Founder and President
A. T. Rafiqur Rahman, Ph. D. Professor of CUNY. Forty years of experience in managing international development with the United Nations and Canadian International Development Research Center, teaching at Dhaka University, and working at Comilla Rural Development Academy. Former Director, United Way of Westchester, President, Rivertowns Lions Club, Dobbs Ferry. He is dedicated to providing education to the underprivileged in Bangladesh, and has authored several books/articles including "Bangladesh in the Mirror" and "Bangladesh Election 2008 and Beyond", both were recently published by UPL, Dhaka.
Chair, Board of Directors
Delwar Hossain, Ph. D. A former Professor, Notre Dame College and Dhaka University. Real estate owner and a respected community leader in the New York City metrpolitan area. Associated with various social organizations: past President of BAPAF, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bangladesh Society of New York, and current Chief Advisor, International Council for Advancement of Bangladesh, NY.
Vice President
Mohammad Farooque, Ph. D. Energy Conversion Engineering. Senior Vice President, DFC Technology. Marlboro, New Jersey. Director- Manager, VAB Computer Literacy Program.
Secretary
F. R. Chowdhury, M. D. Board Certified in Internal Medicine. A practicing physician in Bardonia, Rockland County, New York for the last 20 years. He is one of the earliest physicians to come to the United States from Bangladesh. Actively involved in various local charities.
Treasurer
Mark Lindberg, CPA & MBA. Owns and manages Lindberg Tax and Financial Services in Westchester County of New York. Registered Investment Advisor. Banker with 20 years experience. Tarrytown Rotarian and member of Sleepy Hollow Chamber of Commerce. Dobbs Ferry, New York.
Executive Director
Mahfuz R. Chowdhury, Ph. D., teaches economics at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, NY. Currently also serves as Executive Director of International Council for Advancement of Bangladesh, NY. He is a prolific writer and wrote a book "Economic Exploitation of Bangladesh" and many articles on Bangladesh, as well as on SAARC, communism, and other economic issues. His articles appeared on popular newspapers including The Washington Post, and are posted on various web sites.
Program Director
Peter von Christierson, M.A. Former Peace Corps Volunteer in Bangladesh (1961-64). Retired Regional Planner. Port Townsend, Washington.
College Scholarship and Media Director
Matilal Pal studied in Dhaka University and Yale University, earning an M. Phil. degree in Economics. The major part of his career was at the United Nations where he made significant contributions in formulating the provisions related to marine resources in the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention. He is retired and presently lives in Flushing, New York.
Public and Community Relations Director
Mizan Rahman, a Financial Planner, and an Investment Advisor with MetLife Securities. He received his M.A. degree in Finance from Dhaka University, MBA from Bloomsburg University, Pennsylvania. He Volunteers as a resource person to numerous professional, social and cultural organizations for the cause of community development, preserving cultural heritage, achieving financial freedom and security.
DIRECTORS
Mohammad Anwar Ullah, M.D. Prosperity, West Virginia. Active in social and community development work. He initiated the idea for VAB to provide College scholarships.
Jean Ellickson, Ph. D. Retired University Porfessor of Anthropology. Member of the first Peace Corps Volunteer group in Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan), 1961-1963. Actively involved in promoting village and community development work in Bangladesh.
Mominul Hoque, Graduated from Dhaka University and jailed during the language movement (1955). Ph. D. from University of Pittsburgh. Worked for the Standard Oil Company. Taught and did research at various universities (Mosul, Iraq; Tripoli, Libya; Nsukka, Nigeria; Pittsburgh, USA). Cunsultant in engineering geology in the USA. Retired in June 2007. Presently, a writer (short stories and novels in Bangla). Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
John N. Pike, Ph. D. Retired Senior Research Scientist, Dow Chemicals. President, Industrial Optics Consulting. Community Leader.Past President, United Way of Westchester. New York. Board Member, UW New York State; Planned Giving Committee of UW America. Pleasantville, New York.
Ehsanur Rahman, M. D. Board certified Cardio-Vascular specialist. Practices cardiology in the Wilmington, Delaware area. Active in social and community work, especially organizing continuing support in the US for running a medical clinic for the poor in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Currently President, Bangladesh Medical Association in North America. Member, VAB Executive Committee.
Nasrin Rahman, M. Sc. Maryland State employee in charge of Redistricting section with the Office of Planning. Experience in high school teaching. Active in charitable and community organizations including Coachford Neighbourhood Association; March of Dimes; MADD; PTA. Timonum, Maryland.
Mohammad Saleh, M.S., R.Ph. Certified Pharmacist and a leading Bangladeshi entrepreneur. Past President of Long Island Muslim Society; current Chairman of International Council for Advancement of Bangladesh, New York. Active in community and social work in New York area. Supports educational and social development activities in Bangladesh.
Hasan Z. Sarwar, M.D. Milford, Connecticut. Dr. Sarwar is involved in several activities to help the needy in Bangladesh including cleft-repair work. Active in social and community work in his area.
Abdul Awal Siddiqui, M. Sc. and Certified Pharmacist and a leading entrepreneur. President of Bangladesh Pharmacists Association. Active in social and community work.
Shahid Ullah, Senior Managing Director, Randall & Dewey, Division of Jeffries, Huston, Texas. Active in offering ideas and proposals for VAB programs. Involved in local social and community activities.
ADVISORS
Nurul Alam, M.A. Deputy Director, UNDP. Actively involved in community work. Member, VAB Executive Committee.
Richard Grant, M.P.A. Former Managing Director, Global Project Finance, Chase Manhattan Corp. Managing Director, Sextant Capital Strategies. Clinton, Connecticut.
William B. Greenough III, M.D. Former Technical Director, ICDDR, Dhaka. Director, Gerontology Facilities, John Hopkins Medical Center. Baltimore, Maryland.
Sarwar B. Salam, CPA, MBA and Cetified Auditor. President of Salam Associates. Active in social and community work. Advises VAB on financial and accounting and auditing work.
REGIONAL MANAGERS and REPRESENTATIVES
Bob Mac Alister, VAB Representative in Washington. Retired USAID officer. Also worked in several international NGOs and US Foreign Service.
Ali Hayder, Retired Engineer from City government of Chicago. Manages VAB office in the state of Illinois.
Farida Khan, M.A. Housewife and mother of two grown-up children. Actively involved in many social and community work in her area. Manages VAB office in the state of California. Huntington Beach, California.
ASSOCIATES
Nipa Armbruster, M.A. Home Maker and mother of two small children. Fashion designer. Helps VAB with editing and formatting VAB documents. Rochester, New York. One of the longest serving VAB volunteer-Associates.
Arshad Chowdhury, B. A,. Owns and manages Metronaps, a resting facility for business executives in NY city. Helps VAB with designing and launching a new donor-friendly website. Member, VAB Executive Committee.
Patty Gray, M. A. Grandmother and retired Porfessor in Library Science. Lived in Bangladesh as wife of USAID Country Director. Helps VAB with editorial work. Williamsburg, Virginia.
Tanjila Islam, M. A. Professional in a Consultancy firm dealing with third world development. Prepared a concept paper on donor friendly VAB website. Currently engaged in designing and launching the site. New York city.
Mariam Khan, M. A. Home Maker and a web professional. Helps VAB with updating its website. London, United Kingdom.
Mustafa Khandakar, M. A. Active in social and community work. Supports a orphanage in Bangladesh. Helps VAB in developing publicity materials for special occasions like fundraising and annual meetings. Jamaica, Queens, New York.
Anita Rahman, M. A. Web designer and maintenance professional. Developed current VAB website and maintained it for few years. Helped VAB in various organizing and management activities from its inception. Longest serving VAB volunteer-Associate. Westchester, New York.
Farhana Rahman, Child Care professional. Helps VAB with organizing and mailing out fund-raising envelopes three times a year. Westchester, New York.
