Nazmul Haque is the Executive Director of the Institute of Development Affairs (IDEA), based in Sylhet, Bangladesh since its inception. With a rich academic background and over four decades of experience in the development sector, he has made significant contributions to community development, education, disaster management, and grassroots empowerment.

He holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies, specializing in the Politics of Alternative Development Strategies, from the prestigious Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in The Hague, Netherlands, earned in 1991. Prior to this, he completed both his BSc (Hons.) and MSc in Botany from the University of Chittagong between 1981 and 1983. His early academic foundation was laid through a science-focused higher secondary education under the Comilla Board in 1976.

Nazmul began his professional journey with the Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB), where he worked from 1985 to 1997 in a variety of roles. Over his twelve-year tenure, he served as a Programme Organizer, Supervisor of the Slum Improvement Project, Coordinator of the Child Education and Sanitation Programme, and finally, as the Programmer/Planner and Head of the Planning, Evaluation and Research Unit. His work at FIVDB was instrumental in shaping his deep understanding of community-based development and participatory approaches.

Since 1997, Nazmul has been actively engaged as a consultant and evaluator for a wide range of national and international development organizations. He has led or participated in numerous evaluation missions for agencies such as FAO’s Regional Wood Energy Development Programme (RWEDP), ITDG (UK), Population Concern (UK), Save the Children Norway (SMF), and several national NGOs including VARD and RDSS. His consultancy work has focused on evaluating projects related to poverty alleviation, maternal and child health, improved stoves, handmade paper production, and various income-generating activities.

In addition to his extensive field and consultancy work, Nazmul has been deeply involved in training and capacity-building efforts. He has attended international training courses and workshops in countries such as Canada, India, the Netherlands, and the UK, covering subjects including gender and globalization, participatory monitoring and evaluation, organizational analysis, disaster management, and rural development. As a trainer and facilitator, he has conducted numerous courses on participatory rural appraisal (PRA), monitoring and evaluation, health care, disaster management, and improved cookstove (ICS) dissemination strategies.

Nazmul is also a published author with several works to his name. He authored “Alternative Flash Flood Early Warning System,” published by IDEA in 2000, and has contributed insightful articles to the Grassroots journal by ADAB, as well as opinion pieces in national dailies like The Daily Observer and Azker Sylhet. His writing reflects a keen understanding of disaster vulnerability, community-based warning systems, and the evolving role of NGOs in development.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Nazmul is deeply committed to voluntary service. He serves as the Member Secretary of the Sylhet Disaster Forum, President of Shampreety Shanti Koosh, and Treasurer of the Welfare Association for Distress in Sylhet. These roles reflect his enduring commitment to social justice, disaster resilience, and community welfare.

Nazmul Haque’s leadership at IDEA and his lifelong dedication to participatory development approaches have positioned him as a respected figure in Bangladesh’s development landscape.