8 September
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Honorable Minister, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives
Mr. Md Tazul Islam, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, is a prominent political personality, successful businessman and a reputed social worker of the country. He was born in 1955 in a respectable muslim family of the village Pomgaon of Monohorganj Upazila of Comilla district. He is the proud son of Alhaj Julfikar Ali and Mst. Anwara Begum.
He started his student life in Pomgaon Government Primary School. He completed secondary and higher secondary level education from Pomgaon High School and Nobab Foijunnesa Government College respectively. He completed his graduation and post-graduation from the University of Chittagong. Afterwards he obtained Diploma in Accounting & Finance and Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the prestigious Aston University and Southern University of London.
In his illustrious career he established many industries, insurance companies, banks and other institutions that are contributing in the overall development of the country. He is also associated with the endeavor of publishing a daily newspaper in order to mobilize general mass for adorning honesty, sincerity and patriotism.
Mr. Tazul Islam is actively involved in politics from his student life to build “Sonar Bangla”, a country free from poverty, hunger and all forms of discriminations & oppressions, which was the dream of Bongobondhu, the Father of the nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Motivated by the spirit of the Father of the nation, he participated the National Elections with the Symbol “Traditional Boat” (Nouka) and become Member of Parliament (MP) in the year 1996, 2008, 2014 and 2018. This time honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appointed him as Minister and has given the charge of Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. In the previous terms he performed as the member of parliamentary standing committee of the Ministry of Home, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Planning. He was also the president of the parliamentary standing committee of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. During his carrier as a businessman and politician, spanning over 40 years Mr. Tazul Islam garnered diversified experience particularly in dealing with public and private sector policy formulation.
He led Bangladesh Missions in United Nations, Asian Development Bank, JICA etc. in several times. He also visited USA, France, UK, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, China and many other countries for government and personal purposes.
Member of Parliament, India
Ms Agatha Kongkal Sangma has been a Member of Parliament since 2019.
Member of Parliament, Nepal
Mr Madhav Sapkota has been a Member of Parliament since 2022.
Deputy Head of Mission / Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh
Corinne Henchoz Pignani is the Deputy Head of Mission / Head of Cooperation in the Embassy of Switzerland to the Bangladesh, since August 2023. She has already served three years in Bangladesh as Deputy Head of Cooperation in the Embassy of Switzerland.
Mrs Henchoz Pignani has extensive experience in the field of diplomacy, international relations, business and trade, development cooperation, conflict transformation, state building/democratisation, human rights and gender. Prior to joining the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in 2008, she served as program officer, executive director and board member, in non-governmental organisations.
Her career took Mrs Henchoz Pignani across continents, with a focus on North Africa, Middle East and South-East Asia. Previous postings were in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, as Head of Political and Economic Affairs of the Embassy of Switzerland, and in the Arab Republic of Egypt as Head of Cooperation in the Embassy of Switzerland.
Mrs Henchoz Pignani achieved her first degree in theology and later on gained a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Country Director, WaterAid Bangladesh
Ms. Hasin Jahan, Country Director at WaterAid Bangladesh is a pioneer WASH professional. She is recognized as an influential WASH leader who promotes gender equality and youth empowerment. By training, she is a civil engineer from Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET) with specialization in Environmental Management from Loughborough University of Technology, UK. She is a passionate development worker with more than 25 years of experience.
Member, Standing Committee on Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Chang
Member, Standing Committee on Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Chang
Chairperson, Climate Parliament Bangladesh