Bangladesh Polls Reshape Political Landscape; Nitai Roy Choudhury Lone Hindu Minister

Dhaka: The February 12 general elections in Bangladesh have significantly altered the country’s political landscape. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a decisive victory, paving the way for party chief Tarique Rahman to assume office as Prime Minister.

Among those sworn in as ministers in the new cabinet is Nitai Roy Choudhury, the only Hindu representative in the council of ministers.

Born on January 7, 1949, in Hatbaria village of Magura district, Choudhury completed his schooling at Alokdia Pukhuria High School and later earned a degree from Government College in Magura.

He went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Law from University of Dhaka. Choudhury is married to Jhuma, and the couple has three children. His son, Debashish Roy Choudhury, serves as a judge of the Bangladesh High Court.

His daughter, Nipun Roy Choudhury, is actively involved in the BNP and is a member of its executive committee. She is married to Amitabh Roy, son of senior BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy.

Currently serving as a BNP vice-president, Choudhury was elected from the Magura–2 constituency. A senior adviser to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, he began his parliamentary career in 1988 after being elected to Parliament. Over the years, he emerged as a vocal critic of the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina.

In 1990, Choudhury served as Youth and Sports Minister in the government of Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Following the end of Ershad’s rule, he formally joined the BNP.

In the first election held after Sheikh Hasina left the country, the BNP won 212 out of 299 parliamentary seats, securing a commanding majority.

Other members of the new cabinet include BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the lone woman minister Afroza Khanam Rita, and Chakma Buddhist leader Dipen Dewan.

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