The British Council has announced the appointment of Maarya Rehman as its new Deputy Director in Bangladesh, marking a new phase in its mission to strengthen educational, cultural, and people-to-people connections between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.
Maarya Rehman brings with her a wealth of leadership experience in education, culture, and youth engagement across South Asia. Since joining the British Council in 2015, she has played a pivotal role in several transformative initiatives, including the reopening of major library facilities in Lahore and Karachi. Drawing on her expertise in public libraries from the UK, she served as Director Libraries and Outreach, Area Director Punjab, and Deputy Director Pakistan, where she led large-scale strategic programmes in one of the region’s most dynamic provinces.
In October 2020, Maarya was appointed Country Director of the British Council in Sri Lanka, before returning to Pakistan in 2023 as Deputy Director. This month, she takes up her new post in Bangladesh, where she will lead the design and delivery of the British Council’s programmes across Education, English, Arts, and Youth, building innovative partnerships that empower young people and expand international collaboration.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the new role, Maarya Rehman said: “Bangladesh has a vibrant cultural and educational landscape, and I am excited to work with our partners to co-create programmes in English, education, arts, and youth engagement. I look forward to developing inclusive, future-focused initiatives that empower young people and strengthen global connections through trust and collaboration.”
To welcome her to Bangladesh, the British Council hosted a reception on October 14 at its Dhaka office, attended by representatives from the government, development partners, academia, civil society, and the cultural sector. The event also served as a farewell to David Knox, outgoing Director Programmes, who has made significant contributions to the organisation’s cultural and educational work in Bangladesh over the past three years.
For over 70 years, the British Council has been a trusted partner in Bangladesh’s development journey—advancing English language learning, education, and cultural exchange while creating opportunities for young people to fulfil their potential and connect with the wider world.
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