Dr. Md. Mahbubur Rahman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology, Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU) (Former; Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University), Bangladesh.
Currently, his research focuses on biorational and semio-chemical based pest management with emphasis on invasive and economically important pests such as rugose spiraling whitefly, fall armyworm, flea beetle, thrips and bean bug. He has also worked extensively on developing ecofriendly pest management strategies for vegetable and spice crops cultivated in floating garden systems, a climate resilient farming practice in Bangladesh. His scientific contributions include the development of effective control methods for bean bug, rugose spiraling whitefly in coconut, coconut mite, betel vine blackfly, hog plum leaf beetle, and the pod borer complex in mungbean. Notably, Dr. Rahman made the first confirmed record of invasive pests in Bangladesh, including rugose spiraling whitefly and the inflorescence caterpillar (Thirathaba rufivena). He has published more than thirty one research articles in international journals along with booklets and factsheets that support extension services. His research has been presented at major scientific conferences in Korea, the United States, and China. He has successfully completed more than fourteen national and international research projects as principal and associate researcher during his career. Dr. Rahman has received advanced training at Wageningen University in the Netherlands on integrated pest management and climate change impacts on floating agriculture. He also received training from the Food and Agriculture Organization on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems under the South-South Cooperation framework, and from CABI on integrating digital learning into agricultural universities in Bangladesh.
Before joining at GAU he was working as a Scientific Officer (Grade-6), Entomology Division at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Rahmatpur, Barishal from January 2011 to February 2023. He was involved in planning research programmes, execution, evaluation and reporting in entomological aspects of horticultural and pulse crops. Dr. Rahman is an Applied Entomologist with extensive experience in research on stink bugs, black fly, whitefly, fruit flies and borer pests. He has also interests on integrated pest management regarding safe crop production. He is the member of many national and international affiliations. He has successfully completed his administrative responsibilities. He has authored of 30 research articles, 06booklets, 10 factsheet which is related to insect pest management. Throughout his career, he has developed over a dozen pest management technologies and contributed to the development of improved crop varieties, strengthening sustainable agriculture and food security in Bangladesh.
Key Achievements
• Published 31 high-impact, peer-reviewed articles, including 21 in international journals, with 10 in prestigious Q1 & Q2 journals
• Led and successfully completed 13 national and international funded research projects as Director, Principal Investigator, and Co-Principal Investigator, advancing entomology and agricultural research
• Developed 12 widely adopted sustainable pest management technologies for safe crop production
• Contributed to crop variety development, including taro and betel nut
• Invited oral speaker at the Annual Conference of the Entomological Society of America (2014 & 2015) and International CleanUp 2024 conference of Australia
• Awarded Best Presentation at the Spring Meeting of the Korean Applied Entomological Society (2016)
• Recipient of the Brain Korea (BK) Scholarship from the Korean Government for PhD studies
Experience in the following national and international collaborative projects
Ongoing Project:
1. Climate Resilient Apiculture for Livelihood Improvement in Bangladesh. Duration 2025-2028. Project PIN No 13695; Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT), University Grant Commission, Bangladesh. Role: As a ASPM
2. Development of Sustainable Management Program against Invasive Rugose Spiraling Whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin on Coconut. Duration: 2023-2026; Source of fund: Research Management Wing, GAU; Role: As a Principal researcher
Completed Project:
3. Development of Bio-intensive Sustainable Management Tactics for Flea beetle, Phyllotreta spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Control on Mustard. Duration: 2024-2025; Source of fund: Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangladesh; Role: As a Principal researcher
4. Research, Extension and Popularization of Vegetables and Spices Cultivation on Floating Bed. Duration: 2017-2022; Source of fund: Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh Role: As a Co- researcher
5. Documentation of Insect Pests, Development and Dissemination of Integrated Pest Management Technology for Cultivating Important Fruits, Betel Leaf, Betel Nut and Pulse Crops through Safe Food Production in Southern Bangladesh. Duration: 2019-2022; Source of fund: Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh; Role: As a Director
6. Integrated Management Package against Hog-Plum Beetle (Podontia 14-punctata) in Southern Region of Bangladesh. Duration: 2017-2018. Source of fund: Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangladesh; Role: As a Principal researcher
7. Development and expansion of bio-rational based integrated pest management technologies of vegetables, fruits and betel leaf. Source of fund: Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh; Role: As a Co- researcher
8. Sorjan Based Integrated Farming Systems for Increasing Agricultural Productivity under Tidal Flooding Ecosystem in Southern Region of Bangladesh. Duration: 2018-2019; Source of fund: Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh; Role: As a Co- researcher
9. Incorporating salt-tolerant wheat and pulses into smallholder farming systems in southern Bangladesh. Duration: 2017-2021; Source of fund: ACIAR-ICP-III (KGF); Role: As a Core researcher
10. Improving Incomes, Nutrition and Health in Bangladesh through Potatoes, Sweet potatoes and Vegetables. Duration: 2012-2015; Source of fund: USAID –AVRDC; Role: As a Co-researcher
11. Efficacy of transgenic eggplant lines against eggplant fruit and shoot borer. Duration: 2009-2013; Source of fund: USAID; Role: As a Co-researcher
12. Changing Scenario of diseases and insect pests due to climate change in pulse crop. Duration: 2012-2013; Source of fund: Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangladesh; Role: As a Co-researcher
13. Impact of climate change on the outbreak of insect pests of coconut and its integrated management. Duration: 2011-2012; Source of fund: Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangladesh; Role: As a Co-researcher
International Exposure:
Extensive international exposure through academic and professional visits to the following countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia:
1. United States of America
2. South Korea
3. Netherlands
4. France
5. Belgium
6. Switzerland
7. Germany
8. Italy
9. Vatican City
10. Saudi Arabia
Dr. Rahman is the life member of Bangladesh Entomological Society, Krishibid Institution of Bangladesh, Entomological Society of America, Korean Applied Entomological Society. Personally Dr. Rahman is married and blessed with a son (6 years) and a daughter (03 years). Mrs. Rahman is a housewife. He is a man of Gangni, Meherpur, Bangladesh.