Email:
Phone: (+44) 079420697809
Political Offices:
Member of Parliament (MP) (1991-2006):
Elected as MP in the 1991, 1996 & 2001Bangladesh general elections.
Minister for Commerce (2001-2004):
In charge of the Ministry of Commerce, The Peoples’ Republic of
Bangladesh.
Other Political Appointments:
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Member (2001-2004): Purchase Committee (Government Procurement
Committee)
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Member (1996-2001): Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance
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Member (1991-1996): Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce
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Representative (1994): Bangladesh Delegation at the UNGA
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Member (1993-1994): Committee on Health Policy
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Member (1987-1989): Advisory Committee, National Board of Revenue
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Member (1988): Police Reform Committee
Contribution to Global Trade and LDCs:
Mr. Chowdhury’s intellectual command and experience lies in the area of trade and the role of LDCs (Least Developing Countries) in a globalizing world. He led LDCs in the
WTO Ministerial in Cancun , and Bangladesh in the Doha Ministerial. In 2003, he hosted pre-Cancun conference of LDCs in Dhaka and later spearheaded the Dhaka
Declaration , which later served as the basis for the Cancun Declaration. He is an expert on trade policies, especially with regard to LDCs’ integration into global trade, and a veteran of regional and global policy negotiations. Currently, he is in the process of setting up a research think-tank, Development Initiative , which will look into the effects of trade policies on Bangladesh, and act as a recommendation and technical assistance body to other LDCs and the WTO. He is a frequent speaker on issues relating to trade and poverty alleviation both in and outside of Bangladesh. In 2003, he was invited to address the Commonwealth Business Council to address the topic of ‘Global Trade and LDCs.’
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As Delegation Leader:
Mr. Chowdhury is an avid believer of regional cooperation and harmony and invested a considerable amount of his effort in improving ties with Bangladesh’s neighbors and greater neighbors. He led various economic, business and friendship delegations to numerous countries promoting trade and economic cooperation with Bangladesh and the South Asian region. His most influential visits include the ten-member all-party parliamentary delegation to South Korea in 1995 and the five-member team under the banner of China-Bangladesh Friendship Delegation to the Peoples Republic of China in 1998.
Some other delegations include:
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‘Technology Transfer’ in S. Korea
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‘Foreign Investment in Developing Countries’ in Taiwan
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‘Foreign Investment in Bangladesh’ in Europe & USA
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‘Investment Opportunities in Bangladesh’ in Singapore
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‘Investment Opportunities in Bangladesh’ in Japan
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‘Indo-Bangladesh Relations’ in India
Some Recent Lectureships:
As someone who relishes scholarly challenge and enjoys participating in discussions,
Mr. Chowdhury is a frequent contributor to national and global debate on trade, development, investment & economic policies, and LDCs’ agendas. He also delivered short courses to university/college students on these topics. His audience ranges from academics, students, policymakers to researchers and members of civil society. Some of his recent lectureships and/or academic curriculum include:
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UBIFRANCE, the Foreign Trade organization, Ministry for Foreign Trade, Paris
(2006), on Potentiality of a New Emerging Market: Bangladesh, on the Way of
Rapid Growth
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SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Chamber of
Commerce and Industries, Islamabad (2006), on Economic
Cooperation in SAARC
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Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi (2006), on Role of Industrial
Cluster
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Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Dhaka (2005), on Bangladesh in a
Globalizing World
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National Defense College of Bangladesh, Dhaka (2004 & 2006), on Export
Challenges of Bangladesh
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World Bank Retreat, Katmandu (2003), on Bangladesh: Integration into Global
Economy
Contribution to Bangladesh and South Asian integration:
The year 1986 marked the beginning of Mr. Chowdhury’s entry into public service. He was elected as the President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industries and served two consecutive terms until 1990. In the years that followed, he founded and spearheaded multiple financial institutions in Bangladesh. As an ardent believer of South
Asian cooperation and economic integration, he initiated the pioneering step and succeeded to establish the very first regional federation of stock exchanges. In 2000, he was accorded with the prestigious Sher-e-Bangla National Award for his contribution to
Bangladesh’s economy. Some national and regional credentials include:
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Founder and Chairman (2004): Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI)
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Founder and Chairman (1998-2000): South Asian Federation of Stock
Exchanges (SAFE)
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Founder and Chairman (1999): Central Depositary Company of Bangladesh Ltd.
(CDBL)
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Founder and President (1995-2001): Chittagong Stock Exchange
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President (1986-1990): Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industries
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Director (1991-1996): Sonali Bank (Bangladesh’s largest public bank)
Commitment to Development and Environment:
Mr. Chowdhury is passionate advocate of sustainable development and was instrumental in setting up Bangladesh’s first eco-friendly Export Processing Zone
(Korean EPZ) in Chittagong. In recent years, he founded The Mahmudun Nabi
Chowdhury Foundation (as a memorial to his late father - a former minister and social critic) and focused its activities in the preservation of the environment, and the development of human resource as a means to combat extreme poverty. The foundation supports tree planting projects and conservation of biodiversity within the general city area.
In order to integrate the poorer section of the people in the national and global economy,
Mr. Chowdhury believes that human resource development (by equipping individuals with skills and expertise) is the most promising path to poverty alleviation for LDCs and developing economies. For this reason, the Foundation had taken steps by setting-up internet-based learning centers in eighteen secondary schools with the purpose of investing in the people and hence the future of Bangladesh. He helped to setup a technical institute providing trainings in skill development for people from disadvantaged backgrounds with the intention of enhancing their chances of securing a dignified job. The Foundation is a source of great personal fulfillment for Mr. Chowdhury.
Social and Cultural Roles:
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Honorary Consul (1990-2007): The Republic of Korea
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President (1990-1991): Rotary Club of Dhaka Buriganga
Private Endeavors:
Mr. Chowdhury is a successful industrialist with investments in the hotel, insurance, shipping and export-oriented packaging and apparel sectors.
Key Interests:
Global trade, markets, WTO, LDCs, globalization, movement of natural persons,
SAARC: South Asian integration, poverty alleviation, and Bangladesh democracy.
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