Dr Shafiun Nahin Shimul as the Honorary Director of SANEM. Dr Shimul is an accomplished health economist and a Professor at the Institute of Health Economics, the University of Dhaka, with over 14 years of experience in research and policy work across various fields, including health economics, public finance, nutrition economics, and social safety nets.
His recent research includes a research project for the World Bank, that evaluates the impact of motivational interventions through a Randomized Control Trial (RCT). Throughout his career, Dr Shimul has worked on projects funded by esteemed organizations such as UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, Pathfinder, USAID, and FAO.
His extensive research on COVID-19 has provided valuable insights into pandemic projections, the economic impact of lockdowns, and their effectiveness in developing countries. As a member of the CoMo (Covid-19 Modeling) Consortium at Oxford University, his work has gained significant attention in both national and international media.
Dr Shafiun Nahin Shimul holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Nebraska Lincoln, USA, with a concentration in Public Economics.

Dr. Moogdho Mahzab is a development economist specializing in economic development, environmental sustainability, public health, and public policy. He is an Associate Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in the Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion Unit in Washington, DC. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and the Woods Institute for the Environment. His work explores the intersections of development, governance, and policies, using quasi-experimental and experimental approaches to drive evidence-based decision-making.
He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Virginia. He was also awarded the prestigious U.S. Fulbright Scholarship to pursue master’s in policy economics at Williams College. Dr. Mahzab has collaborated with policymakers, international organizations, and academic institutions across South Asia and the U.S. to address pressing development challenges. In recent times, he has presented his work at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, the World Bank, the Asian Evaluation Week (Asian Development Bank), numerous conferences at top U.S. universities, and key policy forums in Asia.
With 13 years of research experience, he is passionate about mentoring students, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and advancing policies that promote sustainable and equitable development.

Israt Jahan is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Applied Economics from Texas Tech University. Her research focuses on development economics, political economy, institutions, entrepreneurship, corruption, and gender. She has published in respected academic journals, including the European Journal of Political Economy and Review of Development Economics. Jahan’s research on Bangladesh focuses on labor markets, economic development, and gender dynamics. Her key work includes the economic impact of the pandemic, business performance, employment in the garment sector, unpaid labor, and social protection. She has led and contributed to policy-driven projects addressing business performance, employment generation, and labor conditions in Bangladesh. Her work has been funded by leading international organizations, including the International Growth Centre (IGC), International Labour Organization (ILO), and International Development Research Centre (IDRC) & Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).