Fakhruddin Ahmed

Fakhruddin Ahmed (born 1 May 1940) is a Bangladeshi economist and civil servant who served as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's caretaker government from January 2007 to December 2008. He previously served as the Governor of Bangladesh Bank (central bank) from 1992 to 1998. Born in Faridpur district, Ahmed studied at the University of Dhaka and later at Princeton University in the United States. He joined the World Bank in 1976 and spent over two decades there, working on development projects across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. As Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Ahmed was credited with modernizing Bangladesh's banking system, strengthening financial regulation, and promoting financial inclusion. He was named Central Bank Governor of the Year by the Journal of Central Banking in 1996. In January 2007, amid political turmoil, Fakhruddin Ahmed was appointed Chief Adviser of a caretaker government tasked with organizing free and fair elections. His government focused on anti-corruption drives, institutional reforms, and restoring law and order. He successfully organized the December 2008 elections, which were widely regarded as free and fair, and handed power to the elected government.