Hasanuzzaman Pias: On a February afternoon at the Bangla Academy premises, the air is filled with the familiar scent of freshly printed books and the hum of eager readers. The annual Amar Ekushey Book Fair is more than just a marketplace for books—it is a gathering of ideas, a celebration of language, and a space where new writers meet their readers.
Typically, conversations at the fair revolve around poets, novelists and researchers. Yet occasionally, a different kind of author draws attention—professionals whose primary identity lies outside the literary world but who contribute meaningfully to knowledge through writing.
Md Shafiqul Alam is one such figure.
A chartered accountant by profession, Alam has built a reputation not only in corporate and financial circles but also among readers interested in economics, accounting and public policy. With professional qualifications as a Chartered Accountant, Cost and Management Accountant and Chartered Secretary, he represents a rare combination of expertise in Bangladesh’s professional landscape.
Yet his work extends beyond the boardroom and balance sheets. Over the years, Alam has authored several books on accounting standards, tax laws, corporate governance and capital markets—subjects often considered complex, but which he attempts to explain in accessible language.
Alam currently serves as Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Shafiqul Alam & Co., Chartered Accountants, a firm that provides audit, assurance, tax advisory and business consultancy services.
What sets him apart professionally is his fellowship in three major professional bodies: the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh, the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh, and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Bangladesh.
This combination reflects not only technical expertise but also a broader understanding of corporate governance, financial management and regulatory frameworks.
Beyond professional practice, Alam is actively involved in academia. He teaches accounting in the MBA programme at BRAC University as an adjunct faculty member, and also teaches fiscal law at Bangladesh Maritime University.
In addition, he regularly conducts training sessions for professionals and executives at institutions such as the Bangladesh Institute of Capital Market, the Bangladesh Academy for Securities Markets, and the Bangladesh Power Management Institute.
Alam’s professional achievements are supported by a diverse academic background. He completed a Master’s degree in International Business from the University of Dhaka. He later obtained a Master’s degree in Accounting and an LLB from National University.
His training across business, accounting and law has shaped the analytical approach reflected in both his professional work and his writing.
Over the years, he has also taken part in a range of professional development programmes, including ERP implementation and SAP expertise, financial strategy and corporate governance, business transformation and change management, international business expansion, and leadership development.
Before establishing himself in professional practice, Alam worked in several corporate organisations.
Between 2008 and 2010, he served as Deputy General Manager (Accounts and Finance) at Shanta Holdings Limited, where he worked on corporate finance, taxation and financial project management.
From 2010 to 2014, he served as Group Chief Financial Officer at Kallol Group of Companies, focusing on investment projects, ERP integration and financial restructuring.
Later, from 2014 to 2018, he worked at Super Star Group as Finance Director and Company Secretary. During this period, the company implemented SAP systems and explored opportunities for business expansion in international markets, including Nepal, India and parts of Europe.
Since 2018, Alam has been leading Shafiqul Alam & Co. as Managing Partner and CEO.
Alam’s involvement extends beyond professional practice. He has served in leadership and governance roles across several institutions.
He is the Chairman of Biz Solutions PLC and a member of the board of directors of Jiban Bima Corporation and the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board.
He currently serves as a council member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh, and previously served as a council member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Bangladesh between 2019 and 2022.
He is also the founding president of CFO Foundation Bangladesh, a professional platform connecting chief financial officers from different sectors.
Alam’s contributions have earned him several recognitions. Among them is the President’s Industrial Development Award 2021, which he received as Chairman of Biz Solutions PLC in the high-tech industry category. The award was later published in the official government gazette.
He has also received recognition from organisations such as the International Business Forum of Bangladesh and the Leadership Forum of Bangladesh.
Alam is also known to television audiences for his commentary on economic and financial issues. He has appeared as a guest analyst on channels including NTV, Independent Television, Ekattor TV, Ekhon TV, Boishakhi TV, DBC News, and News24, where he discusses issues ranging from capital market trends to tax reforms and corporate governance.
Despite the demands of a busy professional life, Shafiqul Alam has remained committed to writing. Through his books, he attempts to explain complex subjects—such as business, accounting, taxation and law—in a clear and accessible language for students, professionals and general readers.
Among his notable publications are IAS and IFRS: Theory and Practice Part A (2018), IAS and IFRS: Theory and Practice Part B (2020), Income Tax Law and Practices (2023), Company Law and Practices (2022), and SAP FICO Practice Guide (2021). He has also written books in Bangla, including Pujibazarer A Aa Ka Kha (2020), Practical Accounting (2021), Parenting: Ki Bole Islam (2020), and Humayun Ahmed O Misir Ali (2022).
Through these works, Alam seeks to bridge the gap between technical knowledge and practical understanding, making professional subjects more accessible to a wider audience.
Despite the demands of a busy professional life, Alam has maintained a steady commitment to writing. His books cover subjects such as IFRS and IAS, income tax law, company law, practical accounting and capital markets.
Some of his works are widely used by students and professionals preparing for careers in accounting and finance. For example, his book on IAS and IFRS has been used as a reference text by students of accounting at the University of Dhaka.
His writings attempt to simplify complex regulatory and financial concepts, making them accessible to both students and practitioners.
Events like the Amar Ekushey Book Fair provide an important platform for authors like Alam to reach new readers.
While the fair is often dominated by literary works, books on economics, law and professional knowledge also find their audience—particularly among students and young professionals.
For readers interested in accounting, taxation or the workings of capital markets, Alam’s books offer both practical insight and academic perspective.
In Bangladesh’s professional landscape, Md Shafiqul Alam stands out as a multidimensional figure—an accountant, corporate governance expert, educator, author and public commentator.
His journey suggests that professional expertise and intellectual curiosity need not exist separately.
When a professional steps beyond the boundaries of his discipline to write, teach and share knowledge, he contributes not only to his field but also to the broader intellectual life of society.
And sometimes, even within the world of numbers, there is room for books.
