Azam J. Chowdhury
Azam J. Chowdhury | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bangladesh |
| Alma mater | University of Dhaka |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, Business executive |
| Known for | Managing director of MJL Bangladesh Limited; Chairperson of East Coast Group and The Consolidated Tea & Lands Company Bangladesh Limited; Former chairperson of Prime Bank Limited |
Azam J. Chowdhury is a distinguished entrepreneur from Bangladesh, currently holding the position of managing director at MJL Bangladesh Limited. He also chairs both East Coast Group and The Consolidated Tea & Lands Company Bangladesh Limited. Additionally, he has previously served as the chairperson of Prime Bank Limited.
Early life
Chowdhury pursued his studies in English literature at the University of Dhaka.
Career
Chowdhury began his professional journey in oil trading after acquiring experience in Motijheel. He leveraged the government's deregulation of the oil industry to become the authorized distributor for Exxon Mobil Corporation within Bangladesh. Between 2001 and 2005, he led Green Delta Insurance Company Limited as its chairperson and maintains a directorial role at Central Depository Bangladesh Limited.
Following ExxonMobil's withdrawal in 2003, Chowdhury emerged as the major shareholder of MJL Bangladesh Ltd. He also headed Greenways Industries (BD) Limited, which obtained land from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha during the tenure of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party administration.
In 2007, Chowdhury was implicated in a notable legal matter involving allegations of extortion connected to political figures; however, these charges were dismissed by 2009.
He secured reappointment as chairperson of Prime Bank Limited in both 2009 and 2018. In 2010, he revealed intentions to purchase a crude oil tanker. By 2013, MJL Bangladesh Ltd entered into a joint venture with Myanmar-based Aung Kyun Thar (AKT) Co. Through The Consolidated Tea & Lands Company Bangladesh, he expanded into the ceramics industry by acquiring Artisan Ceramics.
Chowdhury contributes to the Government of Bangladesh as a member of the Advisory Council for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources. In 2019, DHL and The Daily Star honored him as businessperson of the year, and he was re-elected President of the Bangladesh Association of Publicly Listed Companies. Furthermore, he holds a directorship at Omera Petroleum.
He remained Chairperson of Prime Bank until June 2020 when his son, Tanjil Chowdhury, succeeded him. Amidst the COVID-19 crisis, he provided personal protective equipment donations to Bangladesh Central Jail. Later that year, in December 2020, he was appointed vice-president of the LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh.