Ashik Chowdhury
Ashik Chowdhury | |
|---|---|
| Born | Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun Chandpur, Bangladesh |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, banker, chartered financial analyst |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Known for | Executive chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority |
| Notable work | Guinness World Record for Greatest Distance Freefall with a Banner or Flag |
Ashik Chowdhury (full name Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun) is a prominent Bangladeshi economist and banker, as well as a chartered financial analyst. Since 2024, he has held the position of executive chairman at both the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority.
Early life
Chowdhury was born in Chandpur and grew up in Jessore. He is an alumnus of Sylhet Cadet College (21st batch). He completed his Bachelor of Business Administration at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Dhaka, followed by a Master's degree in Finance from London Business School. He is also a certified Chartered Financial Analyst.
Career
Beginning his professional journey in February 2007, Chowdhury worked as a Territory Officer at British American Tobacco Bangladesh. By August 2007, he transitioned to Standard Chartered Bank, where he managed Lending Strategy and Financial Planning until March 2011. Additionally, he co-established The Bench, recognized as Bangladesh’s pioneering sports bar.
In October 2012, he joined American Airlines in London as a financial and strategic analyst. Over time, he advanced to become Head of Finance for Europe and Asia before departing in May 2019. Chowdhury has also contributed as a visiting professor at Bangladesh University of Professionals and provided consultancy to Grameen Telecom Trust. His career path includes tenures at HSBC branches in Bangladesh and Singapore. He has been honored with the Professional Achievement Award by British Council Bangladesh. By October 2024, he was serving as Associate Director of Infrastructure Finance Investment Banking.
During the July Revolution in Bangladesh, while in Singapore, Chowdhury was invited by interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to return and contribute to national service. Answering this appeal, he came back to Bangladesh and was appointed Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority in September 2024, succeeding Lokman Hossain Miah. Concurrently, he took on the role of Executive Chairman at the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority, replacing Md Sarwar Bari. On 7 April 2025, he was accorded the status of minister of state.
Personal life
Chowdhury is married to Nabila Jabeen Khan, with whom he has two children.
He is an enthusiastic skydiver who achieved a record-setting freefall from an altitude of 41,795 feet over Memphis, Tennessee, while displaying the Bangladesh flag. This feat, sponsored by United Commercial Bank PLC, earned him the Guinness World Record for the Greatest Distance Freefall with a Banner or Flag. In addition, he holds a private pilot license issued in Bangladesh.