Anwar Choudhury
| Anwar Choudhury | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 21st United Kingdom Ambassador to Peru | |
|
Assumed office 2014 | |
| Preceded by | James Dauris |
| 11th High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Bangladesh | |
|
In office 2004–2008 | |
| Preceded by | David Carter |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Evans |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Anwar Bokth Choudhury 15 June 1959 Provakorpur, Jagannathpur, Sunamganj, Sylhet Division, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse(s) | Momina Choudhury |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Profession | Diplomat |
| Religion | Islam |
Anwar Choudhury (Bengali: আনোয়ার চৌধুরী; born 15 June 1959) is a Bangladeshi-born British diplomat who is the present UK Ambassador to Peru. He was formerly the Director of International Institutions at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and a High Commissioner to Bangladesh. Although born in Sylhet Division, Bangladesh, he is a naturalised British citizen.
Early life
Choudhury was born in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). His family is originally from Prabhakarpur, Jagannathpur, Sunamganj, and moved to the United Kingdom when he was young.[1]
Education
Choudhury followed an unusual route to the Diplomatic Service; in 1985, he attained a BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Salford. Choudhury worked at Siemens Plessey, before entering the civil service as an engineering strategist with the Royal Air Force. In 1995, he graduated with a Master of Business Administration from Durham University.[2]
Career
Choudhury was promoted through the Ministry of Defence, until 2000, when he was recruited by the Cabinet Office, before being headhunted for the position of High Commissioner to Bangladesh.[3] He was succeeded in 2008 by Stephen Evans. When he was appointed as High Commissioner to Bangladesh in 2004, he became one of the first two British ambassadors from ethnic minority backgrounds to be appointed in modern times (the other being Alp Mehmet, who was appointed Ambassador to Iceland).[4]
Grenade attack
On 21 May 2004, Choudhury was targeted in a failed grenade attack, in which he was wounded and two bystanders were killed. The attempted assassination came as he was leaving the Dargah-e-Shah Jalal mosque in Sylhet Division, his home province, following Jumu'ah (Friday prayers).[5] In December 2008, three attackers were sentenced to death[6] and two others to life in prison for the attack.[7][8]
Personal life
Choudhury is a Muslim.[7] His main interests include folk music of Bengal (baul). He's also passionate about community integration and protection of the UK abroad. He is married to Momina Choudhury, has two daughters and a son, and he has three brothers. His hobbies include playing cricket, bridge and Bangladeshi cuisine.[1]
Choudhury has dismissed suggestions of a conflict of loyalty, stating that he would support the English cricket team against Bangladesh (see: Cricket test).[3]
See also
- British Bangladeshi
- List of British Bangladeshis
- List of High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to Bangladesh
- List of diplomats of the United Kingdom to Peru
References
- 1 2 "Profile: Anwar Choudhury". BBC News. 21 May 2004. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
- ↑ "Ethnic Minorities in Britain" (PDF). Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 June 2006. Retrieved 22 June 2006.
- 1 2 Roy, Amit (15 December 2003). "Bangladeshi-born Briton for Dhaka". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 19 March 2005. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
- ↑ "Foreign and Commonwealth Office Race Equality Scheme 2005–2008". London: Foreign and Commonwealth Office. p. 5. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
- ↑ "Blast at Shahjalal shrine injures British HC, kills 2". 4 (348). Bangladesh: The Daily Star. 22 May 2004. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
- ↑ "Three to die for UK envoy attack". BBC News. 23 December 2008. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
- 1 2 Percival, Jenny (23 December 2008). "Death sentences for Bangladesh grenade attack on British envoy". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
- ↑ "Grenade atack [sic] on Anwar Choudhury: Mufti Hannan among four indicted". Sylhet: The Sylhet Times. 1 August 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
External links
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by David Carter |
High Commissioner to Bangladesh 2004—2008 |
Succeeded by Stephen Evans |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Dauris |
United Kingdom Ambassador to Peru 2014— |
Succeeded by |