Before departing for the Humphrey Program, Mr. Shafiqul Islam served for three years as a Deputy Chief in the Textile Cell of the Ministry of Commerce of Bangladesh, where he assisted in facilitating Bangladesh's export-oriented apparel industry. Mr. Islam first joined the Bangladesh Civil Service in 1986 under the Ministry of Commerce, the nation’s trade regulator. Since that time, he has worked in different capacities with trade-related departments including the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports, the Export Promotion Bureau, and the International Trade Organization Wing, before joining the Textile Cell.

Mr. Islam holds a master’s degree in economics from Jahangirnagar University in Dhaka and also a master’s in development economics from the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. For his outstanding academic performance in his Graduate Diploma in Economic Development, the Australian National University awarded him the prestigious Helen Hughes prize. 

During his Humphrey year, Mr. Islam will broaden his knowledge and experience regarding the decision-making mechanisms in the U.S. He is particularly interested in trade affairs and learning what issues or concerns within the U.S. impact trade flow between U.S. and foreign markets. He will focus his study on internet marketing, investments, and entrepreneurship management.