Former Privatization Commission chief, politician Enam Ahmed Chowdhury dies at 87

After retirement, he was involved in BNP politics in the late 1990s before joining the Awami League in his final years

Former chairman of the Privatization Commission and politician Enam Ahmed Chowdhury has died at the age of 87.

After retiring, Enam Ahmed, who was involved in BNP politics in the late 1990s, joined the Awami League in his later years. He was a member of the Awami League Advisory Council.

He had a heart attack at his Banani residence in Dhaka around 4:30pm on Monday.

According to his son Nadeem Chowdhury, he was taken to the hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Speaking to bdnews24.com, Nadeem said: “My sister is abroad. Once she returns, there will be a Janaza [funeral prayer] for my father in Dhaka next Thursday. He will be buried at Azimpur Graveyard.”

In 1960, E A Chowdhury began his career in the Pakistan Civil Service. In independent Bangladesh, he served as a secretary.

He also gained experience working with the United Nations and various international organisations.

After retirement, he officially joined the BNP in 1999. During the 2001 BNP-Jamaat coalition government, he was made Chairman of the Privatization Commission with the rank of a state minister.

He served as a member of the BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council and was later appointed as a vice-chairman of the party. He also wrote books about BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman.

However, just before the 11th national election, on Dec 19, Enam Ahmed left the BNP and joined the Awami League by presenting flowers to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He was later included in the Awami League Advisory Council during the party’s 20th national council.

Enam Ahmed Chowdhury was born on Jun 29, 1937, in Barokot village of Golapganj in Sylhet. His father, Giasuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, served as a commissioner in Dhaka. His mother’s name was Rafiqunnessa Khatun Chowdhury.

In 1952-53, while serving as general secretary of the Dhaka College Student Union, he was expelled due to his involvement in constructing the Shaheed Minar and supporting the state language movement.

He later earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from Dhaka University and pursued higher studies at Oxford University.

Between 1975 and 1981, Enam Ahmed served as the economic minister at the Bangladesh High Commission in London. He subsequently worked as secretary of the ESCAP Commission in Bangkok and as vice president of the IDB.

Before retiring, he also served as secretary of the Economic Relations Division and the Ministry of Shipping.

Enam Ahmed was one of four brothers and two sisters. His elder brother, the late Faruk Ahmed Chowdhury, was a foreign secretary. Another brother, former diplomat Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, served as the foreign advisor in the 2007-08 caretaker government.

Among his sisters, Nasim Hai was the wife of martyred freedom fighter Col Syed Abdul Hye. His youngest sister, Nina Ahmed, was married to Fakhruddin Ahmed, who was chief advisor to the 2007-08 caretaker government.