Aslam Chowdhury
Aslam Chowdhury | |
|---|---|
| আসলাম চৌধুরী | |
| Adviser to the Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party | |
| Assumed office 2024 | |
| Chairperson | Khaleda Zia |
| Vice-Chairman | Tarique Rahman (acting chairman) |
| Secretary General | Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir |
| Interim President of Bijoy Smarani College | |
| Assumed office 2024 | |
| Chancellor | President Mohammed Shahabuddin |
| Vice-Chancellor | A S M Amanullah |
| Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party | |
| In office 2016–2024 | |
| Chairperson | Khaleda Zia |
| Vice-Chairman | Tarique Rahman (acting chairman) |
| Secretary General | Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir |
| District Governor of Lions International | |
| In office 2010–2011 | |
| President | Sid L. Scruggs III |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Fauzdarhat, Chittagong, Bangladesh |
| Citizenship | Bangladesh |
| Political party | Bangladesh Nationalist Party |
| Spouse | Jamila N. Mowla |
| Alma mater | University of Chittagong |
| Occupation | Accountant Politician Industrialist |
| Awards | Melvin Jones Fellowship |
| Signature |  |
Aslam Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi politician, accountant, industrialist and human rights activist.[1][2][3] He is an advisor to the chairperson and a former joint secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).[4][5][6] Chowdhury has been a vocal critic of Sheikh Hasina's toppled regime.[7][8] He is a parliamentary candidate for the constituency of Chittagong-4.[9][10]
Early life and education
Chowdhury was born in Fauzdarhat, Chittagong, and completed his postgraduate education at the University of Chittagong. After passing the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination, he began his career in the education cadre.[3]
In 1996, Chowdhury left his teaching role after receiving a fellowship from ICAB and began working at Kabir Steel Mill in Chittagong. He later joined Confidence Cement, where he served as a financial manager and eventually became the Chief Financial Officer.[3]
Chowdhury went on to establish Confidence Salt, which was instrumental in the formation of Rising Group. His business ventures include the Confidence Salt Factory in Boalkhali, several CNG filling stations in Sitakunda, the Inani Resort in Harbang, Chakaria, and two fish preservation factories located in Nasirabad and Sagarika in Chittagong city. [3]
Political career
Chowdhury entered politics in 2001 when the four-party alliance came to power.[11] In the 2008 parliamentary elections, he contested the constituency of Chittagong-4 as a candidate for Bangladesh Nationalist Party but was defeated.[12]
In 2014, Chowdhury was appointed the convener of the North District BNP. He later went on to become the joint secretary-general of the national committee.[13][14]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL | ABM Abul Kashem | 136,298 | 54.4 | +18.5 | ||
| BNP | Aslam Chowdhury | 112,930 | 45.0 | −18.8 | ||
| CPB | Md. Macheuddulla | 850 | 0.3 | N/A | ||
| National People's Party | Kazi Mohammal Eusuf Alam | 435 | 0.2 | N/A | ||
| Independent | Sachindra Lal Dey | 213 | 0.1 | N/A | ||
| Majority | 23,368 | 9.3 | −18.6 | |||
| Turnout | 250,726 | 81.8 | +14.0 | |||
| AL gain from BNP | ||||||
Controversy
In 2016, Chowdhury was arrested and charged with 76 political cases, including allegations of being part of an Israeli plot to topple Hasina regime.[15][16][17][18] The charges were widely seen as baseless and politically motivated. Chowdhury's arrest was condemned by human rights groups and activists around the world.[19][20]
Chowdhury's imprisonment was marked by reports of mistreatment and abuse. He was denied bail on multiple occasions, despite his poor health and the lack of evidence against him.[8][7]
Following the Student-People's uprising and the fall of Sheikh Hasina, Chowdhury was released from prison on August 27, 2024, after eight years of imprisonment.[21][22] His release was met with widespread celebration, with hundreds of activists gathering outside the Chittagong Central Jail to welcome him.[8][23][14][24]
References
- ^ "শারদীয় দুর্গা পূজায় সীতাকুণ্ডে ৬৭টি পূজা মন্ডপে আসলাম চৌধূরী আর্থিক অনুদান প্রদান". Sitakunda Times (in Bengali). 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "Morshed Khan, Afroza Abbas, Aslam Chowdhury round off BNP success on appeals". UNB. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ a b c d "২০১৬ সালে থেকে কারাগারে আসলাম চৌধুরী, মুক্তির আশায় কর্মীরা". dainiksurjodoy.com (in Bengali).
- ^ "BNP appoints three more members to Chairperson's Advisory Council". New Age.
- ^ bdnews24.com. "BNP names seven joint secretaries general, eight organising secretaries". BNP names seven joint secretaries general, eight organising secretaries. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "৮ বছর পর নিজ এলাকায় বিএনপি চেয়ারপার্সনের উপদেষ্টা আসলাম চৌধুরী". Jaijaidin (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ a b "Bangladesh politician arrested for 'Israel handshake'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ a b c "BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury walks out of jail after 8 yrs -". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "Chattogram-4: EC reinstates Aslam Chowdhury's candidacy". The Daily Star. 2018-12-30. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "নির্বাচনে অংশ নিতে পারবেন বিএনপি নেতা আসলাম চৌধুরী". Jamuna Television (in Bengali). 2018-12-18. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "বিএনপি নেতা আসলাম চৌধুরী আজ মুক্তি পাচ্ছেন". www.dainikamadershomoy.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "Electoral Area Result Statistics". Amarmp. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "জননেতা আসলাম চৌধুরী অবশেষে কারামুক্ত হলেন". Ekushey TV (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ a b Nayan (2024-08-21). "মুক্তি পেলেন আসলাম চৌধুরী, কারাফটকে নেতাকর্মীর ঢল". Dainik Azadi (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "BNP's Aslam on seven-day remand". The Asian Age. Bangladesh. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "Police claim BNP leader Aslam has given substantial information about plot with Israel". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "BNP leader Aslam Chy arrested over 'meeting' Mossad agent". Tritiyo Matra. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "BNP's Aslam arrested in Dhaka over 'Israel plot' to overthrow Hasina regime". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "BNP's Hannan says RAW released Aslam's photo with Israel politician in Bangladesh media". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "Govt stages drama over Aslam's meeting with Israeli leader: BNP". Samakal.
- ^ "সাড়ে ৮ বছর পর কারামুক্ত বিএনপি নেতা আসলাম চৌধুরীকে বিপুল সংবর্ধনা". Daily Inqilab (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury gets HC bail". The Business Standard. 2021-05-30. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "সীতাকুণ্ডে হাজারো নেতা কর্মীর ভালোবাসায় সিক্ত হলেন লায়ন আসলাম চৌধুরী". Tritiya Matra (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "BNP leader Aslam Chy released on bail". Daily Sun. August 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-11.