Mahmuda Huq Chowdhury

Mahmuda Huq Chowdhury is a former diplomat and the ambassador of Bangladesh to Bhutan, the first woman ambassador of Bangladesh.[1][2][3]

Early life

When Chowdhury was born, her mother was only 14.[4] Her mother ensured she was educated before marriage.[4] She completed her masters in political science.[4] She was married to Mohammad Shamsul Haque.[4] Her husband was the superintendent of police of Chittagong District who supported Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during the Bangladesh Liberation War.[4] He was killed by Pakistan Army on 17 April 1971 and his body was never recovered.[4]

Career

After the war, Chowdhury went with Budrunnessa Ahmad to meet President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to ask for jobs for war widows on 18 January 1972.[4] Rafiqullah Chowdhury appointed her as an Assistant Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office.[4] Mujib asked Chowdhury what she wanted to become, and she replied to him that she wanted to be an Ambassador.[4] After asking about her qualification, he noted that while Pakistan did not allow women to join the foreign service Bangladesh would be a different nation.[4] He ordered the creation of a quota of 10 percent in the Bangladesh Civil Service. She joined the foreign service in April 1972.[4]

After Chowdhury joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs she faced challenges as the first woman diplomat.[4] There was no toilet for women in the building, so she had to go to a friend's house nearby.[4] She worked as the protocol officer during a visit by the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Siddhartha Shankar Ray.[4] She received foreign service training in Australia following a recommendation by the Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh.[4] She recommended exporting guest workers from Bangladesh.[4] She completed a second masters at the Fletcher School at Tufts University with support of senior ministry official Faruk Sobhan.[4]

After the Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, there was an attempt to remove Chowdhury from the foreign service.[4] She called President Ziaur Rahman, who knew her husband during the war in Chittagong, and who supported her.[4] She served as the first secretary at the High Commission of Bangladesh in Sri Lanka, and United Arab Emirates.[4] She was the Charge d' Affaires at the Bangladesh Embassy in the Philippines.[4]

From 1996, to 1998, Chowdhury was the ambassador of Bangladesh to Bhutan, the first women ambassador from the foreign service.[4][5] Then she was appointed the Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom.[4] She retired in 2000.[4]

Chowdhury was the vice-president of the Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh party led by former President A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury.[6]

Legacy

In 2021, a movie based on Chowdhury's husband and Chowdhury, Dampara, started production in 2021.[7][8] Ferdous Ahmed would play her husband and Habib Bhabna will play her.[7] The movie was being produced by the Chittagong Metropolitan Police.[7]

References

  1. ^ "6 new envoys appointed". The Daily Star. 1999-01-27. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
  2. ^ Anisur Rahman (2014-02-02). First Female Ambassador of Bangladesh - Mrs Mahmuda Haque Chowdhury. Retrieved 2025-02-16 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ "Bangladeshi women advancing on the diplomatic front". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Scholte, Marianne (1 March 2011). "Project Post-1971". archive.thedailystar.net. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
  5. ^ Ghosh, Palash (2020-03-04). "Bangladesh's Ambassador In Jordan Seeks To Help Migrant Workers". International Business Times. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
  6. ^ "Bikalpadhara presidium, NEC reconstituted". today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
  7. ^ a b c "Bhabna to play first lady ambassador of Bangladesh". The Business Standard. 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
  8. ^ "Shooting of 'Dampara' completed". Daily Sun. June 2022. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
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