In a remarkable political journey spanning over two decades, Ariful Haque Chowdhury has transitioned from a local ward representative to a high-ranking member of the national cabinet. Following a resounding victory in the 13th General Election, Mr Chowdhury has been appointed as a full minister, taking charge of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
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A Landslide Parliamentary Debut
Contesting from the Sylhet-4 constituency under the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol, Ariful Haque demonstrated immense electoral strength. Despite entering the race as a late nominee following a strategic directive from the BNP leadership, he secured a staggering 1,88,346 votes. This resulted in a decisive margin of victory—over 118,000 votes—against his nearest rival from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
Election Results: Sylhet-4 Constituency (2026)
| Candidate | Political Affiliation | Symbol | Votes Received |
| Ariful Haque Chowdhury | Bangladesh Nationalist Party | Sheaf of Paddy | 1,88,346 |
| Md. Joynal Abedin | Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami | Scales | 69,975 |
| Victory Margin | — | — | 1,18,371 |
The Evolution of a Leader
Mr Chowdhury’s political trajectory began in earnest in 2003, when he was elected as the Councillor for Ward 18 of the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC). During his tenure, he gained prominence as the Chairman of the Urban Development and Planning Committee. His close association with the late Finance Minister, M. Saifur Rahman, further solidified his reputation as a developmental visionary in the Sylhet region.
His career is defined by resilience. After facing imprisonment during the political upheavals of 2007–2008, he returned to the fold with renewed vigor. In 2013, he achieved a historic feat by defeating the legendary Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran to become the Mayor of Sylhet, a success he repeated in the subsequent election.
Loyalty and Strategic Maneuvers
Ariful’s path to the Ministry was paved by his loyalty to party discipline. Although he abstained from the 2023 mayoral race out of respect for his party’s boycott, his transition to national politics was equally dramatic. Initially seeking a nomination for Sylhet-1, he eventually accepted the challenge of Sylhet-4 on 5 November 2025, following a direct request from former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and current PM Tarique Rahman.
Personal Background
Born on 23 November 1959 to Safikul Haque Chowdhury and Amina Khatun, Ariful has been a fixture of nationalist politics since the inception of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal in 1979. A father of three, he has held numerous senior roles within the BNP structure, including President of the Sylhet City unit and General Secretary of the District unit.
Upon his appointment, the newly minted Minister expressed his profound gratitude to the party leadership and the electorate, pledging to leverage his administrative experience to enhance the welfare of Bangladeshi expatriates globally.