Wikipedia

Aslam Chowdhury

Aslam Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi politician, accountant, industrialist, human rights activist and minority rights advocate.[1][2][3][4][5] He is an advisor to the chairperson and a former joint secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).[6][7]

Aslam Chowdhury
FCA
আসলাম চৌধুরী
Adviser to the Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
2024
Appointed byKhaleda Zia
Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party
In office
2015–2024
Appointed byKhaleda Zia
Personal details
BornFaujdarhat, Chittagong
CitizenshipBangladesh
Political partyBangladesh Nationalist Party
SpouseJamila N. Mowla
Alma materUniversity of Chittagong
OccupationAccountant Politician Industrialist

Chowdhury has been a vocal critic of Sheikh Hasina's toppled regime.[8][9] He is a parliamentary candidate for the constituency of Chittagong-4.[10][11]

Early life and education

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Chowdhury was born in Faujdarhat, Chittagong and completed his postgraduate education at the University of Chittagong. He subsequently passed the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination and started serving in the education cadre.[5]

In 1996, he left his teaching position after obtaining FCA and began working at Kabir Steel Mill in Chittagong. He later joined Confidence Cement as a financial manager and served as the Chief Financial Officer.[5]

He later established Confidence Salt, which led to the formation of Rising Group. His businesses include the Confidence Salt Factory in Boalkhali, several CNG filling stations in Sitakunda, the Inani Resort in Harbang, Chakaria, and two fish preservation factories on Nasirabad and Sagarika in Chittagong city.[5]

Political career

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Chowdhury entered politics in 2001 when the four-party alliance came to power.[12] In the 2008 parliamentary elections, he contested the constituency of Chittagong-4 as a candidate for Bangladesh Nationalist Party but was defeated.[13]

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.[14][15]

Electoral History

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General Election 2008: Chittagong-4
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

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In 2016, Chowdhury was arrested and charged with 76 political cases, including allegations of being part of an Israeli plot to topple the Bangladeshi government.[16][17][18][19] The charges were widely seen as baseless and politically motivated. Chowdhury's arrest was condemned by human rights groups and activists around the world.[20][21][1]

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.[9][8]

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.[22][23] His release was met with widespread celebration, with hundreds of activists gathering outside the Chittagong Central Jail to welcome him.[1][9][24][25][26]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Bangladeshi Dissident Aslam Chowdhury released from prison". Foreign Policy Blogs. 2024-08-27. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  2. ^ টাইমস, সীতাকুন্ড (2024-10-04). "শারদীয় দুর্গা পূজায় সীতাকুণ্ডে ৬৭টি পূজা মন্ডপে আসলাম চৌধূরী আর্থিক অনুদান প্রদান". সীতাকুন্ড টাইমস. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  3. ^ "Morshed Khan, Afroza Abbas, Aslam Chowdhury round off BNP success on appeals". www.unb.com.bd. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  4. ^ টাইমস, সীতাকুন্ড (2024-10-04). "শারদীয় দুর্গা পূজায় সীতাকুণ্ডে ৬৭টি পূজা মন্ডপে আসলাম চৌধূরী আর্থিক অনুদান প্রদান". সীতাকুন্ড টাইমস. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  5. ^ a b c d "২০১৬ সালে থেকে কারাগারে আসলাম চৌধুরী, মুক্তির আশায় কর্মীরা".
  6. ^ "BNP appoints three more members to Chairperson's Advisory Council".
  7. ^ "৮ বছর পর নিজ এলাকায় বিএনপি চেয়ারপার্সনের উপদেষ্টা আসলাম চৌধুরী". jjdin. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  8. ^ a b "Bangladesh politician arrested for 'Israel handshake'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  9. ^ a b c "BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury walks out of jail after 8 yrs -". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  10. ^ "Chattogram-4: EC reinstates Aslam Chowdhury's candidacy". The Daily Star. 2018-12-30. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  11. ^ ডেস্ক, যমুনা অনলাইন; Television, Jamuna (2018-12-18). "নির্বাচনে অংশ নিতে পারবেন বিএনপি নেতা আসলাম চৌধুরী". Jamuna Television. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  12. ^ "বিএনপি নেতা আসলাম চৌধুরী আজ মুক্তি পাচ্ছেন". www.dainikamadershomoy.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  13. ^ "Electoral Area Result Statistics". Amarmp. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  14. ^ টেলিভিশন, Ekushey TV | একুশে. "জননেতা আসলাম চৌধুরী অবশেষে কারামুক্ত হলেন". Ekushey TV. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  15. ^ Nayan (2024-08-21). "মুক্তি পেলেন আসলাম চৌধুরী, কারাফটকে নেতাকর্মীর ঢল". দৈনিক আজাদী. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  16. ^ "BNP's Aslam on seven-day remand | The Asian Age Online, Bangladesh". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  17. ^ "Police claim BNP leader Aslam has given substantial information about plot with Israel". Police claim BNP leader Aslam has given substantial information about plot with Israel. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  18. ^ "BNP leader Aslam Chy arrested over 'meeting' Mossad agent [ Tritiyo Matra News ]". www.tritiyomatra.com. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  19. ^ "BNP's Aslam arrested in Dhaka over 'Israel plot' to overthrow Hasina regime". BNP’s Aslam arrested in Dhaka over ‘Israel plot’ to overthrow Hasina regime. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  20. ^ "BNP's Hannan says RAW released Aslam's photo with Israel politician in Bangladesh media". BNP’s Hannan says RAW released Aslam’s photo with Israel politician in Bangladesh media. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  21. ^ "Govt stages drama over Aslam's meeting with Israeli leader: BNP".
  22. ^ "সাড়ে ৮ বছর পর কারামুক্ত বিএনপি নেতা আসলাম চৌধুরীকে বিপুল সংবর্ধনা". দৈনিক ইনকিলাব (in Bengali). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  23. ^ "BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury gets HC bail". The Business Standard. 2021-05-30. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  24. ^ Matra, Daily Tritiya. "সীতাকুণ্ডে হাজারো নেতা কর্মীর ভালোবাসায় সিক্ত হলেন লায়ন আসলাম চৌধুরী". Daily Tritiya Matra. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  25. ^ Nayan (2024-08-21). "মুক্তি পেলেন আসলাম চৌধুরী, কারাফটকে নেতাকর্মীর ঢল". দৈনিক আজাদী. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  26. ^ "BNP leader Aslam Chy released on bail". daily-sun. August 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
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