# Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury

Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi politician, accountant, industrialist, human rights activist and minority rights advocate. He is an advisor to the chairperson and a former joint secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Chowdhury has been a vocal critic of Sheikh Hasina's toppled regime. He is a parliamentary candidate representing the constituency of Chittagong-4.

## Early life and education

Chowdhury was born in Fauzderhat, Chittagong and completed his postgraduate education at the University of Chittagong. He subsequently passed the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination and started serving in the education cadre.
In 1996, he left his teaching position after obtaining an FCA qualification and began working at Kabir Steel Mill in Chittagong. He later joined Confidence Cement as a financial manager and served as the Chief Financial Officer.
He later established Confidence Salt, which led to the formation of Rising Group. His businesses include the Confidence Salt Factory in Boalkhali, several CNG filling stations in Sitakunda, the Inani Resort in Harbang, Chakaria, and two fish preservation factories on Nasirabad and Sagarika Roads in Chittagong city.

## Political career

Chowdhury entered politics in 2001 when the four-party alliance came to power. In the 2008 parliamentary elections, he contested the constituency of Chittagong-4 as a candidate for Bangladesh Nationalist Party but was defeated.
In 2014, Chowdhury was appointed the convener of the North District BNP. He later went on to become the joint secretary-general of the national committee.

## Electoral History

General Election 2008: Chittagong-4 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | AL | ABM Abul Kashem | 136,298 | 54.4 | +18.5 |
| | BNP | Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury | 112,930 | 45.0 | −18.8 |
| | CPB | Md. Macheuddulla | 850 | 0.3 | N/A |
| | National People's Party | Kazi Mohammal Eusuf Alam | 435 | 0.2 | N/A |
| | Independent | Sachindra Lal Dey | 213 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23,368 | 9.3 | −18.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 250,726 | 81.8 | +14.0 |
| | AL gain from BNP | AL gain from BNP | AL gain from BNP | AL gain from BNP | AL gain from BNP |

## Controversy

In 2016, Chowdhury was arrested and charged with 76 political cases, including allegations of being part of an Israeli plot to topple the Bangladeshi government. The charges were widely seen as baseless and politically motivated. Chowdhury's arrest was condemned by human rights groups and activists around the world.
Chowdhury's imprisonment was marked by reports of mistreatment and abuse. He was denied bail on multiple occasions, despite his poor health and the lack of evidence against him.
Following the Student-People's uprising and the fall of Sheikh Hasina, Chowdhury was released from prison on August 27, 2024, after eight years of imprisonment. His release was met with widespread celebration, with hundreds of activists gathering outside the Chittagong Central Jail to welcome him.
Chowdhury's release comes at a time of significant change in Bangladesh, with former prime minister Sheikh Hasina facing 33 charges, including murder, crimes against humanity and genocide.