Faruq Ahmed Choudhury (4 January 1934[1] – 17 May 2017) was a Bangladeshi diplomat.[2] He served as Bangladesh's first Chief of Protocol beginning in 1972, Foreign Secretary from 1984 to 1986, and High Commissioner to India from 1986 to 1992.[2]

Faruq Ahmed Choudhury
High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India
In office
1986–1992
Preceded byA. K. Khandker
Succeeded byFarooq Sobhan
Foreign Secretary
In office
October 10, 1984 – July 17, 1986
Preceded byA.H. Ataul Karim
Succeeded byFakhruddin Ahmed
Ambassador of Bangladesh to the European Economic Community, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands
In office
22 December 1978 – 15 July 1982
Preceded byAbul Ahsan
Succeeded byManzoor Ahmed Choudhury
Ambassador of Bangladesh to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates
In office
1976–1978
Personal details
Born(1934-01-04)January 4, 1934
Karimganj, Assam, British India
DiedMay 17, 2017(2017-05-17) (aged 83)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Political partyAwami League
ResidenceDhaka & Sylhet

Career

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Early life and career

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Choudhury was born in Karimganj, Assam, British India, on January 4, 1934.[1][3] In 1956, Choudhury entered the Foreign Service of Pakistan as a diplomat (Bangladesh, then known as East Pakistan, was part of the country at the time).[2] He held several appointments within the Foreign Office and several Parkistani embassies.[2]

Bangladesh foreign service

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In 1972, Choudhury was appointed as Bangladesh's first Chief of Protocol, within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following the country's independence from Pakistan.[2]

From 1972 until 1976, Choudhury served as the Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom, where he took part in the negotiations for Bangladesh's entry in to the Commonwealth in 1972.[2] Choudhury was next appointed as Bangladesh's Ambassador to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates from 1976 to 1978.[2] He then served as Ambassador accredited to both the European Economic Community (EEC) and the Benelux nations - Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands - from 1978 until 1982.[2]

Choudhury returned to the home office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1982.[2] He was the chief coordinator for the 13th OIC Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which was held in 1983 in Dhaka.[2] He then held the post of Additional Foreign Secretary from 1983 to 1984.[2]

Faruq Choudhury was appointed Foreign Secretary, the highest ranking non-political official with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from 1984 to 1986.[2]

Choudhury next served as High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India from 1986 until his retirement in 1992.[2]

Choudhury retired from Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992.[2] He wrote several books and focused on social causes during his retirement. He served on the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), the world's largest non-governmental development organization, from 1992 until 2006.[2][1]

In 2014, Choudhury was awarded the IFIC Bank Literature Award for his writings on social and political issues.[1] He also received the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 2016.[1][3]

Bibliography

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Some of his Books are given below-

1. Jiboner Balukabelay (Autobiography)

2. Priyo Farjana

3. Biponno Prithibi (Science Friction)

4. Shorone Bangobondhu(Incidents & Memories with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman)

5. Ghotokal Shomokal

6. Janalay Nana Chobi

7. Shomoyer Aborte

And many more. He wrote his Memories with Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his books.

Death

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Choudhury died at Square Hospital in Dhaka on May 17, 2017, at the age of 84.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Faruq Ahmed Choudhury obituary". Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee. 2017-05-17. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Diplomat Faruq Ahmed Choudhury passes away". Dhaka Tribune. 2017-05-17. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
  3. ^ a b c "Former foreign secy Faruq Chowdhury dies". News Bangladesh. 2017-05-17. Archived from the original on 2017-05-20. Retrieved 2017-06-03.