Mr. A K M Mizanur Rahman FCA is a distinguished Independent Director at Standard Ceramic Industries Ltd. He also served as an Independent Director for several prominent organizations including Padma Islami Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Beach Hatchery Ltd. and Gemini Sea Food Ltd.

Mr. Rahman completed his Chartered Accountancy qualifications from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) in 1983 and earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Dhaka in 1975.

He is the Managing Partner of Shafiq Mizan Rahman & Augustine, Chartered Accountants. With a career spanning decades, he has earned a reputation as a seasoned professional in the field of accounting and corporate governance.

In addition to his professional career, Mr. Rahman has been deeply involved in various social and professional organizations. He is a life member of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, and the Bangladesh Lions Foundation. Furthermore, he is an active member of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Mr. Rahman attended numerous seminars and conferences both domestically and internationally. He served as the Chairman of the Dhaka Regional Council of ICAB in 1997 and held the position of Past President of the Lions Club of Dhaka Shahabagh. He has also been an International Director & Chairman, Bangladesh National Chapter of OISCA International, Japan & Director of Sadaran Bima Corporation (An 100% state owned organisation).

His distinguished leadership, strategic vision, and enduring contributions to the field have not only advanced the standards of the accounting profession but have also earned him widespread recognition and deep respect among his peers, regulators, and the broader business community.

On March 23, 2025, Iqbal Ahmed OBE DBA was re-elected as Chairman of NRB Bank PLC by six independent government-appointed directors.

Mr. Ahmed also serves as Chairman and Chief Executive of the Seamark Group of Companies and IBCO Food Industries Limited.

Widely recognized as one of the most successful British-Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in the UK, Iqbal Ahmed was born in Sylhet and moved to Britain during the Bangladesh Liberation War. His remarkable journey, from a modest family-run business to international business leadership continues to inspire generations across both nations.

In 1976, he founded Iqbal Bros (now IBCO Limited), which later gave rise to Seamark, a company that reflected the scale and ambition of his growing empire in the importing and processing of frozen seafood and perishable products.

Under his visionary leadership, Seamark flourished, earning a string of prestigious accolades in the UK, including the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement and the inaugural Business in Europe Award and multiple Gold Trophy Awards from the Government of Bangladesh.

Driven by a deep commitment to empowering the Bangladeshi diaspora, Mr. Ahmed envisioned a financial institution tailored for Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs). This vision materialised in the form of NRB Bank, one of his most significant achievements. He successfully united 46 NRB entrepreneur-investors from around the globe to invest in Bangladesh, fostering economic growth by facilitating inward and outward investments. The bank also plays a pivotal role in helping Bangladeshi enterprises access international markets, thereby boosting foreign remittance inflows and strengthening the national economy.

As he embarks on his second term as Chairman of NRB Bank, his commitment to digital transformation will position the bank at the forefront of modern banking, delivering smarter and more inclusive financial solutions to customers across the region.

His leadership will continue to shape the bank’s future, ensuring it plays a vital role in strengthening Bangladesh’s economy and connecting its diaspora to opportunities to invest in the country.

Despite his demanding schedule, Mr. Ahmed remains deeply committed to philanthropy, actively supporting charitable initiatives in both the UK and Bangladesh. His contributions span education, healthcare and community development. In Sylhet, he founded the Burunga Iqbal Ahmed High School and College, providing quality education to over 1,600 students.

In the UK, he has raised funds for major healthcare causes including the Manchester Children’s Hospital Appeal, the Royal Manchester Eye Hospital Appeal, Christie’s Cancer Appeal and Oldham Royal Hospital MRI Scanner Appeal. He personally oversees his companies’ CSR efforts and chairs the Iqbal Bros Foundation, a UK-registered charity that has supported Rohingya refugees and funded scholarships at Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge University and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Mr Ahmed also plays a key role in promoting entrepreneurship. He is Chairman of UKBCCI (UK Bangladesh Catalyst of Commerce & Industry), an organization that fosters trade, investment and collaboration between business communities in the UK and Bangladesh.

He participated in Mosaic, an initiative under the Prince’s Trust “Seeing is Believing” programme, attending events and engaging in select activities. While no longer actively involved, his early support reflected his interest in mentoring and community upliftment.

In addition, he founded and chairs the Masjid ul Aqsa Islamic Centre in Oldham, a mosque and community hub offering prayer facilities, religious education and cultural programs.

Mr Ahmed received his highest personal recognition when he was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s Honours List of 2001 for his outstanding services to international trade. He has also been recognised as a Commercially Important Person (CIP) in Bangladesh since 2009, in acknowledgment of his contributions to the country’s economic development.

In July 2017, Iqbal Ahmed was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration by Manchester Metropolitan University, recognising his outstanding achievements in business and his significant contributions to the economic development and regeneration of both Manchester and Bangladesh.

Iqbal Ahmed has served on numerous UK and international advisory bodies, including SAAG (Southern Asian Advisory Group), the Competitiveness Council, BOND (UKTI), MOSAIC, New East Manchester, Ethical Trading Champions’ Group, Catalyst UK and Bridge2Bangladesh (B2B). He was appointed advisor to the Board of Trade by Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP to support British exports and international trade missions. In 2007, he was invited by then-Chancellor George Osborne to join the New Enterprise Council, a think tank focused on entrepreneurship and investment.

He is a sought-after speaker at global forums and universities, having presented at the Bangladesh Investment Summits (London, Singapore), World Islamic Economic Forum (Dubai), Entrepreneurs Festival (Manchester) and institutions such as University of Dhaka, UCL and Manchester University Business School.

In 2018, he was personally invited by Michael Bloomberg to be a founding delegate at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore and later attended the second forum in Beijing in 2019.

In February 2017, Iqbal Ahmed published his autobiography, King Prawn – Dreaming Big and Making It Happen, which chronicles his journey from humble beginnings to international business success. His second book, Sylhet to Manchester, was launched at the Dhaka Book Fair in February 2020.

Mr Ahmed is currently involved in the farming of Vannamei shrimp in Bangladesh, a high-yielding species widely cultivated across the globe. He personally oversaw the development of the infrastructure from its inception, ensuring sustainable and environmentally responsible practices.

The project got off the ground with the support of CPF Thailand, a leading aquaculture company known for its expertise in shrimp fry and feed production. Driven by his passion for innovation and economic growth, Iqbal Ahmed played a key role in rallying government support to approve commercial farming of Vannamei shrimp, a move expected to contribute billions to Bangladesh’s economy through increased exports and job creation.

Iqbal Ahmed is married to Salma and they have three children, all of whom are professionally successful.

Ferdous Ara Begum is the former Additional Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh and former DG of Bangladesh Television. She is a distinguished Gender and Ageing issues specialist in Bangladesh.

As a former civil servant, she was the first woman to lead Bangladesh Television as Director General, and also the first female Commissioner of Taxes in Bangladesh. She served as a Board Member of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Grameen Bank for six years.

Ferdous Ara Begum just concluded her nine years tenure as the member of the Board of Trustees of HelpAge International (2016 to 2025). She is also the former member of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW - 2007-2010) at the UN.

As a CEDAW Committee Member she worked to realize equality between men and women through ensuring women’s equal excess to and equal opportunity in every aspect of their life including public and political life. She took the lead role to formulate the General Recommendation on protection of human rights of older women, which is called G.R.27.

As the member of the Board of Trustees of HelpAge International, she influenced the policy guide line of the organization for the benefit of the older people, so that they have a dignified life with adequate social protection, access to health services, protection from violence and they have a voice.

In her 32 years of continuous public service, she has been active in educating and creating public awareness on the importance of women’s rights and actively influenced women’s financial independence. She helped to mainstream women's and child rights issues in government policies, creating awareness for ageing issues and reproductive rights. She has taken initiatives for GO – NGO collaboration and NGOs engagement as a partner of the development programs implementation. While working at the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, one of her important responsibilities was to oversee 34 gender specific projects that were designed to provide social and legal protection for women and children.

Ms. Begum possesses remarkable educational credentials. She completed her BA (Honors) and MA in Economics from the University of Dhaka. After that, she obtained her Master in Public Administration degree (MPA) from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA. She also completed a Certificate Course in Development Administration at Princeton University, USA, and studied Gender Issues and Participatory Governance at KIT, The Netherlands.

She is the CEO of the Active Ageing and Research Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh.