Kabir Bin Anwar (born 4 January 1964) is a retired Bangladeshi civil servant. He was the 23rd Cabinet Secretary of Bangladesh Government, serving for a short period of time from 15 December 2022 until he went to post-retirement leave on 3 January 2023. Prior to that, he was Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources.[1] Kabir is the chairperson of the Board of Directors of Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services.[2] He was the 28th President of Bangladesh Administrative Service Association.[3] He is the chairperson of non-profit Issabela foundation, named after his mother.[4][5]
Kabir Bin Anwar | |
|---|---|
কবির বিন আনোয়ার | |
 Kabir in 2022 | |
| 23rd Cabinet Secretary of Bangladesh | |
| In office 15 December 2022 – 3 January 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Sheikh Hasina |
| Preceded by | Khandker Anwarul Islam |
| Succeeded by | Md. Mahbub Hossain |
| President, Bangladesh Administrative Service Association | |
| In office 24 January 2021 – 3 January 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Helaluddin Ahmed |
| Succeeded by | Md. Mostafa Kamal |
| Senior Secretary Ministry of Water Resources | |
| In office 22 March 2018 – 11 December 2022 | |
| Minister | Zahid Faruk |
| Preceded by | Zafar Ahmed Khan |
| Succeeded by | Nazmul Ahsan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 January 1964 Sirajganj District, Bangladesh (then East Pakistan, Pakistan) |
| Political party | Bangladesh Awami League |
| Spouse | Toufika Kabir |
| Parent(s) | Anwar Hossain Rotu (father) Syeda Issabela (mother) |
| Education | Dhaka Residential Model College University of Dhaka |
| Awards |
|
Early life edit
Kabir was born on 1 January 1964 in Sirajganj District, East Pakistan, Pakistan.[6] Kabir's mother was Syeda Issabela, a notable writer.[2] He finished his schooling at Dhaka Residential Model College. He completed his LLB and Masters in political science from the University of Dhaka.[2]
Career edit
Kabir joined Bangladesh Civil Service in 1985 as an assistant commissioner of administration cadre.[7]
Kabir had served as the First Secretary at the Embassy of Bangladesh in The Hague, The Netherlands.[2] In 2015 and 2016, Kabir was Project Director of a2i Programme.[8] In 2015, he received an award from World Summit on the Information Society for the project in May 2015.[9] He had been the Director General of Administration at the Prime Minister's Office.[10]
On 22 March 2018, Kabir was appointed the Secretary of Ministry of Water Resources and the chairperson of the Board of Directors of Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services from the Prime Minister's Office.[2][11] He was promoted to the rank of Senior Secretary on 22 June 2020.[6] He was the President of the National Committee for the Development of Bangladesh Scouts and was awarded the "Silver Tiger" medal by the scouts on 6 December 2020.[12]
Kabir was elected as the President of Bangladesh Administrative Service Association at the annual general meeting and replaced the outgoing president Helal Uddin Ahmed.[7] He spoke at the Climate Adaptation Summit in 2021.[13] Kabir was the chairperson of Institute of Water Modelling.[14] On 17 March 2021, he met the Water resource secretary of India, Shri Pankaj Kumar, to discuss water resource issues between the two countries.[15] He provided food to people in Sirajganj District on 24 April 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.[16] On 25 June 2021, he signed a performance agreement with AKM Wahed Uddin Chowdhury, Director General of Bangladesh Water Development Board.[17] Kabir called for the arrest of Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah, the then mayor of Barishal City Corporation and nephew of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, following an altercation between the Barishal Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Munibur Rahman and employees of the Barishal City Corporation in August.[18] He was appointed as the 23rd cabinet secretary on effect from 15 December 2022 and retired just after 19 days.[19]
Political career edit
On 10 Jan 2024, Kabir formally joined Bangladesh Awami League.[20] Awami League President, prime minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the primary membership form to him at Ganabhaban.[21]
References edit
- ^ "Kabir Bin Anwar promoted to post of senior secretary". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ a b c d e "CEGIS :: BOT Chairperson's Profile". www.cegisbd.com. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "President | BASA". basa.org.bd. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "About the chairman | Isabela Foundation". isabelafoundation.org. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "Anisuzzaman Khan passed away". The Daily Star. 2021-06-09. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ a b "Kabir Bin Anwar promoted to senior secretary". Daily Bangladesh. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ a b "Kabir Bin Anwar made BASA President, Khalilur Rahman Secy Gen | The Asian Age Online, Bangladesh". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "Women to be trained to run digital centres better". The Daily Star. 2016-01-19. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "a2i project gets WSIS award for second straight year". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "Microsoft signs MoU with A2i programme". The Daily Star. 2016-01-18. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "5 secretaries transferred". The Daily Star. UNB. 2018-03-15. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "Kabir Bin Anwar receives highest national honor of Scouts". The Business Standard. 2020-12-06. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ Management, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water (2021-01-12). "Kabir Bin Anwar - CAS 2021 at a glance - Climate Adaptation Summit 2021". www.cas2021.com. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "Board of Trustees". Institute of Water Modelling. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
- ^ "India-Bangladesh Water Resources Secretary Level Meeting". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "Secretary Kabir bin Anwar provided food aid in Sirajganj". Daily Tribunal. 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "Water resources senior secy, BWDB DG sign APA". New Age. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "Admin association wants Barishal mayor's arrest, AL for UNO removal". New Age. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
- ^ "Kabir Bin Anwar made new cabinet secretary". jagonews24.com. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
- ^ "Former Cabinet Secy Kabir Bin Anwar joins Awami League". Daily Sun. 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Kabir Bin Anwar joins AL". The Business Post. 10 January 2024.