Akter Kamal

Governing Board Member | Bangladesh Nature Foundation (BNF)

Aktar Kamal is a senior banking professional and Governing Board Member of the Bangladesh Nature Foundation (BNF), with more than 24 years of professional experience at Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC. He currently serves as Senior Executive Vice President in the International Banking Wing at the Bank’s Head Office. Having joined the bank as a Management Trainee Officer, he has developed extensive expertise in international banking operations, foreign trade, overseas banking, remittance, compliance, internal control, institutional monitoring, and senior-level management. His professional background provides BNF with valuable expertise in governance, organizational accountability, financial oversight, compliance, risk management, and institutional development.

Academic Qualifications

Aktar Kamal holds a Bachelor of Social Science (BSS) Honours and a Master of Social Science (MSS) in Public Administration from the University of Chittagong. His academic background provides a strong foundation in public administration, organizational management, institutional governance, policy implementation, and administrative systems. Combined with his extensive banking career, this academic training supports his contribution to organizational planning, governance, and responsible institutional management.

Professional Experience

Aktar Kamal has spent more than 24 years at Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC, progressing from Management Trainee Officer to Senior Executive Vice President. In his current role in the International Banking Wing, he leads, monitors, and supervises the Foreign Trade Operation Division, Foreign Trade Processing Division, Overseas Banking Division, Foreign Remittance Division, and Overseas Banking Unit. His responsibilities include operational supervision, institutional reporting, regulatory compliance, coordination with senior management, and oversight of international banking activities. He also maintains reporting and coordination responsibilities with the Bank’s Board, Board Audit Committee, and Managing Director.

Leadership, Governance and Compliance Expertise

A major component of Aktar Kamal’s professional responsibility involves strengthening organizational control, compliance, and accountability. He follows up and supervises compliance with applicable laws and regulations and monitors activities under key functions of the Internal Control and Compliance Wing, including Internal Audit and Inspection, Monitoring, and Compliance. His experience in developing a control and compliance culture, combined with senior-level management responsibilities, provides relevant expertise for institutional governance, internal oversight, risk management, and organizational accountability.

International Banking and Financial Expertise

Through his long-standing career in international banking, Aktar Kamal has developed specialized knowledge of foreign trade operations, trade processing, overseas banking, foreign remittance, and international banking units. His professional responsibilities require effective management of complex operational processes, regulatory requirements, reporting systems, and institutional controls. This experience provides a practical understanding of financial administration, operational risk, compliance systems, and responsible resource management that is relevant to the institutional development of BNF.

Professional Training and International Exposure

Aktar Kamal has participated in professional training, workshops, and international programmes covering international trade, banking management, trade facilitation, financial statement analysis, leadership, team building, negotiation, and institutional management. His professional exposure includes the ICC Banking Commission Annual Meeting, the International Chamber of Commerce Penang Trade Summit in Malaysia, Citi Bank NA Asian Hub in Malaysia, and programmes relating to ICC publications and guidelines for trade facilitation. These experiences have strengthened his understanding of international professional standards, financial systems, trade practices, and organizational leadership.

Leadership and Organizational Development Aktar Kamal has extensive experience in managing multidisciplinary teams, supervising multiple operational divisions, addressing complex organizational issues, and achieving both immediate and long-term institutional objectives. His professional approach emphasizes teamwork, discipline, communication, training, motivation, change management, and effective decision-making. As a Governing Board Member of BNF, these competencies complement the Foundation’s scientific and conservation expertise by contributing a strong management and governance perspective to its institutional development. Role at Bangladesh Nature Foundation

Aktar Kamal serves as a Governing Board Member of the Bangladesh Nature Foundation, contributing his professional experience in banking, governance, compliance, financial oversight, organizational management, and institutional administration to the Foundation’s activities. As a member of the Governing Board, he participates in institutional oversight and provides management-oriented perspectives on organizational systems, accountability, financial discipline, compliance, and responsible administration. His experience working with senior management, board-level structures, audit functions, and compliance units supports BNF’s efforts to maintain sound governance and effective organizational systems.

Professional Contribution to BNF

Aktar Kamal contributes to BNF primarily through his expertise in institutional governance, financial-sector management, internal control, compliance, risk oversight, and organizational development. His experience can support the Foundation in strengthening financial and administrative procedures, internal monitoring, reporting mechanisms, compliance practices, and institutional accountability. His knowledge of governance and control systems is particularly relevant to maintaining transparent and responsible management of organizational resources. In addition, his leadership, communication, negotiation, team-building, and problem-solving experience can contribute to BNF’s institutional partnerships, organizational coordination, and long-term development.