Dr. Md. Tajul Islam
Professor and Head
Dr. Md. Tajul Islam is a distinguished economist, academic, and higher education administrator with extensive experience in economics education, academic leadership, university administration, and higher education policy. He has served as Professor and Head of the Department of Economics at Bangladesh University since 2018. Prior to joining Bangladesh University, he served as a Professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at Jahangirnagar University, where he contributed to teaching, research, academic administration, and institutional development over several decades.
Academic Experience
Dr. Tajul Islam has had a distinguished academic career spanning more than four decades. He served as Professor in the Department of Economics at Jahangirnagar University from 1994 to 2011, following his service as Associate Professor and Assistant Professor from 1981 to 1994. Since 2018, he has been serving as Professor and Head of the Department of Economics at Bangladesh University, contributing to teaching, academic planning, departmental development, and institutional leadership.
Professional Practice
Alongside his academic career, Dr. Tajul Islam has held a range of significant administrative and policy-making positions in the higher education sector. He served as Pro-Vice Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University from 2000 to 2002, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Chairman of the Department of Economics, and Chairman of the Higher Studies Committee. He has also served as a member of the Senate, Syndicate, and Academic Council of Jahangirnagar University.
At Bangladesh University, he has undertaken several senior administrative responsibilities, including serving as Head of the Department of Economics, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, and a member of the Syndicate and Academic Council. His leadership has contributed to academic governance, institutional development, and the advancement of higher education.
Professional Development
Dr. Tajul Islam was appointed as a Member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh from 2007 to 2011 by the President of Bangladesh. During his tenure, he played an important role in the development and implementation of higher education quality enhancement initiatives. He served as Convener for the preparation of the Development Project Proposal (DPP) for the Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP), participated in financial negotiations with the World Bank, and served as Team Leader for preparing the Operations Manual for the Academic Innovation Fund (AIF).
He also prepared proposal-writing materials and conducted training programs for university teachers across Bangladesh. His professional responsibilities further included participation in the Government of Bangladesh–World Bank Financial Negotiation Team concerning HEQEP financing.
His professional engagements have included administrative visits and exchange programs in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Indonesia, including visits sponsored by the World Bank. He also led delegations from Jahangirnagar University to the University of New South Wales, University of Sydney, and University of Canberra in Australia, and University Putra Malaysia. These visits focused on exchanging experiences in university administration, academic affairs, research, and financial management, as well as developing institutional collaboration and academic exchange programs.
Dr. Tajul Islam has also been actively involved in professional and academic organizations. He is a Life Member of the Bangladesh Economic Association and previously served as its Vice President and Assistant Secretary. He has also held leadership and executive responsibilities in the Bangladesh College & University Teachers’ Association, Jahangirnagar University Teachers’ Association, and Bangladesh University Teachers’ Federation. He was formerly a member of the American Economic Association.
Special Honour
In recognition of his academic and leadership credentials, Dr. Tajul Islam was elected to the three-member panel of Vice-Chancellor nominees by the Senate of Jahangirnagar University in 2000. He was subsequently appointed as Pro-Vice Chancellor of the university, marking a significant milestone in his academic leadership career.
Research Work
1. Poverty Elimination Efforts in Bangladesh: The Interactions of National and International Policies, 2025, Sponsoring Institution/Authority: Self
2. NGO Initiatives in the Education and Health Sector: A case Study, 2024, Sponsoring Institution/Authority: CDIP
3. Structural Injustice and Poverty, 2007, Sponsoring Institution/Authority: CPD
4. Input-Output study of Bangladesh, 2000, Sponsoring Institution/Authority: Self
5. Study on the Impact of Trade Liberalisation, 1998, Sponsoring Institution/Authority: World Bank
6. Disaster Management &Cyclone Shelter, 1994, Sponsoring Institution/Authority: World Bank & UNDP
7. Evaluation of Small-Scale Irrigation Project, 1989, Sponsoring Institution/Authority: Netherlands & Bangladesh Government
8. Demographic Study and Physical Planning for CHDP, 1987, Sponsoring Institution/Authority: Bangladesh Government
9. Preparation of Second Livestock Development Project, 1987, Sponsoring Institution/Authority: Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock, Govt. of Bangladesh (GOB)
10. Strengthening of Chittagong Hill-tract Development Board, 1986, Sponsoring Institution/Authority: Cabinet Division, GOB
11. Impact Survey of Chittagong Hill-tract Development Program, 1985-1986, Sponsoring Institution/Authority: Cabinet Division, GOB
12. Planning for Self-Reliance, 1984-1985, Sponsoring Institution/Authority: Ministry of Planning, GOB
13. Rural Industrial Survey, 1984, Sponsoring Institution/Authority: Ministry of Planning, GOB
14. Impact study of Training, 1981, Sponsoring Institution/Authority: Small & Cottage Industries Corporation, GOB
1. Ten Reform Proposals for Future Bangladesh, – (in Bengla),- Samaj, Arthanity and Rashtra. No.14, Dec, 2025, Samaj Gobeshona Kendra
2. Bangladesh and the Bretton Woods: Fifty Years of Poverty Eradication (in Bengla),- Samaj, Arthanity and Rashtra. No.12, April, 2024, Samaj Gobeshona Kendra
3. Democracy in the Soviet Union: An Inquiry into the Causes of Failure (In Bangla)- Samaj, Arthanity and Rashtra. No.10, October 2017
4. The First Industrial Revolution, (In Bangla), Anthology of Articles in Economics. The National University, Bangladesh
5. Approach of the International Development Community towards Poverty Eradication in Bangladesh. CPD-SACEPS Monograph Series 7, 2011
6. Comparing Input-Output Tables of Bangladesh: Some methodological and practical aspects – The Jahangirnagar Review, Part II, vol. xxv – xxvi, 2001-2002
7. Cyclone shelters in Bangladesh: An alternative approach. – The Jahangirnagar Economic Review, vol. 8,, no. 1, 1993
8. Multipurpose Cyclone Shelter Programme: An Economic Analysis – Co-author, BUET, BIDS, 1992
9. Cost-effectiveness Analysis: Some methodological issues evaluating cyclone shelter projects – The Jahangirnagar Review, Part II, Social Science
10. Aid-dependence of consumption. A sector-level analysis – Co-author – From Aid Dependence to Self-Reliance, Ed. Rehman Sobhan, BIDS-UPL, 1990
11. Debt Burden and Terms of External Borrowing – Co-author – From Aid Dependence to Self-Reliance, Ed. Rehman Sobhan, BIDS-UPL, 1990
12. The Costs of Aid: An Analysis of Price Discrimination in Tied and Untied Imports – Co-author – From Aid Dependence to Self-Reliance, Ed. Rehman Sobhan, BIDS-UPL, 1990
13. Foreign Aid and Domestic Resource Mobilisation in Bangladesh – Co-author – The Bangladesh Development Studies, vol. xvi, no. 2, 1988
14. In the search for path alternative: A proposed development alternative to Bangladesh (in Bengali). – Samaj Arthanity O Rashtra, Dhaka, 1988
15. Mid-term evaluation of upland settlement component of Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Project – Co-author – A study conducted for the Cabinet Division, Government of Bangladesh, 1987
16. The State of Agriculture in Bangladesh (in Bengali) – A Critical Analysis of the Economic Crisis of Bangladesh, Ed. Dr. A. Gafur, Muktadhara, Dhaka, 1987
17. East Bengal: Features of Economic Development 1947-1971, S.S. Baranov – Translation in Bengali from Russian Language, Dhaka, 1986
18. External Dependence of Bangladesh. A study of extent & intensity (in Bengali) – Samaj Arthanity o Rashtra, Dhaka, vol. III, 1986
19. Impact Survey of the UNICEF Assisted Multi Sectorial and Community Development Programmes of Chittagong Hill Tracts Region – Co-author – A study conducted for the Cabinet Division, Government of Bangladesh, 1986.
20. Some methodological issues in studying the economics of underdeveloped countries (in Bengali). – Samaj Arthanity o Rashtra, Dhaka, vol. I, no. 1, 1984
21. Use of growth models in the planning of developing countries. (In Russian) – Research monograph; Moscow State University, USSR, 1980
22. Problems of Optimum Planning in Underdeveloped Countries. (In Russian) – Paper presented at the conference of Plekhanov Institute, Moscow, USSR, 1975
23. Use of growth models for Determining Macro Economic Indicators of Economic Development in Developing Countries (with special reference to the Countries of South Asia) (in Russian) – PhD. Thesis, Moscow State University, USSR, 1980.
