Engineer Faruque Ahmed has been appointed as the new managing director (MD) of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), marking the first time an individual from outside the administration cadre has taken up the role.
He officially assumed his duties on Wednesday.
Earlier, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges had announced an international recruitment process for the position, prioritizing candidates with engineering degrees and global expertise.
Following the recruitment process, 76 local and international applicants vied for the post.
A six-member selection committee, led by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) Vice-Chancellor Prof ABM Badruzzaman, shortlisted seven candidates. Ultimately, Faruque Ahmed was recommended for appointment.
Previously, the Awami League government had amended the eligibility criteria for the managing director position, requiring candidates to be former secretaries in the communication sector, which favoured bureaucrats.
As a result, former road transport secretary MAN Siddique was appointed MD in October 2016 and served until last September.
After the interim government took office, his contractual appointment was cancelled, and Additional Secretary Abdur Rauf was temporarily assigned to the role. A fresh recruitment process was then initiated for a permanent appointment.
Faruque Ahmed brings extensive international experience in metro rail construction and operations, having worked in Australia, India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Hong Kong. He was also involved in reopening Mirpur-10 and Kazipara metro stations, which had been damaged during recent student protests.
