Rupali Haque Chowdhury 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.
Besides, Deepal Abeywickrema, chairman and managing director of Nestlé Bangladesh PLC, and Mohammad Iqbal Chowdhury, CEO of LafargeHolcim Bangladesh PLC, were elected senior vice president and vice president, respectively, of the trade body.
The announcements were made at FICCI's 62nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at a city hotel on Sunday, where the chamber also unveiled its newly elected Board of Directors for the upcoming term, according to a press release.
Rupali Haque Chowdhury will succeed Zaved Akhtar, chairman of Unilever Bangladesh Limited, who served as FICCI president for 2024-2025.
The newly elected 15-member board will assume charge on January 1, 2026, following the conclusion of the current board's tenure on December 31 this year.
In her remarks, Rupali Haque Chowdhury said, "I am deeply honoured 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, adding, "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," she says.
Outgoing President Zaved Akhtar expressed appreciation to the board and members for their support during his tenure.
"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.
"Together, we navigated a time of significant economic and political transition for Bangladesh while advancing initiatives to strengthen the country's investment climate and foreign investor confidence," he said.
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