. Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam conducted the function.
Now a notification will be issued from the cabinet department through Shamsul Alam's office. According to the cabinet department, he is being given the charge of state minister in the planning ministry. MA Mannan is currently the Planning Minister. The cabinet now has 25 ministers, 19 state ministers and three deputy ministers. With the addition of Shamsul Alam, there are 20 state ministers.
Dr. Shamsul Alam received his MSc in Agricultural Economics from Bangladesh Agricultural University in 1973, his MA in Economics from Thammasat University in Bangkok in 1983 and his PhD in Economics in 1991 from Newcastle University in England.
In his working life he was involved in teaching at the School of Development Economics at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Humboldt University in Germany, Ghent University in Belgium and the Wageningen University in the Netherlands.
Dr. Alam was a full-time employee of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations from March 2002 to December 2005. He also served as a full-time national consultant at UNDP Bangladesh on a 14-month senior scale.
After 35 years of teaching experience, Shamsul Alam joined the Planning Commission on July 1, 2009. Later, the term of his contract was gradually increased. His last contract expired on June 30.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government awarded Shamsul Alam the Ekushey Padak in 2020 for his special contribution to the economy. Earlier in 2018, the South Asian Network for Economic Modeling gave him the 'Economic of Influence Award'.
In addition, the Bangladesh Agricultural Economists Association awarded Shamsul Alam a gold medal in 2018 in recognition of his skills and contribution in the field of agricultural economy. He has published 12 books on economics including his research and textbooks.
