Farooq Sobhan
Encyclopedia
Farooq Sobhan is a former Bangladesh
i diplomat and civil society leader. He served in various capacities in the Bangladesh government and foreign service as one of the leading diplomats of the country. He was Bangladesh's Ambassador
to the People's Republic of China
(1987–1990) and High Commissioner
to the Federation of Malaysia (1984–1987) and the Republic of India (1992–1995) as well as the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh (1995–1997), the highest ranking diplomat in the country. He also served as the Chairman of the Board of Investment in with rank and status of a State Minister. Presently, Farooq Sobhan is the President of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, a renowned private think-tank in the country that focuses on private sector development.
Farooq Sobhan was born in 1940 in Calcutta during British rule into an elite Bengali
Muslim family. He attended Oxford University and obtained a Masters of Arts degree there before joining the Foreign Service of Pakistan. Farooq Sobhan is also the younger brother of Professor Rehman Sobhan
, an eminent South Asian economist who is also famous for his contribution to the freedom struggle of Bangladesh during the War of Liberation
.
Farooq Sobhan was the principal challenger to Commonwealth Secretary-General
Don McKinnon
when McKinnon stood for election at the 1999 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
. He stood on a platform of changing the emphasis of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
from infringements on the Commonwealth
's democratic principles to 'any economic or environmental crisis'. The result of the vote (which remains secret), is said to have been thirty-six votes for McKinnon to sixteen for Sobhan, although, continuing the pattern set for Chief Emeka Anyaoku
at the 1989 CHOGM
, the result was announced as 'unanimous'.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
i diplomat and civil society leader. He served in various capacities in the Bangladesh government and foreign service as one of the leading diplomats of the country. He was Bangladesh's Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
(1987–1990) and High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
to the Federation of Malaysia (1984–1987) and the Republic of India (1992–1995) as well as the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh (1995–1997), the highest ranking diplomat in the country. He also served as the Chairman of the Board of Investment in with rank and status of a State Minister. Presently, Farooq Sobhan is the President of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, a renowned private think-tank in the country that focuses on private sector development.
Farooq Sobhan was born in 1940 in Calcutta during British rule into an elite Bengali
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
Muslim family. He attended Oxford University and obtained a Masters of Arts degree there before joining the Foreign Service of Pakistan. Farooq Sobhan is also the younger brother of Professor Rehman Sobhan
Rehman Sobhan
Rehman Sobhan is a prominent Bangladeshi economist and civil society leader. He played a leading role in the Bengali nationalist movement in the 1960s, including authoring the Two Economies Theory and drafting the Six point demands of Bengali nationalists...
, an eminent South Asian economist who is also famous for his contribution to the freedom struggle of Bangladesh during the War of Liberation
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
.
Farooq Sobhan was the principal challenger to Commonwealth Secretary-General
Commonwealth Secretary-General
The Commonwealth Secretary-General is the head of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the central body which has served the Commonwealth of Nations since its establishment in 1965, and responsible for representing the Commonwealth publicly...
Don McKinnon
Don McKinnon
Sir Donald Charles "Don" McKinnon, ONZ, GCVO is a former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand. He was the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations from 2000 until 2008.-Early life:...
when McKinnon stood for election at the 1999 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1999
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1999 was the sixteenth Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations. It was held in Durban, South Africa, between 12 November and 14 November 1999, and hosted by President Thabo Mbeki....
. He stood on a platform of changing the emphasis of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration, abbreviated to CMAG, is a group of representatives of members of the Commonwealth of Nations that is responsible for upholding the Harare Declaration. That Declaration dictates the Commonwealth's fundamental political values, and...
from infringements on the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
's democratic principles to 'any economic or environmental crisis'. The result of the vote (which remains secret), is said to have been thirty-six votes for McKinnon to sixteen for Sobhan, although, continuing the pattern set for Chief Emeka Anyaoku
Emeka Anyaoku
Emeka Anyaoku, GCVO, CON was the third Commonwealth Secretary-General. He is a Nigerian of Igbo descent.-Education:Born in Obosi, he attended the University College of Ibadan, then a college of the University of London, from which he obtained an honours degree in Classics.-Political career:In...
at the 1989 CHOGM
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1989
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1989 was the eleventh Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations. It was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, between 18 October 1989 and 24 October 1989, and was hosted by that country's Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad.The Langkawi...
, the result was announced as 'unanimous'.
External Links
- Coauthor of Ecological and Nontraditional Security Challenges in South Asia (NBR Special Report, June 2011)