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It is with the utmost intellectual respect and profound admiration that we contemplate the legacy of Professor Dr. Ashraf Uddin Chowdhury. He embodied a rare synthesis: a rigorous economist grounded in the paradigms of development theory and an academician whose work was fundamentally guided by humanistic principles and ethical commitment. His career stands as a seminal testament to the economist’s role as an architect of institutions and a conscientious steward of equitable growth, far beyond the confines of abstract model-building.
From Professor Ashraf, I learned how to care for students in practical life. He is always regarded as a father figure who genuinely supports his students. In practical life, he doesn’t have any implicit or explicit enemies, as he always strives to follow the philosophy of doing what is right.
We note with profound sorrow his passing on 6th December 2025. His departure is not merely a personal loss but a national intellectual bereavement. A scholar of his stature transcends individual ownership, belonging instead to the academic community and the nation he served. It is a profound regret to the countless colleagues, students, and admirers that customary public honors at his departmental home or professional association were not feasible. His wife, Keya Chowdhury, must be grateful to Allah for such an economist as her husband. His two daughters must also be thankful to Allah for having such a great, humanistic, honest, and ethical father. In our society, honest individuals are often considered weaker, and family members frequently ask, “Who told you to be honest?” However, I do not claim that this happened in his life; rather, it is a general statement discussing moral hazard. On his death, I remember the poem written by Mary Elizabeth Frye, entitled” Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep” from which I quote:
“Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.”
He will always be in our hearts, and his soul rests in the grave. We remember him for his great deeds. This applies to my esteemed teacher, Professor Dr. Ashraf Uddin Chowdhury. Although he is no longer with us, the essence of his work, thoughts, and honesty remains with us, continuing to inspire the seeds he has sown.
I. Foundational Academic Leadership and Pedagogical Excellence
Professor Chowdhury constituted an integral pillar of Bangladesh’s higher education architecture. His tenure as a Professor of Economics at the University of Dhaka established him as a cornerstone of economic pedagogy, shaping the analytical frameworks of generations of scholars and policymakers. His academic leadership was further solidified through critical administrative stewardship, including his service as Chairman of the Department of Economics and later as Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics at Bangladesh University. Following his retirement, his pedagogical mission continued unabated at the Independent University of Bangladesh, ensuring the perpetuation of his exacting scholarly standards and normative ethical framework.
His mentorship was legendary, characterized by a paternal dedication to human capital
development. His demeanor cultivated a collaborative learning environment of deep respect,
where scholarly dissent was fostered within a framework of unwavering collegiality; no student departed from his tutelage without feeling profoundly supported and intellectually fortified.
II. Stewardship of National Economic Discourse
His influential leadership as a Life Member and former President of the Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) positioned him at the nexus of academic research and public policy formulation. In this capacity, he expertly curated national economic discourse, presiding over pivotal forums that bridged complex theoretical constructs and pragmatic policy applications. He chaired seminal discussions, such as the seminar on the late Professor Mobasher Ali’s work “Bangladesher Sandhanya,” engaging with international scholars of eminent stature like Professor Haider A. Khan and esteemed national economists like Dr. Jamaluddin Ahmed, FCA. Professors Ashraf and Haider both agreed and argued that Professor Mobasher Ali deserves an Independent Award. Unfortunately, the previous government did not grant this award to Professor Mobasher Ali, who was a participant in the language movement and wrote valuable books, demonstrating strong moral character as an independent person.
His facilitation of dialogues on themes such as “Contract Theory, Property Rights and Economic Outcomes” alongside former Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin underscored his central role in interrogating the institutional underpinnings of economic performance and market efficiency.
III. Scholarly Contributions: Diagnosing Structural and Institutional Constraints
Professor Chowdhury’s scholarship was marked by its applied relevance and diagnostic depth, focusing on the structural and institutional impediments to developmental convergence. His co-authored research, including the significant study “The Economics of Tobacco and Tobacco Taxation in Bangladesh,” exemplifies his commitment to applied microeconomic analysis with direct implications for optimal fiscal policy, behavioral economics, and social welfare optimization. His editorial stewardship of the Bangladesh Journal of Political Economy and his penetrating analyses—spanning the macroeconomic dynamics of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the causal linkages between human capital formation and endogenous growth, and the mechanisms of financial inclusion for poverty reduction and inclusive growth—collectively reveal a scholar dedicated to elucidating foundational constraints on sustainable development.
His incisive article, “Economic Growth in Bangladesh: Is There Any Hope?”, encapsulates his
core scholarly philosophy. His observation that “the ability to make a marked improvement of growth performance critically hinges on the ability to improve various elements of
institutions” firmly anchors his work within the scholarly tradition of institutional economics and political economy. He argued persuasively that sustainable and inclusive growth is contingent not on capital deepening alone, but on the evolution of societal rules, norms, and governance structures—the very social capital and institutional quality that define economic resilience.
IV. Ethical Advocacy and Personal Intellectual Support
His vocation extended seamlessly into policy advocacy and public service. As Chairman of the Social Development Foundation and through direct engagements with entities like the National Board of Revenue (NBR), he championed evidence-based policy-making, consistently foregrounding ethical considerations regarding distributional equity and welfare
outcomes. His intellectual generosity was personally evident in his encouragement of innovative ideas, such as his supportive engagement with the development of a community banking theory, which he recognized for its potential to enhance financial intermediation by channeling micro-savings into micro-investments—a testament to his openness to scholarly innovation aimed at inclusive financial systems and poverty alleviation.
V. An Enduring Legacy of Intellectual Integrity
The profound respect for Professor Chowdhury is echoed globally by peers such as Professor Anisul M. Islam, Ph.D., and in international acknowledgments from institutions like the University of Houston-Downtown’s Marilyn Davies College of Business, which recognized him as a humanistic and ethical economist of the highest order, whose work transcended orthodox economic boundaries.
In every role—educator, institution-builder, scholarly editor, policy advocate, and
mentor—Professor Dr. Ashraf Uddin Chowdhury personified the highest ideals of the academy.
He wielded the analytical tools of econometrics and economic theory with precision, yet always in the service of a broader normative vision: the enhancement of human dignity and the pursuit of a just and equitable society.
We honor him not merely for his titles, but for the intellectual integrity, the rigorous dialectic,
and the moral-economic compass he bequeathed to his nation, his students, and the wider
discipline. His life’s work remains a guiding paradigm, affirming that true economic wisdom is ultimately calibrated by its contribution to sustainable development and equitable human
progress.
Muhammad Mahboob Ali, PhD, Post-Doctorate
Professor, Department of Economics
Bangladesh University of Business and Technology
Corresponding author
Email: pipulbd@gmail.com
