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{{Short description|Bangladeshi politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury
| image = Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.jpg
| caption = Chowdhury at US Embassy Dhaka in 2018
| office = [[Ministry of Commerce (Bangladesh)|Minister of Commerce]]
| primeminister = [[Khaleda Zia]]
| term_start = 10 October 2001
| term_end = 25 March 2004
| predecessor = [[Abdul Jalil (politician)|Abdul Jalil]]
| successor = [[Faruk Khan]]
| constituency_MP1 = [[Chittagong-8]]
| parliament1 = Bangladesh
| term_start1 = 1996
| term_end1 = 2006
| predecessor1 = [[Khaleda Zia]]
| successor1 = [[Nurul Islam (minister)|Nurul Islam]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|11|10}}
| birth_place = [[Chittagong]], [[East Pakistan]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = [[Bangladesh]]i
| party = [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]]
| occupation = Politician
}}

'''Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury''' is a standing committee member of [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]], and former Minister of Commerce.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-04-16|title=The Week That Was|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-84224|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> He hails from a political family in Chittagong and headed the city's BNP unit momentarily to organize the party.<ref>{{cite news |title=President will form acceptable EC, hopes Fakhrul |url=http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/01/20/59671/President-will-form-acceptable-EC,-hopes-Fakhrul |work=The Financial Express |location=Dhaka |access-date=21 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chittagong to get garment village |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/business/chittagong-get-garment-village-122905 |work=The Daily Star |access-date=21 January 2017 |language=en |date=7 August 2015}}</ref>

==Career==
Chowdhury was elected to Parliament from Chittagong-8 in a by-election as a candidate of Bangladesh Nationalist Party in September 1991.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Akhter|first=Muhammad Yeahia|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/45592557|title=Electoral corruption in Bangladesh|date=2001|publisher=Ashgate|isbn=0-7546-1628-2|location=Aldershot, Hampshire, England|pages=243|oclc=45592557}}</ref>

Chowdhury was re-elected Parliament from Chittagong-8 as a candidate of Bangladesh Nationalist Party in June 1996 with 47.1 percent (116,547 votes) of the votes while his nearest rival, [[Muhammad Afsarul Ameen]], received 40.4 (106, 341 votes) percent of the votes.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|date=2008-12-29|title=Parliament Election Result of 1991,1996,2001Bangladesh Election Information and Statistics|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229000557/http://votemonitor.net/bangladesh/EADetails_1991_1996_2001.php?EA=286|access-date=2022-01-10|website=web.archive.org}}</ref>

Chowdhury was re-elected Parliament from Chittagong-8 as a candidate of Bangladesh Nationalist Party in the [[2001 Bangladeshi general election]] with 56.7 percent (181,584 votes) of the votes while his nearest rival, [[Muhammad Afsarul Ameen]], received 40.4 (129,198 votes) percent of the votes.<ref name=":7" />

Chowdhury is a businessman and former chairman and founder of [[Chittagong Stock Exchange]], a former president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industries and the first president of Federation of South Asian Exchanges.<ref name=":0" /> He was the former commerce minister in the BNP government from 2001 to 2004.<ref name=":0" /> He attended the one million surgery performed by the [[Bangladesh National Society of Blind]] at the [[Chittagong Eye Infirmary and Training Complex]] as chief guest in January 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|last=BSS|first=Ctg|date=2003-01-03|title=BNSB performs 1m eye operations|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bnsb-performs-1m-eye-operations|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

Chowdhury resigned on 25 March 2004 from the cabinet.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |title=Shock at Bangladesh resignation |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3568677.stm |publisher=BBC News |access-date=21 January 2017}}</ref> He resigned following allegations that he had allowed a syndicate to raise the price of essential commodities in Bangladesh.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Report|first=Star|date=2012-04-17|title=None resigned voluntarily|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-230484|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> Another reason for the resignation was his supposed rivalry with the Minister of Finance, [[Saifur Rahman (Bangladeshi politician)|Saifur Rahman]].<ref name=":1" /> Speculation at the time suggest that it could be linked to Chowdhury approving opening of a commerce office of Taiwan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Star Magazine|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/04/01/news.htm|access-date=2022-01-10|website=archive.thedailystar.net}}</ref>

On 31 October 2007, arrest warrants were issued against Chowdhury on a corruption case filled by the [[Anti-Corruption Commission (Bangladesh)|Anti-Corruption Commission]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-10-31|title=Arrest warrant against Amir Khasru, Harris Chowdhury, 10 others|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-9635|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> He had fled Bangladesh during the crackdown on corruption by the Caretaker Government.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|last=Manik|first=Julfikar Ali|date=2008-08-21|title=Most graft convicts absconding abroad|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-51236|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> His guard started a tea in front of his abandoned house in [[Gulshan Thana|Gulshan]]-2.<ref name=":8" />

In December 2008, [[Islami Chhatra Shibir]] activists spread printed propaganda against [[Sheikh Hasina]] at election rallies of Chowdhury.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=Our|last2=Ctg|date=2008-12-20|title=Malicious campaign in Ctg|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-67902|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> He denied any knowledge of the incident and blamed Islami Chhatra Shibir.<ref name=":2" /> He lost the election in [[Chittagong-10]] to [[M. Abdul Latif|M Abdul Latif]] of Awami League by 22,645 votes in a major upset for his party at their traditional stronghold of Chittagong.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hasan|first=Md|last2=Barua|first2=Dwaipayan|date=2008-12-31|title=Ctg BNP busy in finding out reasons|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-69432|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Alamgir|first=Nur Uddin|last2=Chittagong|date=2008-12-21|title=Ctg-10 a 'dream seat' for all 10 contestants|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-68030|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

Chowdhury called for the removal of acting mayor of Chittagong City Corporation, Zahirul Alam Dobhash, ahead of mayor elections in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=Staff|last2=Ctg|date=2010-05-26|title=Remove Dobhash to ensure fair CCC polls: Khasru|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-140129|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> He was the chief election agent of [[M Manjur Alam]], the Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate for mayor.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=Staff|last2=Ctg|date=2010-06-16|title=Magistrate withdrawn after BNP objection|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-142873|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> Following a complaint by Chowdhury against executive magistrate [[Salehin Tanvir Gazi]] of favoring the Awami League candidate the Election Commission withdrew Gazi.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=Staff|last2=Ctg|date=2010-06-16|title=Magistrate withdrawn after BNP objection|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-142873|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

Chowdhury's, then President of Chittagong unit of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, [[Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal]] supporters clashed with the supporters of the General Secretary of Chittagong City unit of Bangladesh Nationalist Party Dr Shahadat Hossain in December 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-12-08|title=20 hurt as Jubo Dal rivals clash in Chittagong|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-213194|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

Chowdhury was part of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party delegation to the ''Democracy, good governance and human rights in Bangladesh'', held in July 2013 in London.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=Staff|date=2013-07-16|title=AL, BNP teams leave for London to join|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/al-bnp-teams-leave-for-london-to-join|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> Chowdhury's, then President of Chittagong unit of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, [[Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal]] supporters clashed with the supporters of the General Secretary of Chittagong City unit of Bangladesh Nationalist Party Dr Shahadat Hossain on 15 August 2013 at a cake cutting function celebrating former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's birthday.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Report|first=Star Online|date=2013-08-15|title=JCD men clash over Khaleda birthday celebration|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/jcd-men-clash-over-khaleda-birthday-celebration|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Secretary_Kerry_Greets_Begum_Khaleda_Zia_at_the_U.S._Embassy_Dhaka_(28695344064).jpg|thumb|Chowdhury part of a delegation led by former Prime Minister [[Khaleda Zia]] that met US Secretary of State [[John Kerry]].]]
On 23 June 2014, Chowdhury criticized the government for various loan scams at a conference of [[Bangladesh Economists Forum]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Report|first=Star Business|date=2014-06-23|title=Good governance: need of the time|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/good-governance-need-of-the-time-29867|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

Chowdhury was the chief of BNP's [[Chittagong City Corporation|Chittagong city]] unit in 2015.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |title=Chittagong BNP leader Amir Khasru says he will not run for mayor |url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2015/03/23/chittagong-bnp-leader-amir-khasru-says-he-will-not-run-for-mayor |work=bdnews24.com |access-date=21 January 2017}}</ref> He announced in March 2015 that he will not contest in the upcoming mayoral elections of the [[Chittagong City Corporation]].<ref name=":3" />

Chowdhury is the chief adviser of [[Khaleda Zia]], the chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party.<ref name=":4">{{cite news |title=BNP leaders attend meeting at US ambassador’s residence |url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2016/05/16/bnp-leaders-attend-meeting-at-us-ambassadors-residence |work=bdnews24.com |access-date=21 January 2017}}</ref> He met William Todd, the Principal Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the State Department of the United States, at the residence of the Ambassador of the United States to Bangladesh, [[Marcia Bernicat]] on 16 May 2016.<ref name=":4" />

In 2017, Chowdhury was a Standing Committee member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Report|first=Star Online|date=2017-12-04|title=Country being run by rulers’ law: Amir Khasru|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/country-being-run-rulers-law-amir-khasru-1500130|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> He spoke against the arrest of former Prime Minister [[Khaleda Zia]] and claimed the rule of law was absent in Bangladesh.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Report|first=Star Online|date=2017-12-04|title=Country being run by rulers’ law: Amir Khasru|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/country-being-run-rulers-law-amir-khasru-1500130|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> Chowdhury asked the government to make a clear stand in regards to the [[Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh]] in September 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|last=sun|first=daily|title=BNP seeks clear stance of government over Rohingya issue {{!}} Daily Sun {{!}}|url=https://www.daily-sun.com/post/255711/BNP-seeks-clear-stance-of-government-over-Rohingya-issue|access-date=2022-01-10|website=daily sun|language=en}}</ref>

The Anti-Corruption Commission issued summons against Chowdhury to interrogate him on corruption charges on 16 August 2018.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Report|first=Star Online|date=2018-09-05|title=ACC notices: HC bench refuses to hear Amir Khasru’s plea|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/city/bnp-leader-amir-khasru-mahmud-chowdhury-corruption-allegation-acc-notices-hc-bench-refuses-hear-1629487|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> Chowdhury filed a petition with the Bangladesh High Court, on 3 September 2018, challenging it's order from the Anti-Corruption Commission as not being valid.<ref name=":5" /> A Bangladesh High Court bench refused to hear the appeal while another bench, composed of Justice [[Borhanuddin (justice)|Borhanuddin]] and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman, dropped the appeal from their schedule without any explanations on 5 October.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Report|first=Star Online|date=2018-09-05|title=ACC notices: HC bench refuses to hear Amir Khasru’s plea|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/city/bnp-leader-amir-khasru-mahmud-chowdhury-corruption-allegation-acc-notices-hc-bench-refuses-hear-1629487|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> The day before the commission had placed a travel ban on him and his wife.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Report|first=Star Online|date=2018-10-04|title=Khasru, wife can’t leave country: ACC|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/embargo-on-bnp-leader-amir-khasru-mahmud-his-wife-to-leave-bangladesh-1642525|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

On 16 September 2018, Justice [[Md Nazrul Islam Talukder]] and Justice [[KM Hafizul Alam]] of the High Court Bench rejected his petition challenging the summons by the Anti-Corruption Commission.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=Staff|date=2018-09-17|title=HC rejects Amir Khasru's challenge|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/news/amir-khasru-acc-interrogation-high-court-clears-way-1634557|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=Staff|date=2018-09-12|title=HC order on Sept 16|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/news/bnp-leader-amir-khasru-mahmud-chowdhury-plea-against-acc-notice-september-16-1632397|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> Justice [[Muhammad Imman Ali|M Imman Ali]] of the [[Bangladesh Supreme Court, Appellate Division|Appellate Division]] of Bangladesh Supreme Court set 1 October 2021 as the hearing date on his petition against the High Court Division verdict on the summons.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Report|first=Star Online|date=2018-09-17|title=Graft case: SC to hear Khasru's plea Oct 1|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/news/graft-case-sc-hear-khasrus-plea-oct-1-1634980|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> The Supreme Court bench upheld the order issued by the High Court.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=Staff|date=2018-10-02|title=SC upholds ACC notices to quiz Amir Khasru|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/supreme-court-upholds-anti-corruption-commission-notices-amir-khasru-mahmud-quizzing-1641151|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Amir_Khasru_Mahmud_Chowdhury,_Tofail_Ahmed_and_Badiul_Alam_Majumdar.jpg|thumb|Chowdhury with [[Tofail Ahmed (politician)|Tofail Ahmed]] and [[Badiul Alam Majumdar]] at the [[Embassy of the United States, Dhaka]]]]
On 24 August 2018, Chowdhury secured anticipatory bails from the High Court Division in two cases, one alleged that he "provoked" the [[2018 Bangladesh road-safety protests]] and the second stemmed from a leaked cellphone conversation between him and a leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (Mizanur Rahman Naomi who was later arrested<ref>{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=Staff|date=2018-08-06|title=Detectives pick up Naomi in Comilla|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/highlights-ofthe-day-1616587|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>), the student front of Bangladesh Nationalist Party.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=Staff|date=2018-08-28|title=Amir Khasru gets anticipatory bail|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/city/bnps-khasru-secures-bail-2-cases-1625182|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> The General Secretary of Chittagong City unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League, Jakaria Dastagir, filed the case against Chowdhury under the Section 57 of Information and Communication Technology Act for the phone conversation leak.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Report|first=Star Online|date=2018-08-05|title=Amir Khasru sued over ‘phone conversation’|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/bnp-amir-khasru-sued-over-phone-conversation-under-ict-special-power-acts-1616179|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> Chowdhury was sent to Chittagong jail on 22 October after his request for an extension of bail was denied.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=Staff|last2=Ctg|date=2018-10-22|title=Khasru sent to jail|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/bnp-leader-amir-khasru-sent-chattogram-jail-1649923|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> He was taken on remand on 26 October by the Chattogram Metropolitan Police.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=Staff|last2=Ctg|date=2018-10-26|title=Amir Khasru remanded|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/news/bnp-leader-amir-khasru-remanded-1651666|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> On 4 November 2018, Chowdhury received his bail and 12 November he was released from Chittagong Jail.<ref>{{Cite web|last=UNB|first=Chattogram|date=2018-11-12|title=Amir Khasru freed from Chattogram jail on bail|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/bnp-leader-amir-khasru-mahmud-chowdhury-freed-chattogram-jail-on-bail-1659409|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

On 18 December 2018, a couple of weeks before the election, Chowdhury alleged that the website of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, www.bnpbangladesh.com, was blocked in Bangladesh by the government.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-12-18|title=BNP’s website ‘blocked’|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/bangladesh-national-election-2018/bnp-official-website-blocked-amir-khasru-1675492|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> He had been nominated by Bangladesh Nationalist Party to contest the election from [[Chittagong-11]] in the 2018 national elections.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-12-08|title=BNP candidates|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/bangladesh-national-election-2018/all-bnp-candidates-1670812|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> He lost to [[M. Abdul Latif|M Abdul Latif]] of Awami League, who received 283,169 votes while Chowdhury had received 52,898 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-11-25|title=Chattogram-11 - Constituency detail of Bangladesh General Election 2018|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/bangladesh-national-election-2018/seats?s=Chattogram-11&d=chattogram|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

Chowdhury criticized the 2019-2020 national budget of Bangladesh for a 1.45 trillion deficit and said the budget would increase the sufferings of regular people who would have to pay more revenue to the government.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Report|first=Star Online|date=2019-06-13|title=People to suffer for budget deficit: Amir Khasru|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/bangladesh-national-budget-2019-20/people-suffer-for-budget-deficit-1756555|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> He complained to the Election Commission over irregularities in the two Dhaka city corporation elections in February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Report|first=Star Online|date=2020-02-01|title=BNP submits written complaint to EC over polls irregularities|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/dhaka-city-elections-2020/news/bnp-submits-written-complaint-ec-over-polls-irregularities-1862149|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> He had also spoken against the usage of Electronic Voting Machine in the election.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Report|first=Star Online|date=2020-01-06|title=City polls: BNP places 21-point demand to EC|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/dhaka-city-election-2020-bnp-places-21-point-demand-1850407|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

Chowdhury criticized the 2020-2021 budget for ignoring people and their livelihoods.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Report|first=Star Online|date=2020-06-11|title=People’s lives, livelihoods ignored in budget: says Amir Khashru|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/peoples-lives-livelihoods-ignored-budget-2020-21-1912777|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> Chowdhury was interrogated in February and March 2021 at the headquarters of the Anti-Corruption Commission in Dhaka.<ref>{{Cite web|last=BSS|first=Dhaka|date=2021-03-01|title=ACC grills BNP leader Amir Khasru on graft allegations|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/crime/news/acc-grills-bnp-leader-amir-khasru-graft-allegations-2053125|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> On 23 December 2021, Chittagong Police pressed charges against Chowdhury over the 2018 cases against him regarding the student protests and leaked phone call.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-23|title=Leaked phone call: Ctg police press charges against BNP’s Amir Khasru|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/phone-call-leaked-ctg-police-press-charges-against-bnps-amir-khasru-2923946|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-10|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Commons category}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chowdhury, Amir Khasru Mahmud}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Chittagong District]]
[[Category:Bangladesh Nationalist Party politicians]]
[[Category:Chittagong College alumni]]
[[Category:5th Jatiya Sangsad members]]
[[Category:6th Jatiya Sangsad members]]
[[Category:7th Jatiya Sangsad members]]
[[Category:8th Jatiya Sangsad members]]
[[Category:Commerce ministers of Bangladesh]]

Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury - Revision history

Bharatprspecialist at 13:13, 22 March 2026

>Vinegarymass911: added images