Mohammed Farashuddin

Mohammed Farashuddin (born 14 April 1942) is a Bangladeshi economist who served as the founding vice-chancellor of East West University and the seventh governor of Bangladesh Bank.

Early life He was born on April 14, 1942, in the village of Ratanpur, located in Nayapara Union, Habiganj, Assam Province, British Raj. He was one of the founders of East West University and served as its founding vice-chancellor from 1995 to 1998. Farashuddin then served as the governor of Bangladesh Bank from 1998 to 2001. He currently holds the position of chairperson of the Board of Trustees at the East West University .

Politics Farashuddin was involved in Bangladesh Students' Union during his student life. He aspired to be the candidate of the Awami League from the Habiganj-4 constituency in the 2018 Bangladeshi general election.

He has an affirmative stance on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman autocratic rule during BAKSAL. However, a one-party dictatorship under the Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League, with tight control of the media and judiciary, turned the dream into a nightmare. Lawrence Lifschultz wrote in the Far Eastern Economic Review in 1974 that Bangladeshis thought “the corruption and malpractices and plunder of national wealth” under Mujib “unprecedented.” Eventually, the plunder of national wealth caused the Bangladesh famine of 1974.

During the post-BAKSAL political turmoil, Farashuddin is alleged to have compromised with the subsequent government led by Khondaker Mushtaq, which may have spared him from persecution. His CV lacks information about his activities from 1975 to 1979, and he abstained from a significant memorial event for Sheikh Mujib held abroad. Awami League politicians, such as R.A.M. Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, have expressed dissatisfaction with those who later claimed loyalty to Sheikh Mujib but did not protest his murder at the time. The history of the chaos following the assassination, particularly under the Zia and Ershad governments, is considered crucial to understanding the nation's political landscape.

In an interview with Reuters about the inquiry into the financial crime, Farashuddin stated:

"The officials were low to mid-level and not directly involved in the crime. They were negligent, careless, and indirect accomplices. The committee concluded that the heist was essentially committed by external elements."

Personal life Farashuddin married Suraiya Asma. He has one son and one daughter.