
SECRETARIAT
The Secretariat
A full-time Director General, selected by the Governing Council for a four-year term is the chief executive of the organization. The work of the Centre is directed by the Director General in accordance with the policy and decisions adopted by the Governing Council under the guidance of the Executive Committee.
CIRDAP TEAM

Dr. P. Chandra Shekara
Director General

Dr. P. Chandra Shekara
Director General
Dr. Shekara is a leading Professional in the field of Agriculture with his more than three decades of service towards integrated rural development especially in the areas namely Agricultural Extension Management, Agri-Entrepreneurship Development, Agricultural Marketing Management and Public-Private-Partnership. Dr. Shekara headed three premier National Institutions in India which work for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. He served as Director General of CCS National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (CCS NIAM), Director General (In-charge) of National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM) and Director General of National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE).
As Chief Executive of these Institutions, he lead very important International and National schemes, programs and policy interventions for development of Agriculture through Training, Research, Consultancy, Policy Advocacy, Education, International Programmes, Implementation of Govt. of India Schemes, Agripreneurship Development, Agri. Startups Promotion, Documentation and Dissemination in Agriculture Development. Dr. P. Chandra Shekara received numerous accolades and recognition for his outstanding achievements worth mentioning – “Extension Leadership Award (2023) in the International Extension Education Conference 2023 (IEEC 2023); “NITTE-Karnataka Bank Limited Life Time Achievement Award-2019 for driving Agri-entrepreneurship Movement in India” and etc.
Dr. Shekara holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Extension awarded from University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore in 1999 with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 9.57 /10.00 with following Three Gold Medals:
Recipient of University of Agricultural Sciences Gold Medal for Securing Highest Grade Point.
Recipient of Dr. K.A. Jalihal Gold Medal for Best Ph.D., Student in Agricultural Extension.
Recipient of Dr. R. Dwarakinath, Former Vice-Chancellor Gold Medal for Best PhD. Student in Agricultural Extension.
His Doctoral Research Thesis contributed an “Agricultural Extension Strategy for the Management of Coffee Industry in India”. Dr. Shekara obtained a Post-Graduate Degree - M.Sc. in Agricultural Extension, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore in 1989 and completed his Bachelor’s Degree - B.Sc., (Agriculture) from same University in 1987.
Dr. P. Chandra Shekara said that he is looking forward to lead the CIRDAP Secretariat by continuing on the work his predecessors have done blending with his experiences and expertise’s to take CIRDAP further into the future and to its vision. He also added that, he will make the Organization ready for new challenges and strengthened the role for Integrated Rural Development in Asia and the Pacific region.
Dr. Shekara will serve CIRDAP from 2024 to 2028.

F.A.M Zakirul Huq
OIC LKMD & HOD Administration

F.A.M Zakirul Huq
OIC LKMD & HOD Administration
MBA from East West University, PGD HRM from Bangladesh Institute of Management, ACBA HRM from IBA Dhaka University
F.A.M. Zakirul Huq is working currently as the Head of the HR Admin Unit and also as the Officer in Charge of Learning and Knowledge Management Division.
He has 21 plus years of working experience in administrative and human resource field for both national and international reputed organizations, which includes manufacturing industry, corporate office and non-profit organization. He has hands-on experience on every fields of administration, human resource management, store; procurement management, safety security, legal, protocol, media and event management. He has participated in several national and international workshops and training on HRM, Procurement, Safety, etc.
- Email:aocirdap@cirdap.org

Shishir G. Saha
Finance Officer

Shishir G. Saha
Finance Officer
CA Course Completed from ICAB; Master of Commerce (Accounting), Dhaka College.
Mr. Shishir G. Saha joined CIRDAP on 15th December, 2016 as Finance Assistant.
Right now, he is leading the Finance Unit as Finance Officer. He has completed his Chartered Accountancy Course from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) under supervision with a well reputed Chartered Accountancy Firm. He also completed Master of Commerce in Accounting from Dhaka College. Prior to joining CIRDAP, he worked for Peoples Telecommunication and Information Services Ltd. a successor company of Bangladesh Rural Telecom Authority (BRTA) as Jr. Assistant Manager (Reconciliation), International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB) with a projects funded by USAID-PROGATI, as Accounts Officer and Bangladesh Land Developers Association as Deputy Manager (Accounts).
- Email:shishir@cirdap.org

Hurain Jannat
Communication Officer

Hurain Jannat
Communication Officer
Honours and Master’s in International Relations, PGD in Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies, University of Dhaka.
She joined CIRDAP in 1st December 2019 as Communication Officer of the Centre. Before joining in CIRDAP, Earlier, she worked for Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB), in two drowning prevention project called Project BHASA and Seasafe project as Communication Specialist. She has also worked as program manager in Centre for Mass Education in Science (CMES). As a Newsroom editor, she has worked more than three years in news and current affairs division of Radio Today 89.6 FM.
She has participated in many National and International conference, workshops or training on Communication, Project management, Logaframe and Safeguarding.

Dr. Usharani Boruah
Librarian

Dr. Usharani Boruah
Librarian
Ph.D. In Library Science, Moscow State University of Arts And Culture. Russia, Moscow.
Dr. Usharani Boruah served as a Librarian in various Organisations for more than 8 years. She worked as a Librarian in the Indian Embassy, Moscow and Indian International School Moscow, Russia. She worked as Librarian of the University of Development Alternative (UODA ) Dhaka, Bangladesh and also as Medical Librarian in Apollo Hospitals Dhaka. Dr. Boruah has vast experience in Library Development Education Programmes, Community Development Education Programme, Ethenic Development Educations Programme through Library Education and Policy. Dr. Usharani Boruah joined CIRDAP in July 2007.
- Email:usharani@cirdap.org

Shahariar Haque
Executive Officer (CICC)

Shahariar Haque
Executive Officer (CICC)
Shahariar Haque has completed his MBA in International management from University of Wales, UK. He has completed higher diploma from the organization for travel, Tourism & Hospitality management. He has also completed PGD in Human Resource Management from United International University (UIU). Shahariar Haque has joined in CIRDAP in 3 rd May 2016 as a CICC supervisor under admin & finance division. Before working in CIRDAP, he has got experience to work with Travelodge, Morrisons Plc. As an Executive officer of CICC, He facilitated and participated in so many national & international seminars, workshops & symposiums etc.

Most. Najma Yeasmin
Assistant Administrative Officer (HR)

Most. Najma Yeasmin
Assistant Administrative Officer (HR)
Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resources Management from United International University (UIU), Masters and B.A. Hons in English under National University, Bangladesh.
Most. Najma Yeasmin is currently working as Assistant Administrative Officer (HR) of Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP). Before joining CIRDAP, she has served as the Executive (HR) of Ifad Multi Products Limited (A Unit of Ifad Group) and has experiences in HR and Administration in other organizations. With 18 years of experiences, she has performed her duties of this organization in areas of Human Resource and Administration. She has experience in Administration & Logistics as Training coordinator of International Training programme.
- Email:najma@cirdap.org

Tahsina Tabassum Sajuti
Executive Assistant, Research

Tahsina Tabassum Sajuti
Executive Assistant, Research
Honors and Master’s in Economics, from Jahangirnagar University
Tahsina Tabassum Sajuti is currently working as Executive/Research Assistant at CIRDAP, as well as an Editorial Coordinator for journal automation in the Asia Pacific Journal of Rural Development (APJORD), a half-yearly academic journal, is a flagship publication of CIRDAP. In addition work as an Associate Editor for "Voice of CIRDAP," the organization's monthly publication. Prior to joining CIRDAP worked as a teacher in an English Medium School. Currently working in the research division at CIRDAP, performing administrative tasks there as well as assist to conduct research as a team member for a particular project or assignment. Participate in the development of research methodologies, report writing, tools, techniques as well as data collecting procedures and analysis.
Furthermore completed a UNDP-led training course on the Community Level Volunteer Training Program. The topics covered in training are: 1) Fire Fighting, 2) Collapse Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR), 3) First Aid etc.
- Email:ea_research@cirdap.org

Mr. Mustafa Kamal
Administrative Assistant and In-charge booking (CICC)

Mr. Mustafa Kamal
Administrative Assistant and In-charge booking (CICC)
Mr. Mustafa Kamal has completed his Bachelor of Arts (BA) form National University, Bangladesh. He joined in CIRDAP in 1992 and worked as a Typist till 2015. After that, He has moved in CICC in 2015 and working as an Administrative Assistant and In-charge booking (CICC) simultaneously.
- Email:mkamal@cirdap.org

Mr. Deba Datta Chakma
Sr. Secretary, DG Office

Mr. Deba Datta Chakma
Sr. Secretary, DG Office
PGDHRM (Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management) from, IPM (Institute of Personal Management), Bangladesh, Bachelor from National University, Bangladesh
Mr. Deba Datta Chakma is working as Senior Secretary, DG in the Office of the Director General, Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP). Prior to joining the CIRDAP, he worked as Senior Executive (Office Administration) in Bangladesh Rural Telecom Authority (BRTA) Ltd. is the first private PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) operator in Bangladesh with the responsibility given by Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Government of Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh to provide digital communication in 203 Rural Thana’s/Upazila’s (Smallest Administrative Area of Bangladesh) besides the operation of Bangladesh Telegraph & Telephone Board (BTTB), present name Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd. He had also worked as Assistant Manager (HR & Admin) at Peoples Telecommunication and Information Service (PeoplesTel.) Ltd., is the successor company of Bangladesh Rural Telecom Authority (BRTA) Ltd. He has over 20 year’s extensive experience on Secretarial and HR & Administration position/activities.
- Email:deba@cirdap.org

Mr. Habibur Rahman
Finance Assistant

Mr. Habibur Rahman
Finance Assistant
Master of Business Administration in Finance & Banking, Govt. Titumir College, Dhaka.
Mr. Habibur Rahman joined CIRDAP on 1st October 2024.
Prior to joining CIRDAP, he worked as a Finance and Admin Assistant at Welthungerhilfe (WHH) Bangladesh (an international organization) and as an Accountant at SOS Children’s Village International in Bangladesh (another international organization).
He is currently pursuing his Cost and Management Accountant (CMA) degree from ICMAB. He completed his Master of Business Administration in Finance & Banking from Govt. Titumir College, Dhaka.
- Email:eofinance@cirdap.org