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dFin is governed by a diverse group of inventive enthusiasts with expertise in multiple sectors. They guide us towards our vision with their merits and experience.

Toufic Ahmad Choudhury PhD

Chief Adviser

Toufic Ahmad Choudhury PhD

Chief Adviser

Dr. Toufic Ahmad Choudhury is a renowned Bangladeshi economist, academic, and banking sector expert with significant contributions to financial sector development and policy research. He completed his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Economics from Jahangirnagar University and earned his PhD in Economics from Himachal Pradesh University under a Commonwealth scholarship.

He joined Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management in 1981 and later served as its Director General from 2010 to 2019, playing a key role in strengthening banking education, research, and professional training in Bangladesh.

Dr. Choudhury has held important governance and advisory roles, including serving as an Independent Director of Eastern Bank PLC and contributing to institutions such as PKSF and the Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development. He also served as General Secretary of the Bangladesh Economic Association.

An accomplished scholar with over 50 publications, he has contributed extensively to research on banking, risk management, and financial sector reforms. He also served as Chairperson of Dnet, supporting innovation and knowledge-based development initiatives.

Ananya Raihan PhD

Resource Person

Ananya Raihan PhD

Resource Person

Dr. Ananya Raihan is a pioneer of ICT for Development (ICT4D) in Bangladesh and a serial social entrepreneur. He is one of the Co-founder of Dnet, a social enterprise working at the intersection of technology, policy, and development to empower marginalized communities.

An Ashoka Fellow (2004) and recipient of the National ICT Award (2015), Dr. Raihan served as E-Governance Advisor to the Access to Information (a2i) Programme at the Prime Minister’s Office (2009–2012) and was a member of the Digital Bangladesh Task Forces (2007–2014).

Under his leadership, Dnet incubated and piloted landmark initiatives including Union Information and Services Centres (UISC), Smart Classroom, Aponjon digital health service, and the pilot of the national emergency service 999. He also founded MCC Limited (now NDE Infratech), Institute of Informatics and Development (IID), and iSocial Limited.

Dr. Raihan has contributed extensively to national ICT and development policies, including the National ICT Policy, National Telecom Policy, Right to Information Act, and Five-Year Plans. He currently serves as Co-Chair of Catalyst 2030, a global network advancing the SDGs, and remains actively engaged in strengthening Bangladesh’s startup and innovation ecosystem.

Dr. Shah Md. Ahsan Habib

Guest Resource Person

Dr. Shah Md. Ahsan Habib

Guest Resource Person

Dr. Shah Md. Ahsan Habib is a Professor Selection Grade at Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management [BIBM]. He obtained his PhD from India; and accomplished Post-Doctoral Fellowship from Syracuse University, USA under Senior Fulbright Scholarship. Having close to 30 years of professional experience in the banking industry, he has expertise and experience of delivering training and workshops on banking both at home and abroad. He has teaching experiences with the Institute of Business Administration [IBA] and Department of International Business of the University of Dhaka; East West University; Brac University and the University of Professionals. Dr. Ahsan has over 250 research papers/studies/publications/chapters in different national and international journals/books. He worked as a research consultant with several national and international organizations including the World Bank, ADB, UNDP, GIZ, ADB, OXFUM GB, CPD, InM, Bangladesh Bank, EU, DFID, etc. Dr. Ahsan is a columnist for the national dailies and published over 250 newspaper features in the national daily newspapers. He is a Member of the ICC Bangladesh Banking Commission; a Board Member of the Green Tech Foundation, Bangladesh; and a Trustee of the ‘Valor of Bangladesh’. He is an independent Director of IPDC Finance Ltd.

Dr. Habib is one of the Co-founders of Dnet. Before appointing as the Chairperson he served as Treasurer and Executive Chairperson of Dnet for a long period.

Sarwar Uddin Ahmed PhD

Guest Resource Person

Sarwar Uddin Ahmed PhD

Guest Resource Person

Professor Sarwar Uddin Ahmed currently serves as Professor and Dean of the School of Business at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB). With over 30 years of academic experience across Bangladesh, Japan, and the United States, he brings a strong international perspective to teaching and research.

He completed postdoctoral studies at the University of California, Berkeley (2018) and McNeese State University (2011-12) as a two-time recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Program. In addition, he was awarded the Japan Foundation Fellowship (2022–2023), where he specialized in ESG Risk Management.

Professor Ahmed is a prolific researcher, having authored more than 100 publications, including peer-reviewed journal articles, books, book chapters, research reports, and conference papers, contributing significantly to the fields of business, sustainability, and climate-related studies.

ATM Nesarul Hoque

Guest Resource Person

ATM Nesarul Hoque

Guest Resource Person

ATM Nesarul Hoque is currently acting as the Head of the MTB Trade Services Operations Division and MTB Financial Institutions Services Dept of Mutual Trust Bank PLC (MTB). In addition to his current responsibilities, Mr. Hoque is also acting as supervisor of MTB Offshore Banking Unit (Operations) and SWIFT operations. He started his career as a Management Trainee (MT) of Bank Asia Limited in 2005 and continued till joining the MTB i.e., January 17, 2011.

At the national level, Mr. Hoque was a focus group member of BFIU guidelines for the prevention of trade-based money laundering, a member of drafting BFIU’s uniform price template for banks, member of the research group of BIBM for any international trade-related issues. He is also a prominent facilitator of workshops organized by ICC Bangladesh, BIBM, ABB, BFEDA, etc.

At the international level, Mr. Hoque is a working group member of ISBP821E (ICC, Paris), a panel of experts’ member of ICC’s Documentary Instruments Dispute Resolution Expertise (DOCDEX) Services, Contributing Editor of Trade Service Updates (formally known as LC Monitor) and Editorial Advisory Member of Documentary Credit World (DCW), IIBLP, USA. He is also currently acting as a working group member of “ICC Technical Advisory Briefings (TAB), ICC, Paris.

Nesaul is also a member of the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT), USA, Commercial Letters of Credit Committee, Standby Letters of Credit/Guarantees Committee, and Trade Finance Committee.

He is a proud co-author of two international books titled “The Banker’s Guide to the Examination of Documents under Documentary Credits” and “Availability & Documentary Credits,” published by the Institute of International Banking Law and Practice (IIBLP) USA.

Mr. Hoque is also a prominent writer and contributor of over 35 international articles published in renowned international magazines like TSU, DCW, LC Views, and DC Insight, extensively pertinent to documentary credits. Mr. Hoque also conducts seminars, facilitates sessions, and joins as a panel member in various international programs.

Throughout the career, Mr. Hoque has achieved several professional certifications, including his Certificate for Documentary Credit Specialists (CDCS) in 2009, Certificate in International Trade and Finance (CITF) in 2011, Certificate for Specialists in Demand Guarantee (CSDG) in 2015, and Certificate in Trade Finance Compliance (CTFC) in 2020, from the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF), UK. He has also been awarded a Certified Trade Finance Professional (CTFP) by ICC Academy Certified Standby & Guarantee Professional (CSGP) by the Institute of International Banking Law and Practice (IIBLP) in 2017. He also obtained the CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist) credential in 2022 from the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS). He also successfully completed the Certificate in Digital Trade Strategy (CDTS), in 2024 from ICC Academy.

An MBA with a specialization in management from the University of Chittagong, the leading public university of Bangladesh, Mr. Hoque had also earned his BBA from the same institution.