Coordinator - Bangladesh Chapter

 

 

Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury

Email: isasiac@nus.edu.sg
Tel: (65) 6516 7028
Fax: (65) 6776 7505 / (65) 6314 5447

 

Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury was the Foreign Advisor (Foreign Minister) of Bangladesh from 2007 to 2009. Dr Chowdhury secured a First Class in BA Honours in Political Science at the Dhaka University. He also obtained an MA and PhD in International Relations from Australian National University, Canberra. In the Central Superior Service Examination in Pakistan, he stood first in then-East Pakistan, and joined the Civil Service of Pakistan in 1969, transferring to Bangladesh in 1971 upon its independence.

 

 

Throughout an official career that has spanned across four decades, Dr Chowdhury held many senior positions, including that of Foreign Minister (2007-2009); Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York (2001-2007); Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva (1996-2001); Ambassador to Qatar (1994-1996); and Special Advisor to Secretary General UNCTAD (2000).

 

During his long stints in Geneva and New York, Dr Chowdhury had been President of the Conference on Disarmament; Chairman of World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Policy Review Body; Chairman of the WTO Committee on Trade and Development; Chairman of the UN Information Committee; Chairman of the UN Second (Economic) Committee; Chairman of the UN Population and Development Commission; Chairman of the UN Committee for Social Development; Vice President of the UN General Assembly; Vice Chairman of the Human Rights Commission; and Vice Chairman of the UNICEF Governing Board.

Dr Chowdhury has also been actively associated with the UN Reforms process as a Facilitator appointed by the President of the UN General Assembly. He had also successfully conducted negotiations on the principle of ‘Responsibility to Protect’. Dr Chowdhury’s contribution to global diplomacy was recognised by the New York City Council when, in a Proclamation in 2003, Dr Chowdhury was named “one of the world’s leading diplomatic leaders.” He was also awarded a Knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory the Great by the Pope.

 

Dr Chowdhury’s area of interest and expertise include the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) disarmament; and UN issues such as peace keeping and social and economic development. His current research is on South Asian issues.

 

Dr Chowdhury has attended and chaired numerous international conferences connected with the UN, WTO, UNCTAD, NPT, CTBTO, SAARC, the Non-Aligned Movement, OIC and others. He has addressed many seminars in think-tanks and universities around the world. He has contributed articles on international relations and economic development issues in a number of journals and newspapers.