Rupali Haque Chowdhury -Photo : Collected

DHAKA, Dec 7, 2025 (BSS) - Rupali Haque Chowdhury, Managing Director of 
Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited, has been elected President of the Foreign 
Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) for the 2026-2027 term.

Alongside her, Deepal Abeywickrema, Chairman and Managing Director of Nestlé‚ 
Bangladesh PLC, has been elected Senior Vice President, while Mohammad Iqbal 
Chowdhury, CEO of LafargeHolcim Bangladesh PLC, has been elected Vice 
President.

The announcements were made at FICCI's 62nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held 
today at a hotel in the capital where the Chamber also declared its newly 
elected Board of Directors for the upcoming term.

Rupali Haque Chowdhury will succeed Zaved Akhtar, Chairman of Unilever 
Bangladesh Ltd., who served as FICCI President for the 2024-2025 period. The 
newly elected 15-member Board of Directors will assume charge on January 1, 
2026, following the conclusion of the current Board's tenure on December 31, 
2025, said a press release.

In her remarks, FICCI President-elect Rupali Haque Chowdhury said, "I am 
deeply honored to be elected President of FICCI and sincerely grateful for 
the trust placed in me by our member companies. FICCI has long been a 
cornerstone of Bangladesh's investment landscape, and I am committed to 
advancing the Chamber's mission of strengthening foreign investment and 
supporting the country's economic transformation."

She also expressed gratitude to her predecessor, saying, "I extend my sincere 
thanks to Zaved Akhtar for his steadfast leadership over the past two years. 
As we enter a new chapter, I look forward to working closely with the Board 
of Directors, our esteemed members, and key stakeholders to drive meaningful 
reforms, promote a competitive business environment, and contribute to 
Bangladesh's journey toward becoming a future-ready, inclusive, and globally 
competitive economy."

Outgoing President Zaved Akhtar expressed his appreciation to the Board and 
members for their support during his tenure. He said, "It has been a 
privilege to serve as President of FICCI over the past two years. I am deeply 
grateful to the Board of Directors and all our member companies for their 
unwavering support and partnership throughout this period. Together, we 
navigated a time of significant economic and political transition for 
Bangladesh, while advancing key initiatives to strengthen the country's 
investment climate and foreign investor confidence."

Reflecting on the Chamber's journey, he added, "This AGM is not just the 
closing of a year, it is a celebration of FICCI's legacy of vision, 
resilience, and partnership in shaping the future of Bangladesh. I extend my 
heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected President, Senior Vice 
President, Vice President, and the Board of Directors. I am confident that 
the new leadership will further strengthen our advocacy efforts and forge 
deeper partnerships with the government and other key stakeholders, helping 
make Bangladesh an even more attractive destination for investment and 
business."

Members of the outgoing and newly elected Boards, along with representatives 
from FICCI member companies, attended the AGM.