Ashik Chowdhury, Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun by birth, is a renowned economist, banker, and chartered financial analyst. Raised in Jashore after postings of his father in profession, he began his education at Sylhet Cadet College. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Dhaka, and then pursued a Master’s in Finance at the prestigious London Business School.
Professionally, Chowdhury started his career in 2007 as a Territory Officer in British American Tobacco. He then shifted to Standard Chartered Bank and served as a manager of the Lending Strategy and Financial Planning Division until 2011. His international exposure increased when he joined American Airlines in London in 2012 and eventually became the Head of Finance for Europe and Asia. He later worked in senior positions at HSBC, both in Bangladesh and Singapore.
In September 2024, Chowdhury was appointed as the Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), positions he continues to serve in.
Now here’s a common fact: university students have to present a lot, be it class projects, thesis defenses, or case competitions. But whereas everyone else focuses on just getting the slides done and reading from them, Ashik Chowdhury’s session showed a masterclass in how to actually own a presentation.
Let’s break it down.
Making the Entrance Count
Right from the start, Ashik was intentional. He emerged onto the stage, waved to the audience, and then, just as casually, retreated backward again, stalled, and emerged again. It’s a small thing, perhaps, but that small gesture sucked the audience right in. Those first few seconds of a speech are vital, and he used them to reboot the mood in the room.
Controlling the Moment
Ashik later described that his sudden exit and return were deliberate. But even if one speculated it was a technical glitch or a slip-up, the manner in which he did it, cool as a cucumber and light touch, was a masterclass in composure. For students, this is gold: things won’t go according to plan in a presentation, but if you keep your cool and roll with it, the audience may never be aware.
Style that Speaks
His talk was smooth, confident, and bereft of overused buzzwords. He spoke as though he genuinely believed in his message. His slides were no different; clear, concise, and prioritizing readability over color displays. University students like to jam slides with text; Ashik showed that less is more.
Body Language as a Tool
No fidgeting, no pacing. He had purpose in his mind, used expansive gestures, and drew the audience into his conversation so they felt he was speaking with them, rather than to them. That is a powerful lesson for students: your presence matters as much as your content.
Substance that Mattered
Of course, the content wasn’t just trendy, it was packed with great ideas:
- Showcasing Bangladesh’s True Potential: He spoke about showcasing a realistic, opportunity-rich picture of Bangladesh to foreign investors, hype-free.
- Easing Investment: Suggestions to merge agencies into one, bring in an investment heat map, and offer dedicated relationship managers showed just how serious BIDA is about reducing bureaucratic friction.
- Reviving Idle Industrial Spaces: He proposed opening up inactive state-owned factories to investors, a move that talks of pragmatism and innovation.
- Engaging Political Diversity: Ashik made headlines by inviting all major political parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen Party, to engage with investors, showing a bold appetite for openness and unity.
- Cultural Integration: In hosting cultural events throughout the summit, he acknowledged the place of emotional belonging in economic decision-making, a lesson to students on a balance between intellect and identity.
Post-Presentation Generosity
And here’s the part that impressed even more: after the event, he shared his presentation slides with the public. In a world where information is usually gatekept, that unassuming act of openness spoke volumes about leadership by inclusion.
For college students always preparing for their next presentation, Ashik Chowdhury’s session was more of a crash course in speaking with impact than a policy update. Be clear. Be intentional. Be generous. Because sometimes the way you say something is just as vital as what you say.