M. Golam Abbas, after a distinguished career of 37 years, retired from UNHCR- the UN Refugee Agency in 2016. He was last posted in Sri Lanka as UNHCR Country Representative. Also held a number of senior positions with the UN, inter alia, Representative, Thailand; Deputy Regional Representative in Central Europe; Head of East & Horn of Africa Desk, at UNHCR HQs in Geneva; Head of Operation Darfur, Sudan; Assistant Chief of Mission, Iran; Deputy Country Representative, Liberia; Head of Office(s) in Somalia & Tanzania; and Senior Advisor, Ethiopia. He served twice (2013 & 2018) as UNHCR interim Country Representative in Bangladesh. Served with the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Bangladesh as a Senior Advisor.

Prior to joining the UN, Abbas served as an Associate Economist in the Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development; and Deputy Director, Ministry of Youth Development, Government of Bangladesh.

Abbas is engaged in various philanthropic works (e.g., library, school, social inclusion and livelihood) in rural communities; he manages two separate psycho-social/mental health projects jointly with a French NGO “Action contre la Faim”; and “Beyond Control” – a British charity, for Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar; Local Representative of Italian Ministry of Interior/Gruppo Umana Solidarity an EU initiative to support rehabilitation/reintegration of Bangladeshi migrants returning home voluntarily.

Also a Board of Trustee, Acid Survivors Foundation – Bangladesh;
Member of Association of Former UN Staff Association of Bangladesh;
President, Jahangirnagar University Economic Alumni Association; and
Life Member, Probin Hitoshi Shangho (Aged Welfare Association) Bangladesh.

Abbas obtained a BA (Hons.) and MA in Economics from Jahangirnagar University