Biography
Expertise and Research Interest:
- Risk and Performance Management
- Fire Safety and Disaster Management
- Emergency Response Planning and Capacity Building
- Engineering and Infrastructure Management
- Policy Formulation and Institutional Strengthening
Engr. Brigadier General Ali Ahmed Khan (Retd.) is Chairman of Bangladesh Fire & Explosion Research Centre (BFERC) and a highly respected military leader and fire and disaster management specialist with over 38 years of distinguished experience in command, engineering, and emergency response. He is recognized as one of Bangladesh’s foremost authorities in fire safety and disaster resilience, blending strategic vision, operational expertise, and technical proficiency to strengthen safety standards across the nation. As the longest-serving Director General of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense, Brigadier General Khan played a transformative role in modernizing the organization into an efficient, community-focused, life-saving force. During his tenure, he led major initiatives in policy formulation, emergency response planning, and inter-agency coordination, significantly enhancing national disaster preparedness and response capabilities. His leadership ensured that the organization operated with greater efficiency, accountability, and readiness to respond to emergencies of all scales.
Throughout his career, he has held senior positions including Chief Engineer and Director Works of Military Engineering Services and Deputy Managing Director of Sena Kalyan Sangstha. In these roles, he successfully planned, directed, and executed numerous high-profile infrastructure and defense projects, demonstrating excellence in project management, resource allocation, and multidisciplinary team leadership. His broad expertise allows him to integrate engineering precision with operational safety and risk mitigation, making him a trusted advisor on complex safety and disaster management issues.
Brigadier General Khan has conducted comprehensive fire risk assessments and remediation strategies for over 1,200 facilities across Bangladesh, ensuring adherence to national and international safety standards. He has trained more than 1,500 fire safety professionals and engineers, contributing significantly to building the country’s capacity in emergency management. Additionally, he has served as an expert reviewer of fire safety audits and incident investigations, providing guidance to government agencies, consultants, and industrial organizations on corrective and preventive measures.
He holds certifications from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), has participated in the Disaster Response Exercise & Exchange (DREE) co-hosted by the Bangladesh Armed Forces and the United States Army Pacific, and is an OHSAS 18001:2007 Lead Auditor in Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems. He also worked as National Capacity Building Advisor in the Urban Resilience Project under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, funded by the World Bank. Furthermore, he is a former Fellow Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (India), Former Director of the International Fire Chiefs Association of Asia, and currently serves as Fire Safety Advisor to Dhaka North City Corporation. Brigadier General Ali Ahmed Khan’s career reflects a lifelong dedication to safeguarding lives and property, fostering resilience, and promoting a culture of safety and preparedness across Bangladesh
