Overview

Department of Economics is one of the pioneer departments of Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh. Proudly passing 25th academic year in 2015 this department now encompasses 16 faculty members, more than 300 students in the undergraduate level as well as 50 in the graduate level and a couple in post graduate degree program. Department of Economics, SUST has historically been led by energetic pungent young economists. Though this has caused a lot of troubles to the department in the way of achieving its academic goals and having excellence in its programs, it has also earned some rare feet within a very short period of time. First to incorporate integrated course system in Bangladesh, first to introduce semester system in any non-technical subject in Bangladesh, first to introduce laboratory based training in quantitative economics in Bangladesh – continuation and growth of this historic strength is evidenced by the Department’s performance in successful acceptance of its students in higher degree programs in Economics by renowned universities worldwide as well as their employment in different prestigious positions, involvement in research and various achievements. University Grants Commission (UGC), Bangladesh has granted many research proposals by the faculty members in recent years. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) financed the research project on Food Poverty and Consequent Vulnerability of Children. International Finance Corporation (IFC) approved proposal on Investment Characteristics of Stone Quarries. These successes involved about two third of the Department’s regular faculty complement. Three of our faculty members, Dr. M A Munim Joarder, Dr. Sayan Chakrabarty and Monir Uddin Ahmed were awarded with Vice Chancellor Award for Research in the Social Sciences and Business category. Particularly, Dr. Joarder, Dr. Chakrabarty and Monir Uddin Ahmed recently have some wonderful publications in high ranked journals. Dr. Joarder is a recipient of Chancellor Commendation for his Doctoral Dissertation from Curtin University of Australia. Dr. Chakrabarty received Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. Some of our ex-colleagues, Dr. Ahmed Nasim Sydee, Dr. Bidyut Kumar Talukder, Dr. Sadaquat Junayed, Dr. M Syeed-Uz-Zaman Khan, Dr. M Murshed Chowdhury are now settled in some highly appreciable professions including teaching abroad. Dr. Rezai Karim Khondker served as local advisor of United Nations Development Program (UNDP). He also helped Dhaka School of Economics, a graduate research program initiative, in its launching of program for couple of years. Dr. Gour Gobinda Gowshami, once head of the department, has served as the acting Vice Chancellor of the North South University, Dhaka, the top most private university in Bangladesh. Dr. Chakrabarty has the experience of working in International Labor Organization (ILO). Dr. Joarder worked on an Aus-Aid funded research project under the supervision of School of Economics and Finance, Curtin University, in collaboration with Yogyakarta State University and different ministries of Indonesian government. Many of our ex-colleagues and students are teaching economics in different universities in Bangladesh, both public and private. Students of this department are even serving as top most government officials, researchers in public and private institutions, members in selection committees for first class officers, etc. as well as rendering numerous other activities that fuel our socio-economic development.