Born in Madarsha village of Hathazari in Chittagong in 1931, Mr. Ghulam Akbar Chowdhury graduated from the University of Dhaka in 1955. His political life started as early as 1948 when he joined the Muslim Students League. He played a very significant role as the convener of the All Party Student Forum in Chittagong during the Language Movement of 1952. Mr. Chowdhury had been a close associate of Bangabandhu, specially after the latter's release from the Agartala Conspiracy case. He was the key policy maker of the Awami League after the 15th August, 1975. Apart from politics, Mr. Chowdhury had been in business all through since his student life. He was one of the senior most insurance men during the Pakistan days. He is the founderchairman of South Asia Insurance Company. He was also the foundersecretary of Chittagong Lions Club, the first Lions Club in the then East Pakistan. Mr Chowdhury is a member of Bangabandhu Parishad Presidium. He is married to Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Bangladesh Awami League Presidium Member and a former Cabinet Minster. They have three sons and a daughter.