Manjur Ahmed Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi zoologist, entomologist, and rights activists. [1] He is the former chairman of the National River Conservation Commission. [2] He is the chairman of the Centre for Governance Studies. [3]
Chowdhury was born in Datta Para, Shibchar Upazila, Madaripur District. [4] He graduated from Dhaka College. [4] He completed his undergrad in Zoology and masters in Entomology from the University of Dhaka. [4] He conducted research at the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission. [4] He completed his PhD at the University of Georgia. [4]
Chowdhury joined the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission as a scientific officer. [4] He was a fellow at the International Atomic Energy Agency. [4] In 1989, he returned to Bangladesh and launched SAFEWAY, a pest control company. [4] He worked at University of Dhaka, and Jahangirnagar University. [4] In 2005, he lived in New York City. [5]
Chowdhury was the President of Zoological Society of Bangladesh. [4] He was the Chairman of Al-Helal Printing and Publishers Limited, which published the now defunct The Bangladesh Observer, which was the oldest English language newspaper at the time of its closing in 2010. [6]
In February 2022, Chowdhury, was appointed chairman of National River Conservation Commission. [7] [8] In September 2023, Chowdhury said interference from the government and lack of cooperation was making the commission ineffective. [9] Chowdhury blamed Dipu Moni, Minister of Education and member of parliament, for getting the Chandpur District Commissioner and a Hilsa fish researcher removed. [9] [10] He called for the jailing of Atiqul Islam, Mayor of North Dhaka City, and Taqsem A Khan, managing director of Dhaka WASA, for failing in their duties to protect rivers. [10] [11] He also criticized the budget of 50 million BDT as being insufficient. [9] On 18 October 2023, the government of Bangladesh removed him citing "public interest". [7] [8] The removal was criticized by Transparency International Bangladesh saying it contradicted governments commitment to protect rivers. [7] The Daily Star wrote a critical editorial against his removal. [12]