Fulbright
Scholar Stories |
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Mohammed Habibur Rahman, Associate Professor, Department
of Public Administration, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Research: Public Administration, Study of American
Local Government and Its Possible Application to Local Government
Reforms in Bangladesh
Syracuse University, Department of Public Administration,
Syracuse, NY 13244-1020
Bangladesh
February 2001-August 2001
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Mohammed
Habibur Rahman has led academic pursuits on three continents.
He completed his undergraduate course work in Bangladesh--his
home country, his graduate and Ph.D. program in England, and most
recently he completed his Fulbright Scholar research at Syracuse
University in New York.
Under the guidance of Professor Larry Schroeder from the department
of public administration, Rahman studied American local government
as a possible model for Bangladesh.
He points out, "Nearly three decades after the independence
of the country, governance in Bangladesh still confronts a turbulent
polity. Lack of political consensus, unhealthy modes of political
competition, lack of accountability and transparency of political
and administrative institutions, deteriorating trend of rule of
law, abuse of human and women's rights, and above all weak legislative
authority and local governance are the major problems and challenges
of governance in Bangladesh."
Rahman completed his studies with a research paper that he considers
to be "the beginning of a long research journey on comparative
local government." He hopes to continue his research based
on his accomplishments at Syracuse.
Rahman's six-month stay in the U.S. was extremely special to
him because of the company of his wife, Tahmina, and his two daughters,
Tasnim (9), and Tashin (8). His daughters attended H.W. Smith
Elementary School where students from over 50 countries attend.
In international fashion, the front of the school is decorated
with flags from around the world. As a poet, Tahmina enjoyed the
solitary environment of Syracuse, which complimented her "poetic
taste." Rahman is thankful that he had the opportunity to
experience such diverse cultural settings.
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