AKM Ahsan Ullah is Associate Professor in Geography, Environment and Development at the University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD). Ullah’s research portfolio includes stints at the University of Ottawa, McMaster University, Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University, the American University in Cairo (AUC), City University Hong Kong, and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand. His research areas include population migration, human rights, development, environment and health policy. Dr Ullah has contributed 50 articles to refereed journals, as well as some 40 chapters in a number of books. He has published 15 books to date.
Md. Shahidul Haque has been serving as Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary) of the Government of Bangladesh since 2013. He was the Chair of the 9th Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD). Mr. Haque served at the IOM on lien from the Government of Bangladesh, occupying several senior positions in field offices and the Headquarters in Geneva. Mr. Haque obtained an M A (International Relations) from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in USA (1988) and was awarded Honourable Mention for Robert B. Steward Prize for high academic achievement. He stood First Class both in Masters and Honours, in Social Welfare from the University of Dhaka. He was also awarded the Dhaka University Chancellor’s Award, the Grants Commission Award and the Chancellor’s Gold Medal for his outstanding academic accomplishment.