Biography
Dr. Mohammad Habibullah (Galib) is the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Islamic Finance & Technology (IIFT). He holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), and brings to his role a deep commitment to advancing Islamic finance education and professional capacity building.
A veteran researcher and education personality, Dr. Galib is recognised as a thoughtful leader on how to develop the education sector and skill students and the wider manpower of Bangladeshi citizens — and citizens of other countries — to compete in the global Islamic finance and technology economy.
He has contributed significantly to the development of education and the provision of support to professionals and students, enabling them to pursue higher education and professional training. Under his leadership, IIFT is positioned as a bridge between rigorous Islamic finance scholarship and the practical skills demanded by modern financial institutions.
Leadership Mandate at IIFT
- Set the strategic direction of the Institute and oversee day-to-day operations
- Lead curriculum innovation across Islamic finance, fintech, and professional skills programmes
- Build and maintain international academic and industry partnerships
- Champion accessible, high-quality professional training for the Muslim Ummah
- Mentor the next generation of researchers and Islamic finance professionals
Education
- Ph.D. in Islamic Studies, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Malaysia
Research Themes
- Islamic economic frameworks and Maqasid Shariah
- Islamic social finance and the role of Zakat in poverty alleviation
- Sustainable Islamic finance with a focus on the SAARC region
- Higher education and professional development in Islamic finance
Selected Publications
- Habibullah, M., Al Faruque, A., Faruque, M. O., & Atiullah, M. (2023). Islamic Economic Framework for the Exercise of Islamic Financial Activities: Its Conformity with Maqasid Shariah. <em>AL-BURHĀN</em>, 7(1), 81–92.
- Al Faruque, A., Habibullah, M., Atiullah, M., et al. (2023). The Impact of Islamic Social Finance on Sustainable Development Goals to Alleviate Poverty in Muslim Countries — A New Paradigm for Zakat Organizations in Bangladesh. <em>IJFMR</em>.
- Habibullah, M., Haron, R., & Atiullah, M. (2024). Islamic Sustainable Finance: Its Experiences From SAARC. In <em>Islamic Finance and Sustainable Development</em>, pp. 24–31. Routledge.
Why It Matters
- Bridges Bangladesh's young workforce with global Islamic finance opportunities
- Builds a faculty body of internationally credentialed scholars and practitioners
- Develops industry-relevant certificates that translate directly into employability
- Promotes a values-driven curriculum rooted in Islamic ethics and modern technology