Mahmudur Rahman (; born 6 July 1953) is the one of the owners and acting editor of one of Bangladesh's Bengali daily newspapers, Amar Desh. He is also an author, engineer and businessman. Established in business, Mahmudur Rahman was appointed the executive chairman of the National Investment Board in 2002, and then elevated to national energy adviser in 2005. In both positions, Rahman set high goals for attracting foreign investments and increasing energy capacity in Bangladesh. While he had success in attracting foreign investors, he also took controversial steps such as increasing petrol prices or developing open-pit mines that set off protests across the country. Since the restoration of civilian government and the Awami League victory in 2008, Rahman has been a strong critic of the government through his newspaper. Party and government officials have reacted by charging him with defamation and sedition cases more than 50 times since 2009 to 2013. He is the only person to be sentenced for contempt by the Bangladesh Supreme Court. International human rights groups and press organisations have characterised the government's actions against him as judicial harassment. Critics have said he has misrepresented bloggers and activists associated with the 2013 Shahbag protests and contributed to widespread religious tensions and civil unrest. Early life Mahmudur Rahman was born in Comilla, Bangladesh, his mother is Mahmuda Begum. He received his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering in 1977 from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. After working in engineering in Japan, he returned to earn a graduate diploma in Ceramic Engineering. He also earned an M.B.A. from the Institute of Business Administration, Dhaka University. He married Firoza Khan, the daughter of Harunur Rashid Khan Monno. The latter has been politically affiliated with the BNP since independence. Business career Rahman started his career as an operational engineer at British Oxygen, a major British-owned gas company. He also worked in Munnu Ceramics, Duncan Brothers, Shinepukur Ceramics, Beximco Group, and Padma Textile, including some years in Japan. After returning to Bangladesh, Rahman started and developed his own company, Artisan Ceramics Limited in 1999. It was the first bone china plant in the country and a technological breakthrough. Artisan Ceramics was sold in 2013. Political career National Investment Board Rahman was appointed by the administration of Khaleda Zia as chair of the National Investment Board. In 2002, he described the obstacles to foreign investment in Bangladesh as the "five 'I's": "image,