MARUF AHMAD | Urban Planning | Excellence in Research Award

Mr. MARUF AHMAD | Urban Planning | Excellence in Research Award

MARUF AHMAD | Xi’an Jiaotong University | China

Dr. Maruf Ahmad serves as an Assistant Director at the Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bogura, currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration at Xi’an Jiaotong University, China, under the Chinese Government Scholarship. He holds an MPhil and Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Dhaka, specializing in public sector governance, public-private partnerships (PPP), and rural development policy. With extensive professional experience in research, training, and project management at RDA, he has coordinated development initiatives focused on poverty reduction, local governance, and gender inclusion. His research explores governance, sustainable development, and urban resilience, contributing to leading journals such as Sustainable Development, Evaluation and Program Planning, Heliyon, and the American Journal of Health Promotion. Dr. Ahmad has authored a research book and several book chapters on rural development and policy innovation. His academic excellence has been recognized with the Best Poster Presentation Award at the XJTLU-UoL-XJTU Postgraduate Research Symposium. In addition to his scholarly work, he serves as a reviewer for prestigious journals including Heliyon, Journal of Planning Education and Research, and American Journal of Health Promotion. A lifelong member of professional organizations and a certified trainer in public service innovation, Dr. Ahmad exemplifies academic leadership and commitment to sustainable rural transformation. He has 3 published documents with 4 citations and an h-index of 2.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

1. Ahmad M., Du J., Rashid M.J., Urban Green Space and Mental Health: Mediating Roles of Physical Activity and Social Cohesion. Am. J. Health Promot., 2025, 10.1177/08901171251388878.

2. Ahmad M., Du J., Unlocking Financial Potential for Urban Nature‐Based Solutions: A PRISMA‐Based Systematic Review. Sustain. Dev., 2025, 10.1002/sd.70243.

3. Ahmad M., Ferdous J., Effectiveness of Emergency Food Assistance Programs during COVID-19 at Union Parishad: Mediating Role of Political Neutrality. Eval. Program Plann., 2025, 111, 102566, 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2025.102566.

4. Sifullah M.K., Sohel M.S., Hossain Sarker M.F., Islam M., Ahmad M., Mapping Out the Vulnerabilities of Migrant Women in the Informal Sector: A Qualitative Investigation in Dhaka City. Heliyon, 2023, 9(10), e20950, 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20950.

5. Ahmad M., Financial Autonomy of Union Parishad: A Study of Model Union Parishad. Bangladesh Rural Dev. Stud., 2021, 24(1), 61–72.