Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Bangladeshi politician}}
{{Short description|Bangladeshi politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury
| name                = Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury
| honorific_prefix = [[The Honourable#Bangladesh|The Honourable]]
| honorific_suffix = [[Member of Parliament (Bangladesh)|MP]]
| native_name        = {{nobold|আমীর খসরু মাহমুদ চৌধুরী}}
| image              = Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.jpg
| image              = Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.jpg
| caption            = Chowdhury at US Embassy Dhaka in 2018
| caption            = Chowdhury at US Embassy Dhaka in 2018
| office              = [[Ministry of Commerce (Bangladesh)|Minister of Commerce]]
| office              = [[Ministry of Finance (Bangladesh)|Minister for Finance]]
| primeminister      = [[Khaleda Zia]]
| primeminister      = [[Tarique Rahman]]
| term_start          = 10 October 2001
| term_start          = 17 February 2026
| term_end            = 25 March 2004
| term_end            =
| predecessor        = [[Abdul Jalil (politician)|Abdul Jalil]]
| predecessor        = [[Salehuddin Ahmed (economist)|Salehuddin Ahmed]]
| successor          = [[Faruk Khan]]
| successor          =
| constituency_MP1    = [[Chittagong-8]]
| office1            = [[Ministry of Planning (Bangladesh)|Minister for Planning]]
| parliament1         = Bangladesh
| primeminister1      = [[Tarique Rahman]]
| term_start1         = 1996
| term_start1         = 17 February 2026
| term_end1           = 2006
| term_end1          =
| predecessor1       = [[Khaleda Zia]]
| predecessor1        = [[Wahiduddin Mahmud]]
| successor1         = [[Nurul Islam (minister)|Nurul Islam]]
| successor1          =
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1949|11|10}}
| office2            = [[Member of Parliament (Bangladesh)|Member of Parliament]]
| birth_place        = [[Chittagong]], [[East Pakistan]]
| term_start2        = 17 February 2026
| term_end2          =
| predecessor2        = [[M. Abdul Latif]]
| successor2          =
| constituency2      = [[Chittagong-11]]
| term_start3         = September 1991
| term_end3           = 29 October 2006
| predecessor3       = [[Khaleda Zia]]
| successor3         = [[Nurul Islam (minister)|Nurul Islam]]
| constituency3      = [[Chittagong-8]]
| office4            = [[Minister of Commerce (Bangladesh)|Minister for Commerce]]
| primeminister4      = [[Khaleda Zia]]
| term_start4        = 10 October 2001
| term_end4          = 25 March 2004
| predecessor4        = [[Abdul Jalil (politician)|Abdul Jalil]]
| successor4          = [[Altaf Hossain Chowdhury]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1949|11|10}}
| birth_place        = [[North Kattali Ward|North Kattali]], [[Chittagong]], [[East Bengal]] now [[Bangladesh]]
| death_date          =  
| death_date          =  
| death_place        =  
| death_place        =  
| nationality        = [[Bangladesh]]i
| nationality        = Bangladeshi
| party              = [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]]
| party              = [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]]
| children            = Israfil Khosru
| father = [[Mahmudunnabi Chowdhury]]
| occupation          = Politician
| occupation          = Politician
| education          =
| alma_mater          = {{ubl|[[Chittagong College]]|[[Chittagong Collegiate School]]}}
}}
}}


'''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>  
'''Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury''' (born 10 November 1949) is a standing committee member of [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]], and current minister of finance and planning.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gazette notification on allocation of portfolios to ministers, state ministers |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/government/nlsgfo6hl9 |access-date=19 February 2026 |work=[[Prothom Alo]]|date=18 February 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-04-16 |title=The Week That Was |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-84224 |access-date=2022-01-10 |work=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>
 
==Early life and education==
Amir Khosru was born on 20 February 1950 to a [[Bengalis|Bengali]] family of [[Muslim]] [[Chowdhury|Chowdhuries]] in the Nazir Bari of North Kattali, [[Pahartali Thana|Pahartali]] in the [[Chittagong District]] of [[East Bengal]], [[Pakistan]] (now [[Bangladesh]]). His father, [[Mahmudunnabi Chowdhury]], was a minister during the [[East Pakistan]] period and a member of the [[East Pakistan Legislative Assembly]]. Chowdhury graduated with a [[Bachelor's degree]] from [[Chittagong College]] in 1969. He then studied [[accountancy]] in [[London]], [[England]].<ref name=":0">{{cite Banglapedia|author=Kamal, Mohammad Mostafa|article=Chowdhury, Mahmudun Nabi}}</ref>


==Career==
==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>
Amir Khosru was elected as a Member of Parliament from [[Chittagong-8]] thrice from the [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]]. First in 1991 which was a by-election and again in 1996 and again in 2001.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Akhter |first=Muhammad Yeahia |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 is a businessman and former chairman and founder of [[Chittagong Stock Exchange]], a former president of [[Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry|Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industries]] and the first president of Federation of South Asian Exchanges.<ref name="bbc25Mar2005" /> He was the former commerce minister in the BNP government from 2001 to 2004.<ref name="bbc25Mar2005" />


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>
Chowdhury resigned on 25 March 2004 from the cabinet.<ref name="bbc25Mar2005">{{cite news |title=Shock at Bangladesh resignation |url=https://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="ds17Apr2012">{{Cite news |date=2012-04-17 |title=None resigned voluntarily |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-230484 |access-date=2022-01-10 |work=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="ds17Apr2012" /> Speculation at the time suggest that it could be linked to Chowdhury approving opening of a commerce office of Taiwan.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Khasru Resigns |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/04/01/news.htm |access-date=2022-01-10 |magazine=Star Magazine}}</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" />
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 news |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 |work=The Daily Star |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110162521/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-9635 |archive-date=2022-01-10}}</ref> He had fled Bangladesh during the crackdown on corruption by the Caretaker Government.<ref name="ds21Aug2008">{{Cite news |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 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>  


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 called for the removal of acting mayor of Chittagong City Corporation, Zahirul Alam Dobhash, ahead of mayoral elections in 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |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 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> He was the chief election agent of [[M Manjur Alam]], the [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]] candidate for mayor.<ref name="Correspondent">{{Cite news |date=2010-06-16 |title=Magistrate withdrawn after BNP objection |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-142873 |access-date=2022-01-10 |work=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 name="Correspondent"/>


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'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 news |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 |work=The Daily Star |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110174517/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-213194 |archive-date=2022-01-10}}</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>
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 news |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 |work=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 news |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 |work=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]].]]
[[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>
On 23 June 2014, Chowdhury criticized the government for various loan scams at a conference of [[Bangladesh Economists Forum]].<ref>{{Cite news |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 |work=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 was the chief of BNP's [[Chittagong City Corporation|Chittagong city]] unit in 2015.<ref name="bdn22Mar2015">{{cite news |title=Chittagong BNP leader Amir Khasru says he will not run for mayor |url=https://bdnews24.com/politics/chittagong-bnp-leader-amir-khasru-says-he-will-not-run-for-mayor |work=bdnews24.com |date=22 March 2015 |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="bdn22Mar2015" />


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" />
Chowdhury is the chief adviser of [[Khaleda Zia]], the chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party.<ref name="bdn16May2016">{{cite news |title=BNP leaders attend meeting at US ambassador's residence |url=https://bdnews24.com/politics/bnp-leaders-attend-meeting-at-us-ambassadors-residence |work=bdnews24.com |date=16 May 2016 |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="bdn16May2016" />


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>
In 2017, Chowdhury was  a Standing Committee member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.<ref name="Report">{{Cite news |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 |work=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 name="Report"/> Chowdhury asked the government to make a clear stand in regards to the [[Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh]] in September 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |title=BNP seeks clear stance of government over Rohingya issue |url=https://www.daily-sun.com/post/255711/BNP-seeks-clear-stance-of-government-over-Rohingya-issue |access-date=2022-01-10 |work=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>  
The Anti-Corruption Commission issued summons against Chowdhury to interrogate him on corruption charges on 16 August 2018.<ref name="ds5Sep2018">{{Cite news |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 |work=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="ds5Sep2018" /> 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 name="ds5Sep2018"/> The day before the commission had placed a travel ban on him and his wife.<ref name="ds4Oct2018">{{Cite news |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 |work=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>
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 news |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 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |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 |work=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 news |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 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> The Supreme Court bench upheld the order issued by the High Court.<ref>{{Cite news |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 |work=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]]]]
[[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 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 news |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 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>), the student front of Bangladesh Nationalist Party.<ref>{{Cite news |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 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref><ref name="ds4Oct2018" /> 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 news |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 |work=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 news |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 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> He was taken on remand on 26 October by the Chattogram Metropolitan Police.<ref>{{Cite news |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 |work=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 news |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 |work=The Daily Star |agency=UNB |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>  
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 news |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 |work=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 news |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 |work=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 news |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 |work=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 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 news |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 |work=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 news |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 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> He had also spoken against the usage of Electronic Voting Machine in the election.<ref>{{Cite news |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 |work=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>
Chowdhury criticized the 2020-2021 budget for ignoring people and their livelihoods.<ref>{{Cite news |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 |work=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 news |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 |work=The Daily Star |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223071047/https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/phone-call-leaked-ctg-police-press-charges-against-bnps-amir-khasru-2923946 |archive-date=2021-12-23}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{Commons category}}
 
==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}


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Latest revision as of 18:43, 22 March 2026


The Honourable
Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury
MP
আমীর খসরু মাহমুদ চৌধুরী
Chowdhury at US Embassy Dhaka in 2018
Minister for Finance
Assumed office
17 February 2026
Prime MinisterTarique Rahman
Preceded bySalehuddin Ahmed
Minister for Planning
Assumed office
17 February 2026
Prime MinisterTarique Rahman
Preceded byWahiduddin Mahmud
Member of Parliament
Assumed office
17 February 2026
Preceded byM. Abdul Latif
ConstituencyChittagong-11
In office
September 1991 – 29 October 2006
Preceded byKhaleda Zia
Succeeded byNurul Islam
ConstituencyChittagong-8
Minister for Commerce
In office
10 October 2001 – 25 March 2004
Prime MinisterKhaleda Zia
Preceded byAbdul Jalil
Succeeded byAltaf Hossain Chowdhury
Personal details
Born (1949-11-10) 10 November 1949 (age 76)
North Kattali, Chittagong, East Bengal now Bangladesh
NationalityBangladeshi
Political partyBangladesh Nationalist Party
ChildrenIsrafil Khosru
Parent(s)
Alma mater
OccupationPolitician

Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury (born 10 November 1949) is a standing committee member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and current minister of finance and planning.[1][2] He hails from a political family in Chittagong and headed the city's BNP unit momentarily to organize the party.[3][4]

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

Amir Khosru was born on 20 February 1950 to a Bengali family of Muslim Chowdhuries in the Nazir Bari of North Kattali, Pahartali in the Chittagong District of East Bengal, Pakistan (now Bangladesh). His father, Mahmudunnabi Chowdhury, was a minister during the East Pakistan period and a member of the East Pakistan Legislative Assembly. Chowdhury graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Chittagong College in 1969. He then studied accountancy in London, England.[5]

Career[edit | edit source]

Amir Khosru was elected as a Member of Parliament from Chittagong-8 thrice from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. First in 1991 which was a by-election and again in 1996 and again in 2001.[6]

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.[7] He was the former commerce minister in the BNP government from 2001 to 2004.[7]

Chowdhury resigned on 25 March 2004 from the cabinet.[7] He resigned following allegations that he had allowed a syndicate to raise the price of essential commodities in Bangladesh.[8] Another reason for the resignation was his supposed rivalry with the Minister of Finance, Saifur Rahman.[8] Speculation at the time suggest that it could be linked to Chowdhury approving opening of a commerce office of Taiwan.[9]

On 31 October 2007, arrest warrants were issued against Chowdhury on a corruption case filled by the Anti-Corruption Commission.[10] He had fled Bangladesh during the crackdown on corruption by the Caretaker Government.[11]


Chowdhury called for the removal of acting mayor of Chittagong City Corporation, Zahirul Alam Dobhash, ahead of mayoral elections in 2010.[12] He was the chief election agent of M Manjur Alam, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate for mayor.[13] Following a complaint by Chowdhury against executive magistrate Salehin Tanvir Gazi of favoring the Awami League candidate the Election Commission withdrew Gazi.[13]

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.[14]

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.[15] 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.[16]

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.[17]

Chowdhury was the chief of BNP's Chittagong city unit in 2015.[18] He announced in March 2015 that he will not contest in the upcoming mayoral elections of the Chittagong City Corporation.[18]

Chowdhury is the chief adviser of Khaleda Zia, the chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party.[19] 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.[19]

In 2017, Chowdhury was a Standing Committee member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.[20] He spoke against the arrest of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and claimed the rule of law was absent in Bangladesh.[20] Chowdhury asked the government to make a clear stand in regards to the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in September 2017.[21]

The Anti-Corruption Commission issued summons against Chowdhury to interrogate him on corruption charges on 16 August 2018.[22] 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.[22] A Bangladesh High Court bench refused to hear the appeal while another bench, composed of Justice Borhanuddin and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman, dropped the appeal from their schedule without any explanations on 5 October.[22] The day before the commission had placed a travel ban on him and his wife.[23]

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.[24][25] Justice M Imman Ali of the 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.[26] The Supreme Court bench upheld the order issued by the High Court.[27]

Chowdhury with 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[28]), the student front of Bangladesh Nationalist Party.[29][23] 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.[30] Chowdhury was sent to Chittagong jail on 22 October after his request for an extension of bail was denied.[31] He was taken on remand on 26 October by the Chattogram Metropolitan Police.[32] On 4 November 2018, Chowdhury received his bail and 12 November he was released from Chittagong Jail.[33]

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.[34] He had been nominated by Bangladesh Nationalist Party to contest the election from Chittagong-11 in the 2018 national elections.[35] He lost to M Abdul Latif of Awami League, who received 283,169 votes while Chowdhury had received 52,898 votes.[36]

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.[37] He complained to the Election Commission over irregularities in the two Dhaka city corporation elections in February 2020.[38] He had also spoken against the usage of Electronic Voting Machine in the election.[39]

Chowdhury criticized the 2020-2021 budget for ignoring people and their livelihoods.[40] On 23 December 2021, Chittagong Police pressed charges against Chowdhury over the 2018 cases against him regarding the student protests and leaked phone call.[41]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Gazette notification on allocation of portfolios to ministers, state ministers". Prothom Alo. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  2. ↑ "The Week That Was". The Daily Star. 16 April 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  3. ↑ "President will form acceptable EC, hopes Fakhrul". The Financial Express. Dhaka. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  4. ↑ "Chittagong to get garment village". The Daily Star. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  5. ↑ Kamal, Mohammad Mostafa (2012). "Chowdhury, Mahmudun Nabi". In Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  6. ↑ Akhter, Muhammad Yeahia (2001). Electoral corruption in Bangladesh. Aldershot, Hampshire, England: Ashgate. p. 243. ISBN 0-7546-1628-2. OCLC 45592557.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Shock at Bangladesh resignation". BBC News. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "None resigned voluntarily". The Daily Star. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "Khasru Resigns". Star Magazine. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  10. ↑ "Arrest warrant against Amir Khasru, Harris Chowdhury, 10 others". The Daily Star. 31 October 2007. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  11. ↑ Manik, Julfikar Ali (21 August 2008). "Most graft convicts absconding abroad". The Daily Star. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  12. ↑ "Remove Dobhash to ensure fair CCC polls: Khasru". The Daily Star. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Magistrate withdrawn after BNP objection". The Daily Star. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  14. ↑ "20 hurt as Jubo Dal rivals clash in Chittagong". The Daily Star. 8 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  15. ↑ "AL, BNP teams leave for London to join". The Daily Star. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  16. ↑ "JCD men clash over Khaleda birthday celebration". The Daily Star. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  17. ↑ "Good governance: need of the time". The Daily Star. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Chittagong BNP leader Amir Khasru says he will not run for mayor". bdnews24.com. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "BNP leaders attend meeting at US ambassador's residence". bdnews24.com. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Country being run by rulers' law: Amir Khasru". The Daily Star. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  21. ↑ "BNP seeks clear stance of government over Rohingya issue". Daily Sun. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 "ACC notices: HC bench refuses to hear Amir Khasru's plea". The Daily Star. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Khasru, wife can't leave country: ACC". The Daily Star. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  24. ↑ "HC rejects Amir Khasru's challenge". The Daily Star. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  25. ↑ "HC order on Sept 16". The Daily Star. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  26. ↑ "Graft case: SC to hear Khasru's plea Oct 1". The Daily Star. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  27. ↑ "SC upholds ACC notices to quiz Amir Khasru". The Daily Star. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  28. ↑ "Detectives pick up Naomi in Comilla". The Daily Star. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  29. ↑ "Amir Khasru gets anticipatory bail". The Daily Star. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  30. ↑ "Amir Khasru sued over 'phone conversation'". The Daily Star. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  31. ↑ "Khasru sent to jail". The Daily Star. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  32. ↑ "Amir Khasru remanded". The Daily Star. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  33. ↑ "Amir Khasru freed from Chattogram jail on bail". The Daily Star. UNB. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  34. ↑ "BNP's website 'blocked'". The Daily Star. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  35. ↑ "BNP candidates". The Daily Star. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  36. ↑ "Chattogram-11 - Constituency detail of Bangladesh General Election 2018". The Daily Star. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  37. ↑ "People to suffer for budget deficit: Amir Khasru". The Daily Star. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  38. ↑ "BNP submits written complaint to EC over polls irregularities". The Daily Star. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  39. ↑ "City polls: BNP places 21-point demand to EC". The Daily Star. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  40. ↑ "People's lives, livelihoods ignored in budget: says Amir Khashru". The Daily Star. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  41. ↑ "Leaked phone call: Ctg police press charges against BNP's Amir Khasru". The Daily Star. 23 December 2021. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2022.

External links[edit | edit source]

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