Professor Nazrul Islam (b. 1941), received his B.A. Honours, (1961) and M. A. (1962) in Geography, from the University of Dhaka. He was also educated at the University of Western Ontario, London Canada (1964-67) East-West Center, Hawaii, USA (1975) and DPU, London, UK (1979).

Professor Islam taught in the Department of Geography and Environment, University of Dhaka, during 1963 to 2007, from where he retired as a Professor in 2007. In between he also taught Urban Development Planning at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok (1982-86). He served as Chairman, University Grants Commission of Bangladesh during 2007-2011. Earlier he was Chairman of the Board of Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (DWASA), (1999-2002). Professor Islam was a Member of several urban development related committees formed by the Government. He is currently National Policy Advisor for Urban Affairs, UNDP Bangladesh. He is the Founder-Honorary Chairman of the Centre for Urban Studies (CUS), Dhaka. He was Coordinator for the Asian Region of the Global Urban Research Initiative (GURI) during 1992-97. Professor Islam is a Vice President of the Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA), a civil society organization on environment and Senior Vice President of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. He is a Fellow of Bangla Academy, and the Bangladesh Geographical Society, and an Honorary Member of the  Bangladesh Institute of Planners.

He was a member of the Board of Editors, Habitat International (Pergamon Press) and is the Founder Editor of CUS Bulletin. He is currently member of the Editorial Board of Environment and Urbanization Asia, (Sage, India).

Professor Islam is the author/co-author/editor of 22 books, including Dhaka: From City to Megacity, Dhaka Now, Natural Hazards in Bangladesh, Urban Bangladesh, Urban Governance in Asia, Addressing the Poverty Agenda in Bangladesh. He has published more than 100 professional/academic papers in foreign and national journals and anthologies. Professor Islam also writes on Art. His books on art includes Contemporary Art & Artists: Bangladesh and Beyond; Zainul Abedin, Abdur Razzaque etc.

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