Md. Rafiqul Islam was born on January 1, 1955 at Godagari Upazilla of Rajshahi District. His father is late Tufani Mondol and mother, Most Rahima Begum. He completed his SSC from Godagari High School and HSC from Rajshahi College. Afterwards, he attained his Master’s Degree in Economics and Financial Management from Bulgaria and the United Kingdom respectively. He received his PhD Degree in Management from the United States in the year 2004. He also achieved Diploma on Computing and Project Management from the United Kingdom.

In 1984, he joined government job as Assistant Secretary under the BCS (Administration) Cadre. Throughout his professional life, he has worked in several positions of the government. Lastly, he worked as Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and the Ministry of Science and Technology. In his professional life, he served as the Project Director, Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Election Commission Secretariat. He is well recognized as a trainer of international standards. He has participated in various international workshops and seminars in India, Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Philippines, United Kingdom, France and Canada.

He retired from government service on December 31, 2013.  He is lifetime member of Officers’ Club, Dhaka, Rajshahi Association and Rajshahi Heart Foundation. His wife, Nazmun Ara Begum is a former Professor of Eden Mohila College. They have a son and a daughter.