Ashik Chowdhury
Ashik Chowdhury | |
|---|---|
| আশিক চৌধুরী | |
 Chowdhury in 2025 | |
| Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority | |
| Assumed office 1 November 2024 | |
| Chief Adviser | Muhammad Yunus |
| Preceded by | Lokman Hossain Miah |
| Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority | |
| Assumed office 12 September 2024 | |
| Chief Adviser | Muhammad Yunus |
| Preceded by | Md Sarwar Bari |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun Chandpur, Bangladesh |
| Alma mater | |
| Profession | Chartered Financial Analyst |
Ashik Chowdhury (born as Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun) is a Bangladeshi economist, banker and chartered financial analyst who has been the executive chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority since 2024.[1]
Early life
[edit]Chowdhury was born in Chandpur and was raised in Jashore due to his fathers posting.[2] He studied at Sylhet Cadet College, he is an ex-cadet of 21st batch of the institution. He did his Bachelor of Business Administration from Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Dhaka.[3][4] He did his Master's in Finance from London Business School.[3][4] He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.[4]
Career
[edit]Chowdhury started his career as a Territory Officer of the British American Tobacco in February 2007.[3][2] He joined Standard Chartered Bank in August 2007 and worked there till March 2011 as a manager in the Lending Strategy and Financial Planning Division.[3][2] He co-founded The Bench, the first sports bar in Bangladesh.[3]
Chowdhury joined American Airlines in London in October 2012 as a financial and strategic analyst and left in May 2019 as the Head of Finance, Europe and Asia.[3] He was a visiting professor at the Bangladesh University of Professionals.[3][2] He was an advisor of Grameen Telecom Trust.[3] He joined HSBC Bangladesh before moving onto HSBC Singapore.[3] He was awarded the Professional Achievement Award by British Council Bangladesh.[5] He was the Associate Director of Infrastructure Finance Investment Banking in October 2024 when he left the post.[3]
Chowdhury was residing in Singapore when the July Revolution happened and the interim government was formed. He said that Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus had called him, saying, "Ashik, got a chance to serve the country, wanna come?"[6] Upon the call, Chowdhury returned to Bangladesh. In September 2024, he was appointed Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority replacing Lokman Hossain Miah.[2] He was also appointed Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority replacing Md Sarwar Bari who was appointed in July 2024.[2][7] On 7 April 2025, he was granted minister of state status.[8][9]
Personal life
[edit]Chowdhury is married to Nabila Jabeen Khan. The couple has two children, a son and a daughter.
Chowdhury is an avid skydiver.[2][10] In Memphis, he jumped from 41,795 feet with a flag of Bangladesh.[11][12][13] He was sponsored by United Commercial Bank PLC.[14] He was awarded the Greatest Distance Freefall with a Banner or Flag record by Guinness World Records.[15] He also holds a private pilot license in Bangladesh.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ "Ashik Chowdhury appointed BIDA executive chairman". unb.com.bd. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Ashik Chowdhury appointed executive chairman of BIDA". Bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Ashik Chowdhury". LinkedIn. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun". Bangladesh Investment Development Authority. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ "British Council honour the success of UK Alumni in Bangladesh". British Council Bangladesh. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ "'ড. ইউনূসের ৫৯ সেকেন্ডের কলেই আয়েশি জীবন ছেড়ে আসি'". Daily Jugantor. 9 April 2025.
- ^ "Sarwar Bari appointed new BEZA executive chairman". The Business Standard. 2024-07-04. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ "Bida chairman gets state minister status". The Business Standard. 7 April 2025. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
- ^ "BIDA executive chairman Ashik Chy gets state minister status". The Daily Observer. 7 April 2025. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
- ^ "Ashik Chowdhury makes record-breaking jump from 41,000ft". Dhaka Tribune. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ Anika, Ayman (2024-05-26). "Ashik Chowdhury's record skydive from 41,000 feet!". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ Mia, Sozib (2024-05-28). "Ashik jumps off plane with national flag". Prothomalo. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ "Ashik Chowdhury, a professional skydiver, posing with the Bangladesh flag". today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ "UCB to sponsor Ashik Chowdhury in his attempt to make Guinness World Record by jumping from 41,000 feet". The Business Standard. 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ "Greatest distance freefall with a banner/flag". Guinness World Records Limited. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Ashik Chowdhury at Wikimedia Commons- Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun (Bangladesh Investment Development Authority)
