Chowdhury joined the Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP) in 1968 after a two-year stint as lecturer in economics in the University of Dhaka.[citation needed] He completed his post-graduate diploma from Leeds University, UK in 1975. He earned his PhD from Harvard University in 1983. In 1971, as the sub-divisional officer of Meherpur, he joined the liberation war and was commissioned in the Bangladesh Armed Forces. He was decorated for gallantry as Bir Bikrom and was one of the chief organizers of the swearing-in ceremony of the first Government of Bangladesh in Mujibnagar, Meherpur on 17 April 1971.
Later he reverted to civil service and after several assignments, went for higher studies in United Kingdom in 1974. He was CEO and managing director of the Industrial Bank of Bangladesh (BSB). He served as Secretary to the Govt. of Bangladesh for nearly a decade in the Ministries of Food, Statistics, Power Energy & Mineral Resources and Planning. He also served as a visiting fellow at the Economic Growth Centre of the Yale University.
Since his retirement from public service in 2002, Chowdhury has served as a consultant to, among others, UN agencies and multilateral organizations.
Chowdhury was appointed as an advisor to the Prime Minister of the Government of Bangladesh in January 2009 with the status of a minister. He advised on energy, power and mineral resources.
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On 10 September 2024, Chowdhury was arrested and put on a 4-day remand for interrogation in a case filed over the death of Suman Sikdar during the 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement.[5][6]
Personal life
Chowdhury is married to Asma Elahi - a daughter of poet Jasimuddin.[7] They have two daughters, Bushra Chowdhury and Mehnaz Chowdhury. In 2018, Chowdhury released an autobiographical book Chariot of Life.[1]
