Anwar Choudhury

Anwar Bakht Choudhury (Bengali: আনোয়ার বখত চৌধুরী; born 15 June 1959) is a British diplomat of Bangladeshi origin, who is currently Director for Consular Strategy. He was Governor of the Cayman Islands until he was recalled in June 2018 after less than three months in post. Prior to that, he was British Ambassador to Peru, Director of International Institutions at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and High Commissioner to Bangladesh.

Not to be confused with Anwar Chowdhry.

Anwar Choudhury
Official 2017 portrait
Governor of the Cayman Islands
In office
26 March 2018 – 20 September 2018
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded byHelen Kilpatrick
Succeeded byMartyn Roper
British Ambassador to Peru
In office
2014–2018
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Theresa May
Preceded byJames Dauris
Succeeded byKate Harrisson
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh
In office
2004–2008
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Gordon Brown
Preceded byDavid Carter
Succeeded byStephen Evans
Personal details
Born
Anwar Bakht Choudhury

(1959-06-15) 15 June 1959
Jagannathpur, Sylhet, East Pakistan, Pakistan
NationalityBritish
Spouse(s)Momina Choudhury
Children4
ResidenceAylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England
Alma materUniversity of Salford
Durham University
ProfessionDiplomat

Early life

Choudhury was born in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). His family is originally from the village of Prabhakarpur, Patli Union, Jagannathpur, Sunamganj, and moved to the United Kingdom when he was young.[1]

Education

Choudhury followed an unusual route into the Diplomatic Service; in 1985, he attained a BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Salford. He 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] He was sworn in as Governor of the Cayman Islands on 26 March 2018.[5]

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).[6] In December 2008, three attackers were sentenced to death[7] and two others to life in prison for the attack.[8][9]

Recall to London

Choudhury was recalled to London in June 2018 for multiple allegations of misconduct.[10][11] On 20 September 2018 it was announced he would not be returning to the Cayman Islands.[12]

Personal life

Choudhury is a Muslim.[8] His main interests include folk music of Bengal (baul). He is also passionate about community integration and protection of the UK abroad. He is married to Momina Choudhury and has three daughters. He also has a son from his first marriage. 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 the one in Bangladesh.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Profile: Anwar Choudhury". BBC News. 21 May 2004. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
  2. "Ethnic Minorities in Britain" (PDF). Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2006. Retrieved 22 June 2006.
  3. 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.
  4. "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.
  5. "Governor Choudhury sworn in". Cayman Compass. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  6. "Blast at Shahjalal shrine injures British HC, kills 2". The Daily Star. 4 (348). Bangladesh. 22 May 2004. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  7. "Three to die for UK envoy attack". BBC News. 23 December 2008. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
  8. Percival, Jenny (23 December 2008). "Death sentences for Bangladesh grenade attack on British envoy". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  9. "Grenade atack [sic] on Anwar Choudhury: Mufti Hannan among four indicted". The Sylhet Times. 1 August 2007. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  10. Ford, Richard (25 June 2018). "Governor of Caymans 'asked maid for massage'". The Times. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  11. Wintour, Patrick (14 June 2018). "UK recalls Cayman Islands governor over unspecified allegations". the Guardian. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  12. "Choudhury removed as Cayman Islands governor". Cayman Compass. 20 September 2018.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
David Carter		 British High Commissioner to Bangladesh
2004–2008		 Succeeded by
Stephen Evans
Preceded by
James Dauris		 British Ambassador to Peru
2014–2018		 Succeeded by
Kate Harrisson
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