Choudhury is Chairman of the Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council. He is one of the founding directors and the Vice Chair of the Edinburgh Mela. He is also Chairman of the Bangladesh Samity Edinburgh.
During his time studying at the University of Edinburgh, Choudhury took responsibility for his ailing father's business. He expanded the business and is now an entrepreneur with interests in catering, hospitality, finance and real estate across the United Kingdom and Bangladesh.[1]
Choudhury is a community activist in the UK. He has worked with the Scottish Government and various councils to improve community relations. He has played a leading role in several charities.[1]
He has been involved with the Edinburgh and Lothian's Regional Equality Council (ELREC) since he was a teenager and has been an active campaigner for equality and good race and interfaith relations in Scotland. He has served the ELREC as a Trustee, company secretary, Vice Chair and he is currently its chairman. Choudhury has led the organisation through its transition from the race equality council to a pan-equalities regional council.[1][4][5][6] In 2013, he was re-elected for a fourth term.[3]
In 1991,[3] Choudhury co-founded the Edinburgh Mela[3] and is currently its vice-chair. In 2010,[1] he was elected as the Chairman of the Bangladesh Samity Edinburgh (Bangladesh Association Edinburgh).[3] He has organised, annually, Bangladesh Independence Day Celebrations and other events to promote strong community relations.[1] Choudhury is the Chairman of the Guild of Bangladeshi Restaurateurs of Scotland and as one of the founding members of Dine Bangladeshi Campaign.[1]
He was elected at 2021 Scottish Parliament election for the Lothian region, becoming the first MSP of Bangladeshi background to be elected.[8][9] He is currently Labour's spokesperson for Culture, Europe and International Development in the Scottish Parliament.[10]
Choudhury backed the UK Government’s decision to introduce means-testing for the Winter Fuel Payment, voting in the Scottish Parliament against calls to reverse the decision.[11]
Choudhury is married to Tahmina (Moni) Choudhury.[1]
He is involved in fundraising campaigns, raising over £250,000 for causes including Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal in Scotland, St Colombia's Hospice, Leukaemia and Cancer appeal, Sick Kids appeal, the British Heart Foundation and many others. In addition to this he is also one of the organisers who built two shelter and 40 houses for the survivors of Cyclone Sidr Bangladesh in 2010.[1]
^ abcdefghijKarim, Mohammed Abdul; Karim, Shahadoth (November 2014). British Bangladeshi Who's Who(PDF). British Bangla Media Group. p. 68. Archived from the original(PDF) on 8 January 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
