Information Commissioners of IC

Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) 

Ambassador (Rtd.) Mohammed Farooq

Career Summary:

Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1973-2006) Career Diplomat 32½ years of Experience, traveling across four continents as a representative of Bangladesh promoting and enhancing bilateral ties with the global community.My commitments as a diplomat largely involved in strengthening and establishing new business ties for Bangladesh within the international forum.

Professional Experience:

-Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dhaka, Bangladesh, Section Officer,(1973-1979)

As a career diplomat, I’ve worked in various wings within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including South Asia, Legal Division, Protocol, Consular, Administration,the European desk, Multilateral,Southeast Asia (SEA) wings and so forth.

-Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Romanian Second/First Secretary (1979-1983) 

Represented Bangladesh Embassy in Bucharest, Romania and opened the Trade Mission in Bulgaria, also served as CDA for about two years.

-Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Bhutan First Secretary/Counselor/CDA (1983-1985) 

Represented Bangladesh Embassy in Thimphu, Bhutan. Contributed towards the first official trade agreement with Bhutan.

-Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dhaka, Bangladesh, Director (1985-1989) 

• Actively responsible for the Finance desk, South East Asia, SAARC, Protocol and the legal division

• Attended the SAARC summits in Kathmandu, Nepal and Islamabad, Pakistan. Also took part in various other international conferences, workshops and meetings in various capitals across the globe and at home.

-Bangladesh High Commission Canberra  Australia, Counselor/Deputy Head of Mission, 
(1989-1993)

• Involved in organizing single country trade fair in collaboration with the Australian Government for several years.

• Involved with AIDAP (Australian International Development Assistance Program) for granting aids and relevant Assistance.

• Arranged scholarships for Bangladeshi students and government officials.

• Established a club called "Friends of Bangladesh" for the purpose of bilateral unity.

-Bangladesh High Commission Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Counselor/Deputy Head of Mission (1993-1995) 

• Major contributions included arranging Trade Fairs and the export of Bangladeshi rice for the first time to the Malaysian market.

• Involved in legalization of half a million Bangladeshi workers.

• I also served as chief coordinator for summit level visits.

-Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dhaka Bangladesh Director of Trade and Investment, Promotions/Director of Multilateral Economic Affairs/ Director General South East Asia (1995-1997)

• Arranged summit level visits at home and in South East Asian region.

• Involved in several important matters beneficial to mutual ties between state and the international community

-Bangladesh Embassy Washington D.C USA Minister (Political) 
(1997-1998)

Involved in the process of establishing Bangladesh- US business council Community work relevant to strengthening bilateral ties.

-Consulate General Bangladesh Los Angeles  USA, Consul General with the rank and status of Ambassador, (1998-2000)

• Involved in relevant community work promotion of trade, organized several Trade Fairs, actively involved in the campaign focused on sending Bangladeshi remittance earned in Los Angeles (through Sonali Exchange) to Bangladesh.

• My special contributions included enhancing the Bangladeshi fishery industry by means of creating a productive market in the West Coast of the United States.

• My tenure in Los Angeles also included vast community interactions particularly with governors and high officials of varying countries of California aimed at strengthening ties between Bangladesh and California.

• Involved with the Asiatic Society.

• Member of the South Asian Art Council.

• Co-founder of the L.A. based Asian group of Consul General.

-Bangladesh Embassy Manila Philippines, Ambassador, (2000-2002)

• During my tenure I had particularly emphasized the importance of trade between the Philippines and Bangladesh. As a result of my efforts, the Bangladeshi pharmaceutical products were registered by the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration.

• I had also organized several Trade Fairs and was involved in processing seven hundred and fifty million dollars of ADB funds and soft loans and grants.

• I was involved in an educational exchange programs between Bangladesh and Philippines.

• Worked with the Colombo Plan Staff College as a member of the member Countries.

• I also closely worked with IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) for the promotion of rice research in Bangladesh.

• Actively Participated as a member of OIC peace committee to monitor the peace process amidst the Muslim citizens in Mindanao.

• Honorary citizen of Baguio.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Foundation training at GOTTA, followed by training at NIPA, trade Courses conducted by EPB and training at the Foreign Service Academy. Also received in service training at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Ministries and Departments. Attended several professional courses in various capitals.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Rotary member since 1998 (Los Angeles-5) till present (Dhaka Mid-town).

OTHER INVOLVEMENTS:

• Family business after retirement on 10th Jun 2007.

• Director: Meghna Life Insurance (04/07/2007-25/09/2008).

• Director: Uttara Bank (21/10/2008-11/10/2012).

EDUCATION

Dhaka University (1966-1970)

• Bachelor of Commerce, Honours

• Masters of Commerce and Business Administration (Law and Economics minor)

LANGUAGES

Fluent in Bangla and English as well as proficient in Urdu, Hindi, Romanian and Russian

ACCREDITATIONS

Countless validations made by top official of the international community honoring various contributions made within their country.

INTERESTS

Reading and staying on top of national and international affairs particularly pertaining to business, social and global innovations.

Information Commissioner

Mohammad Abu TaherSecretary (Rtd.) M. A. Taher

Educational Qualifications:
Masters in Commerce (Management) in 1969,  University of Dhaka
Local Training:
Foundation Training on Treasury Management, Survey and Settlement; and also on Sustainable Development and Disaster Management, etc.

Foreign Training:
(a)Managing at the Top (MATT), Organised by the British Civil Service College and the Birmingham University, UK. Financed by the DFID.
(b)Leadership for the next Millennium. Organised by the Queen Victoria University, New Zealand and sponsored by the Common Wealth Secretariat, London.
(c)Seminar on Labour-Management Relations, Nepal. Organised and sponsored by the ILO.
(d)Special Assembly on Hazardous Chemicals, UNEF HQ, Nairobi, Kenya. Represented Bangladesh as Leader of the Delegation.
(e)Leader of the Delegation. Aid Negotiations with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Manila, Philippines.
(f)Forest and Natural Resources Administration And Management. Organized by the Colorado State University, USA. Financed by the World bank.
(g)Diploma on Development Administration. University of Manchester, UK.
(h)Diploma on Economic and Social Studies. University of Manchester, UK.
(i)Specialized Training on Health and Family Planning. JOICFP, JICA, Japan.

Experience:
(a)Served as the Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh and retired from service in the year 2006.
(b)Joint Secretary (APD), Ministry of Establishment (MOE) and Ministry of Labour and Employment (MOLE). As Joint Secretary (APD) performed the functions of Personnel Management and Human Resources Development and implemented recruitment, transfer and promotion policies of the Government.

As Joint Secretary, MOLE worked as the catalyst to improve
the labour management relations, implemented Labour
Policies of the government, assisted in Boosting-up man
power export in abroad and to create new horizon in the
world labour market. Maintained close relations with ILO.
(c)Divisional Commissioner, Khulna and Chittagong. Co-ordinated Divisional level intra and inter departmental development activities, reviewed the performances, inspect and monitor the offices of the Deputy Commissioners within the jurisdiction. Implemented the policies of the government in the field.
(d)Deputy Secretary (Development), Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF). Used to perform the functions of planning, implementation, co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation, review the progress of development projects of Forests and Environment Directorates; and also keep liaison with the development partners like the World Bank, ADB, UNEP, UNDP, WFP, etc.
(e)Deputy Commissioner, Narayangonj and Pabna. Performed the functions of General Administration, Revenue and Development Administration and the Administration of Criminal Justice; co-ordinated inter departmental development activities in the districts, inspected and supervised the subordinate offices.
(f)Served also as the Director, National Savings Directorate; Settlement Officer, Dhaka; Secretary, Bangladesh Textiles Mills Corporation; Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Chittagong; Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Hobiganj; ADLG & RD and Secretary, Zila Porishad, Mymensingh; Senior Magistrate, Rangpur; and Project Officer, Zero Population Growth (ZPG) Project, Dhaka; and Assist Commissioner, Dhaka.

Other Experience:
(a)Professor of Commerce, Feni College, Feni.
(b)Assistant Director, Agriculture Marketing Directorate, Bangladesh.

Country Visited:
Visited about 25 (Twenty five) countries of Asia, Africa, America, Europe, and Oceania for the purpose of training, and to participate in the seminar, symposium, workshop, study tour and for Aid negotiations.

Extra Curricular and Social Activities:
(a)Member, UOTC (now BNCC).
(b)Participated in the War of Liberation as Freedom Fighter.
(c)President, Bangladesh Students Association (1991-1992), University of Manchester, UK.
(d)Secretary General, Comilla Samity, Dhaka for the last 30 (Thirty) years.
(e)President, Divisional Krira Sangstha, Khulna and Chittagong.
(f)President District Krira Sangstha, Narayangonj and Pabna.
(g)President, Khulna Club, Khulna,
(h)President, Officers’ Club, Pabna.
(i)President, Comilla Kotwali Thana Samity, Dhaka.
(j)Member, Officers’ Club, Dhaka.
(k)Member, Executive Committee, Greater Comilla Samity, Dhaka.

Information Commissioner 

Prof. Dr. Sadeka Halim

PhD from McGill University Canada as a Commonwealth scholar & Post doctorate with Commonwealth Fellowship from Bath University, UK. MSS and BSS secured First class First & First class Second in the Dept. of Sociology, DU.

Area of research interest:
Gender Equity, Forestry, Development, Indigenous issues & Right to Information.

Education: 

Experience:
She has been teacher in the Dept. of Sociology, University of Dhaka for last 21 years. She served as guest professor at the BOKU University for Agriculture and Sciences, Vienna, Institute of Forest Sector Policy and Economics to teach on “Social Issues on Mountain Forestry in an International Context”. Also as visiting fellow at the Queens University of Belfast, Ireland under The Higher Education Link Program between Department of Women’s Studies, University of Dhaka and Queen’s University, Belfast. She has published in National & International Journals.

Dr Sadeka Halim has served as elected Syndicate member in the University of Dhaka. She was also member of Dhaka Teachers Association. She is currently member of Senate in the University of Dhaka. She is executive member of Bangladesh Sociological Association (BSA).

She has been researcher/consultant to DFID, UNDP, OXFAM (Canada), OXFAM GB, NORAD, IFAD, SDC, Save the Children UK, Save the Children Sweden Denmark, and USAID. She also has conducted a number of evaluation studies of which “Gender Mainstreaming of Policies of The World Bank, UNDP, FAO and the Line Ministries of GoB” and Needs Assessment and Costing of MDG-3 sponsored by UNDP and GED, Planning Commission, are the prominent among others. Also as among eighteen prominent educationists member of the National Education Policy Committee (2009).

She is sitting in several decisions and policy-making bodies at the University of Dhaka and several other public universities in Bangladesh. She also regularly appear’s in the electronic and print media as a resource person on various socio-political issues addressing particularly the interest of women, indigenous peoples, youth and on right to information. She has participated in many international conferences as resource person. She has traveled in almost 40 countries.