AmCham Bangladesh mourns death of former president Forrest E. Cookson

The American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) mourned the demise of its former president, Forrest E Cookson, who died last night at United Hospital in Dhaka. He was 91.

Born on April 26, 1934, in the United States, Cookson first arrived in Bangladesh in the mid-1980s to support a financial sector reform initiative, beginning a decades-long association with the country, according to a press release.

He went on to serve as a consultant to Bangladesh Bank, the central bank, and played a central role in the financial sector reform programme of the 1990s — a landmark effort to modernise Bangladesh's banking and capital market regulatory framework.

He also advised the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, contributing to the methodological foundations of the country's national economic data.

Cookson served as AmCham president from 1996 to 2001, during which he worked to consolidate the chamber's institutional footing and deepen trade and investment ties between the United States and Bangladesh.

He had been associated with AmCham since its founding and remained active in its activities until recently, contributing regularly to the AmCham Journal and writing on financial sector and investment climate issues in national newspapers and publications.

"AmCham Bangladesh is deeply grateful for his outstanding contribution and will remember him with the utmost respect," the chamber said, extending condolences to his family, friends, and well-wishers.