Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad, PhD
Professor, Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, DUET, Gazipur
Professor Md Abdur Rahman Forhad serves in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET), Gazipur. Dr. Forhad obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Economics from Northern Illinois University, USA. He also obtained a Master of Arts in Economics (MA in Economics) from Dalhousie University, Canada, and a Master of Social Science in Economics (MSS in Economics) from the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. He secured first position in his MSS and fifth position in his BSS in Economics among his peers. He received the John and Lili La Tourette PhD Dissertation Fellowship in Economics from Northern Illinois University during 2018–2019. He also received competitive scholarships from Northern Illinois University, Dalhousie University, and Saint Mary's University in Canada. Dr. Forhad believes that quality education related to real-life problems is a significant issue in reducing the gaps between developing and developed countries. His teaching philosophy empowers students to identify real-life problems and feasible solutions given resource constraints. Similarly, his research philosophy aims to identify the root causes of education-related issues and offer the most feasible policy prescriptions to help developing countries achieve the standards of developed countries. In most cases, he has worked on the education policy of Bangladesh, which serves as a case study for developing countries. In recent times, Dr. Forhad has become fascinated with environmental education policy, which integrates environmental knowledge and sustainability principles into educational systems to support ecological stewardship and sustainable development. He is working to explore how climate change education is crucial for raising awareness, understanding, and action on this pressing global issue. Dr. Forhad is also keen to examine global financial issues and offer solutions using advanced quantitative techniques. Dr. Forhad has published more than 32 research articles in international journals, most of which are listed in the Web of Science and Scopus indexes. He also serves on the editorial boards of various academic journals. In addition, he advises on policy prescriptions at national and international stages in designing education and environment policy frameworks. Dr. Forhad regularly writes newspaper commentary articles on national issues, including for the Daily Prothom Alo and the Daily Business Standard.
| Mobile: | +88 018 1551 2345 |
| Email: | forhad@duet.ac.bd |
| Office: | 0249274034-53, 5167 |
| Address: | Room NO. 10009, New Academic Building, |
| Field of interest: | Education Policy, Public Policy, Development Economics, and Microeconometrics. |
| Field of specialization: | Migration Policy, Financial Economics, Energy Economics, and Environmental Economics |
Degrees Obtained (Starting from Recent Degrees):
| # | Degree | Institute | Year | Discipline & Field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PhD | Northern Illinois University, USA | 2019 | Economics |
| 2 | MA | Northern Illinois University, USA | 2016 | Economics |
| 3 | MA | Dalhousie University, Canada | 2012 | Economics |
| 4 | MSS | University of Chittagong, Bangladesh | 2008 | Economics |
| 5 | BSS | University of Chittagong, Bangladesh | 2007 | Economics |
Employment Record (Starting from Present Position):
| # | Designation | Institute | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professor | Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology | 2022-07-24 : Continue |
| 2 | Associate Professor of Economics | Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology | 2020-09-24 : 2022-07-24 |
| 3 | Assistant Professor of Economics | Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology | 2012-09-20 : 2020-09-24 |
| 4 | Lecturer in Economics | Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology | 2009-05-09 : 2012-09-20 |
Additional Charges:
| # | Designation | Faculty/ Department/ Institute/ Office | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Librarian (In-Charge) | Central Library | 2025-03-26 : Continue |
| 2 | Head | HSS | 2022-10-24 : 2024-10-24 |
Consultancy and Sponsored Research Activities:
| # | Title | Organization | Role | Fund | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Tracer Study of the CEMBA/CEMPA program. | Commonwealth of Learning, Vancouver, Canada | Principal Research Consultant | collaborative study | 2020-2021 |
| 2 | Evaluation of Forest Ecosystem Service on-line Database for Forest Department of Bangladesh | Community Partnerships to Strengthen Sustainable Development Program (Compass) affiliated with US Forest Service, International Programs, United States Department of Agriculture | Environmental Economist | collaborative study | 2020-2021 |
| 3 | Impact of private polytechnic institutes on higher engineering education | University Grants Commission, Bangladesh | Project Director | UGC standard | 2021-2022 |
| 4 | Anondomela for Women’s Economic Empowerment: Assessing Needs and Priorities of Women Entrepreneurs in E-Commerce | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | Economist | collaborative study | 2021-2022 |
| 5 | Impact of Smart Devices on Women Entrepreneurs in E-Commerce | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | Economist | collaborative study | 2021-2022 |
| 6 | Baseline Study on Impact of Smart Devices on Women Entrepreneurs in E-Commerce | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | Economist | collaborative study | 2021-2022 |
| 7 | Impact Analysis of Rural Roads and Waterways under Second Rural Transport Improvement Project (RTIP-II) | The World Bank | Infrastructural Specialist | Collaboration with Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, financed by the World Bank | 2022 |
| 8 | Endline Survey Design and Implementation for Rural Roads and Waterways under Second Rural Transport Improvement Project (RTIP-II | The World Bank | Infrastructural Specialist | Collaboration with Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, financed by the World Bank | 2022 |
| 9 | Recreational ecosystem services valuation: A case Study of Gazipur Sal Forest Area, Bangladesh | Community Partnerships to Strengthen Sustainable Development Program (Compass) affiliated with US Forest Service, International Programs, United States Department of Agriculture | Principle Investigator | collaborative | 2022-2023 |
| 10 | Vulnerabilities and Social Protection Needs of Artisanal Fisher Communities in the Coastal Areas of Southwestern Bangladesh | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | Economists | Collaborative | 2023 |
| 11 | Socioeconomic Exclusions of the Third Gender Population in Bangladesh | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | Economist | Collaborative | 2023-2024 |
| 12 | Waterfall management of Baraiadhala National Park, Chattogram: risks, challenges and prospects | Bangladesh Forest Division | Environmental Economist | collaborative | 2024 |
| 13 | Formulation of Five Master Plans for five eco- parks along with digital topographic survey and biodiversity survey | Bangladesh Forest Division | Environmental Economist | collaborative | 2024 |
| 14 | User Satisfaction Survey (USS)-2024 | The World Bank | Economist | Collaborative | 2024 |
| 15 | A Laboratory Experiment on Artificial Intelligence-driven Tools in Higher Education: Paradigm Transformation and Academic Enhancement | The World Bank and Government of Bangladesh | SPM | UGC-HEAT project standard | 2025-2028 |
| 16 | Evaluating the Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Program (SICIP) | Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Finance Division, Ministry of Finance, Government of Bangladesh | Research Analyst (Analytical Report Lead) | Independent Consultant | 2026 |
Publications (Book Chapter):
| # | Type | Year | Title | Authors | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Book Chapter | 2025 | Internationalization of ASEAN Higher Education: An Emigrational Transit or Destination for Students from Southern Asia | Gazi Mahabubul Alam and Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad | The Palgrave Handbook of Indian Migrants to South East Asia |
Publications (Journal):
| # | Year | Title | Authors | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026 | A global-scale examination of associations between education and climate vulnerability and adaptability | Md Abdur Rahman Forhad and Gazi Mahabubul Alam | The Journal of Environmental Education |
| 2 | 2025 | Valuing recreational ecosystem services: a case study for Sal (Shorea robusta) forests | Muhammad Abdur Rahman Forhad, Naeema Jihan Zinia, Carlos Muñoz-Piña, Nasim Aziz, Mohammad Nur Nobi | Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management |
| 3 | 2025 | The Impact of Remittance on Financial Development in the Recipient Countries: A Comparison Between Highly- and Low-skilled Migrants | Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad and Gazi Mahabubul Alam | Migration and Development |
| 4 | 2024 | Impact of private tutoring for university admission and subsequently on students' academic results | Gazi Mahabubul Alam and Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad | Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education |
| 5 | 2024 | Current versus forward-looking oil shocks and the asymmetric response of precious metal returns: evidence from daily and weekly data | Md Rafayet Alam and Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad | Applied Economics |
| 6 | 2024 | The asymmetric impact of oil market shocks on the time-varying connectedness and spillover of financial stress | Md Rafayet Alam and Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad | Applied Economics |
| 7 | 2024 | Crude oil futures prices and foreign exchange markets | Md Rafayet Alam, Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad, Mohammed Syedul Islam & Joshua Lawson | Applied Economics |
| 8 | 2023 | The Impact of Accessing Education via Smartphone Technology on Education Disparity—A Sustainable Education Perspective | Gazi Mahabubul Alam and Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad | Sustainability |
| 9 | 2023 | Reverses in Gender Salary Gaps Among STEM Faculty: Evidence from Mean and Quantile Decompositions | Virginia Wilcox and Md Abdur Rahman Forhad | B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy |
| 10 | 2023 | Educational achievements and export earnings: a comparison between leader and follower countries | Gazi Mahabubul Alam and Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad | Journal paper, volume and issues number are yet to publish |
| 11 | 2023 | Does a vocational education program prepare competent graduates for further academic programs? | Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad, Gazi Mahabubul Alam, Afruza Haque, Md. Sawgat Khan, Mamunur Rashid | Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning |
| 12 | 2023 | Effect of Remittance-Sending Countries’ Type on Financial Development in Recipient Countries: Can the Pandemic Make a Difference? | Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad, Gazi Mahabubul Alam, Md. Toabur Rahman | Journal of Risk and Financial Management |
| 13 | 2022 | Sustainable Development in Higher Engineering Education: A Comparative Study between Private and Public Polytechnics | Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad,Gazi Mahabubul Alam, Mamunur Rashid, Afruza Haque, and Md. Sawgat Khan | Sustainability |
| 14 | 2022 | Consumption- and speculation-led change in demand for oil and the response of base metals: A Markov-switching approach | Md Rafayet Alam, Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad, Nilesh B. Sah | Finance Research Letters |
| 15 | 2022 | Impact of oil demand and supply shocks on food-grain prices: a Markov-switching approach | Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad and Md Rafayet Alam | Applied Economics |
| 16 | 2021 | What makes a difference for further advancement of engineers: socioeconomic background or education programs? | Gazi Mahabubul Alam, Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad | Higher Education |
| 17 | 2021 | Clustering secondary education and the focus on science: Impacts on higher education and the job market in Bangladesh | Gazi Mahabubul Alam and Md Abdur Rahman Forhad | Comparative Education Review |
| 18 | 2021 | Impact of oil-demand and oil-supply shocks on the exchange rates of selected Southeast Asian countries | Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad and Md. Rafayet Alam | Global Finance Journal |
| 19 | 2021 | Minimum Dropout Age and Juvenile Crime in the United States | Forhad, Md. Abdur Rahman | Eastern Economic Journal |
| 20 | 2021 | Remittance and education in recipient countries: an interdependence | Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad and Gazi Mahabubul Alam | International Journal of Education Economics and Development |
| 21 | 2020 | Impact of introducing a customer services component during secondary school education to improve small and medium-sized enterprises: a case study in Bangladesh | Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad, Md. Rajibul Ahsan, Gazi Mahabubul Alam | Society and Business Review |
| 22 | 2020 | Can education as an ‘International Commodity’ be the backbone or cane of a nation in the era of fourth industrial revolution? - A Comparative study | Gazi Mahabubul Alam, Abdur Rahman Forhad, and Ismi Arif Ismail | Technological Forecasting and Social Change |
| 23 | 2020 | Relationship between MDA and juvenile crime and its impact on socioeconomic development – a theoretical framework for business and economics | Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad and Gazi Mahabubul Alam | Society and Business Review |
| 24 | 2020 | Does the private university sector exploit sustainable residential life in the name of supporting the fourth industrial revolution? | Gazi Mahabubul Alam, Abul Quasem Al-Amin, Abdur Rahman Forhad, Muhammad Shujaat Mubarakak | Technological Forecasting and Social Change |
| 25 | 2020 | Sustainable Achievement of Selective KPIs of Different Players in Education: An Update for Policy Discourse | Gazi Mahabubul Alam and Abdur Rahman Forhad | International Journal of Learning and Change |
| 26 | 2020 | Education Quality Comparing between Offcial Measurement Scale and Inter- counterparts’ Perception: A New Horizon for Learning Assessment | Gazi Mahabubul Alam and Abdur Rahman Forhad | International Journal of Learning and Change |
| 27 | 2020 | Roadblocks to University Education for Diploma Engineers in Bangladesh | Gazi Mahabubul Alam and Abdur Rahman Forhad | Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning |
| 28 | 2019 | Do Remittances Cause Dutch Disease in the Recipient Country? | Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad | Journal of International and Global Economic Studies |
| 29 | 2017 | Monetary Policy Transmission over the Real Sector of Bangladesh Economy: An SVAR Approach | Abdur Rahman Forhad, Ghassam A Homafair, and Abul Hasnat Muhammed Salimullah | Economia Internazionale / International Economics |
| 30 | 2014 | How Many Currencies in SAARC Countries?: A Multivariate Structural VAR Approach | Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad | The Journal of Developing Areas |
| 31 | 2013 | Towards a Common Currency in SAARC Countries: An Empirical Analysis | Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad | Jahangirnagar Economic Review |
| 32 | 2011 | Testing Volatility Clustering in Stock Index return in Bangladesh | Md. Amirul Islam and Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad | Asian Profile |
| 33 | 2010 | Measuring Stock Market Volatility: An Experience from Chittagong Stock Exchange | Md. Abdur Rahman Forhad and Md. Amirul Islam | Bangladesh Journal of Political Economy |
List of Conferences, Short-term Course etc. Organized or Participated):
| # | Event | Organizer | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valuing recreational ecosystem services: A Case Study for Sal Forest Area (Shorea robusta) in Bangladesh | American Economic Association | Presenter | 2022 |
Course Conducted:
| # | Programme | Course No | Course Title | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MPhil | HSS 6203 | Econometric Methods | 2025 |
| 2 | MPhil | HSS 6001 | Research Methodology | 2025 |
| 3 | B.Sc. | HSS 3205 | Engineering Economics and Accounting | 2025 |