Introduction
Enamul Islam Gazi is a Bangladeshi scholar, diplomat, and public administrator whose career has spanned academia, civil service, and international diplomacy. Born in the late 1950s, Gazi pursued advanced studies in economics and international relations, later applying his expertise to the formulation of Bangladesh's economic policy and its diplomatic engagements. Over several decades, he has held key positions in the Ministry of Finance, the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, and as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. His contributions to development economics, foreign policy analysis, and bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom are widely cited in academic and policy circles.
Early Life and Education
Family and Upbringing
Enamul Islam Gazi was born on 12 March 1958 in the village of Kalyanpur, within the Sunamganj District of what was then East Pakistan. His parents were teachers in the local primary school, and the intellectual environment of his childhood fostered an early interest in the social sciences. The family’s modest means did not deter Gazi; he balanced his schooling with part-time work in the village market, earning enough to support his education.
Primary and Secondary Education
Gazi attended the government high school in Sunamganj, where he excelled in mathematics and literature. His academic record earned him a scholarship to the prestigious Dhaka College for his higher secondary studies. During his time there, he became involved in student forums discussing the political and economic challenges facing the newly independent Bangladesh.
University Studies
In 1976, Gazi entered the University of Dhaka’s Department of Economics. He completed his bachelor's degree with honors in 1979, graduating in the top ten percent of his cohort. He remained at the university for a master's degree, focusing on development economics under the mentorship of Professor Ahmed Karim. In 1982, he received a Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue a Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Oxford, where he studied under prominent development economists. His doctoral thesis, “Micro‑level Determinants of Rural Household Income in South Asia,” was published in 1985 and later incorporated into comparative studies of rural development.
Post‑Doctoral Training
After completing his Ph.D., Gazi returned to Bangladesh and undertook a post‑doctoral fellowship at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS). There, he conducted research on agricultural productivity and its implications for national food security. The fellowship, funded by the World Bank, enabled him to collaborate with economists from the United States and Canada, broadening his exposure to international development practices.
Academic Career
Teaching and Research at BIDS
From 1987 to 1992, Gazi served as a senior researcher at BIDS, where he coordinated several projects on land reform, microfinance, and rural credit. His work contributed to policy recommendations that were adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture. During this period, he also lectured part‑time at the University of Dhaka’s School of Economics, supervising graduate students and delivering courses on development theory and applied econometrics.
Publication Record
Gazi has authored or co‑authored more than 70 peer‑reviewed journal articles, 15 monographs, and numerous policy briefs. Key publications include:
- "Land Tenure Systems and Agricultural Productivity in Bangladesh" (Journal of Rural Development, 1993)
- "Microcredit and Poverty Alleviation: A Case Study of Rural Bangladesh" (World Development, 1996)
- "The Role of Informal Finance in Rural Bangladesh" (Asian Development Review, 2001)
- "Bangladesh’s Foreign Policy Strategy in the Post‑Kashmir Context" (International Affairs, 2008)
- "Globalization and the Bangladeshi Economy" (Economic Studies, 2012)
His research has been cited over 2,500 times, indicating significant influence in both academic and policy circles.
Diplomatic Career
Entry into Civil Service
In 1992, Gazi joined the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) in the Ministry of Finance, drawn by an interest in applying economic theory to national budgeting. He was selected through a competitive examination and trained at the Civil Service Academy. His first posting was as Assistant Secretary in the Budget Division, where he was responsible for compiling the annual national budget.
Roles in the Ministry of Finance
Over the next decade, Gazi progressed through various positions:
- Deputy Secretary, Fiscal Policy Branch (1995–1998)
- Additional Secretary, External Affairs (1998–2001)
- Secretary, Budget Division (2001–2004)
As Secretary, he oversaw the formulation of the national budget, implemented fiscal reforms aimed at reducing the fiscal deficit, and negotiated with international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank. His work contributed to a series of balanced budgets in the early 2000s, reducing public debt relative to GDP.
High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
In 2008, Gazi was appointed Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, a position he held until 2012. His tenure coincided with significant events such as the 2010 UK General Election, the 2011 UK riots, and the 2011–2012 global financial crisis. Gazi’s diplomatic activities included:
- Strengthening bilateral trade agreements, particularly in the textile sector.
- Advocating for the rights of Bangladeshi migrant workers in the UK, resulting in new labor protections.
- Facilitating academic exchanges between UK universities and Bangladesh’s Institute of Development Studies.
- Participating in the Commonwealth’s initiatives on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
During his tenure, the UK’s investment in Bangladesh increased by 12%, and the UK–Bangladesh trade volume grew from $2.5 billion to $3.2 billion. Gazi was recognized by the UK Foreign Office for his efforts in promoting cultural diplomacy, with a commendation issued in 2012.
Post‑Diplomatic Contributions
After concluding his term as High Commissioner, Gazi returned to Bangladesh and took up the position of Director General at the Institute of Public Administration. He led initiatives on public sector reform, focusing on transparency, accountability, and e‑government services. In 2015, he was appointed to the National Development Council, advising the government on long‑term strategic planning for economic growth and social development.
Policy Contributions
Economic Policy and Fiscal Reform
Gazi’s influence on fiscal policy is evidenced by his role in the 2001–2004 balanced budget reforms. He championed a policy framework that emphasized tax revenue optimization, expenditure rationalization, and debt management. The framework led to the introduction of a progressive income tax system and the reduction of subsidies in the energy sector, which contributed to a 3% annual increase in the country’s fiscal sustainability.
Foreign Policy Strategy
Gazi’s academic work on Bangladesh’s foreign policy strategy was applied in practice during his tenure in the Ministry of Finance and as High Commissioner. He advocated for a balanced approach to multilateral engagement, strengthening ties with the Commonwealth while expanding relations with emerging economies in Southeast Asia. His policy memorandum, “Bangladesh’s Global Engagement in the 21st Century,” guided the Ministry’s diplomatic outreach strategy in 2004.
Social Development Initiatives
During his time at BIDS, Gazi led research projects on microcredit and rural development. The findings informed the government’s Microfinance Development Program, which expanded loan coverage to over 1.5 million households by 2010. Gazi’s work on informal finance also helped shape regulations to protect rural borrowers from predatory lending practices.
Written Works
Monographs and Edited Volumes
Gazi has authored several influential books, including:
- “Rural Development in South Asia: Policies and Practices” (1998) – a comprehensive analysis of land reforms, microcredit, and rural entrepreneurship.
- “Bangladesh’s Economy: Growth, Challenges, and Prospects” (2005) – a synthesis of macroeconomic trends and policy responses.
- “Diplomacy in the 21st Century: Lessons from South Asia” (2011) – an edited volume featuring essays by policymakers and scholars.
- “The United Kingdom and Bangladesh: A Historical Perspective” (2015) – a detailed account of bilateral relations over the past century.
He also co‑edited “Globalization and Development: A South Asian View” (2013), which provided a platform for comparative studies across the region.
Journal Articles
Gazi’s journal articles have covered a range of topics, including fiscal policy, international trade, labor migration, and climate change. Notable pieces include:
- “Fiscal Decentralization in Bangladesh: Prospects and Pitfalls” (Journal of Economic Policy, 2002)
- “Labour Migration and Remittances: An Empirical Study of Bangladeshi Workers in the UK” (International Migration Review, 2009)
- “Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Coastal Bangladesh” (Environmental Development, 2014)
These works have been cited in policy briefs by the World Bank, IMF, and Asian Development Bank, underscoring their practical relevance.
Personal Life
Enamul Islam Gazi is married to Ayesha Rahman, a former civil servant and current lecturer in political science at the University of Dhaka. They have two children: a son, Farhan Gazi, who is an economist at the Asian Development Bank, and a daughter, Sara Gazi, who works as a journalist in the United Kingdom. Gazi is fluent in Bengali, English, and Urdu, and he has a keen interest in classical music and literature.
Legacy and Impact
Gazi’s career illustrates a synthesis of academic rigor and practical policy implementation. His contributions to development economics have influenced both scholarly discourse and national policy. The fiscal reforms he helped design have contributed to the stability of Bangladesh’s public finances, while his diplomatic service strengthened bilateral ties and expanded economic opportunities.
Academically, his research on rural development and microfinance has become a reference point for scholars studying similar contexts in South Asia. Politically, his work on foreign policy strategy has informed Bangladesh’s approach to multilateral engagement, especially within the Commonwealth and among emerging economies.
In recognition of his service, Gazi has received numerous awards, including the Bangladesh Civil Service Award (2004), the Commonwealth Diplomatic Service Medal (2012), and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Fellowship (1999). His name appears in the “Who’s Who of Bangladesh” and the “International Who’s Who of Diplomats” editions.
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