Kamal Quadir

Kamal Quadir (born 1971) is a Bangladeshi American entrepreneur and artist best known for introducing e-commerce in Bangladesh by founding CellBazaar, an electronic marketplace which, after reaching 4 million users, was acquired by Norwegian telecommunications operator Telenor in 2010. CellBazaar later was rebranded as ekhanei.com. He is the brother of Iqbal Quadir, who is an entrepreneur and promoter of the role of entrepreneurship and innovation in creating prosperity in low-income countries.

Quadir founded bKash in 2010, which provides financial services through a network of community-based agents and existing technology, including mobile phones. and the World Economic Forum recognised him as a Young Global Leader.

Early life Quadir was an intern at Insight Venture Partners in New York, led the Business Development Division of Occidental Petroleum's initiative in Bangladesh and worked for New York City's Chamber of Commerce. He was also the co-founder and creative director of GlobeKids Inc., an animation company.

Quadir has completed his BA from Oberlin College and MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

He is also an artist whose art works are in the permanent collection of the Bangladesh National Museum and the Liberation War Museum.

Awards 2005: MIT Ideas Award 2007: Tech Award for "Applying Technology to Benefit Humanity" 2008: Global Mobile Award of the GSM Association in the category of "Best Use of Mobile for Social & Economic Development" Telecom Asia's "Asian Innovation of the Year" Award India's Manthan Award for "Best E-Content for Development" 2009: Young Global Leader (YGL) - World Economic Forum of Davos 2015: Social Entrepreneur of the Year - Schwab Foundation's 2016: Distinguished Achievement Award - Oberlin Alumni Awards 2021: ICT Business person of the year - The Daily Star ICT Awards 2021 2021: Best E-cash/money & CSR award, exceptional contribution to the welfare of people during the Covid period - Global Business CSR Awards 2023: Lifetime Achievement Award - ICT Ministry 2023: Global high-impact leaders in finance - 2023 Class of its Finance Leaders Fellows 2023: Entrepreneur of the Year - Bangladesh C-Suite Awards 2023 2023: The Aspen Institute selected him for Finance Leaders Fellowship as one of the global high-impact leaders in finance 2025: ICT Business Person of the Year - 10th BRAC Bank-The Daily Star ICT Awards.