Yasmin Choudhury

Early life

Choudhury was born and brought up in South West London, England to religious Sylheti parents, Al-Haj Abdul Muquith Choudhury and Rushon Ara Choudhury, in a conservative community. Her father was one of eight brothers who grew up in Ali Nagor, Bangladesh. She has one brother and three sisters. Her elder brother Nazmul is a MBA graduate, her elder sister Nazmin is a solicitor, her twin sister Jasmin is a primary school deputy head teacher, and her younger sister Nazrin is a screenwriter. Choudhury graduated with a BA Hons in Business Studies and also has a Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Career

In November 2013, Choudhury founded Lovedesh, a company which offers escorted tours and holiday packages. In March 2010, she founded the Amcariza Foundation, a charity which works to help impoverished people in Bangladesh.

In February 2014, Choudhury presented a Bangladeshi food demonstration with dishes from a wood fire curry at the Sound Lounge festival at Merton Abbey Mills in Merton, London. In May of that year, she was interviewed by Nadia Ali on BBC Asian Network. In July of that year, she was interviewed on Deutsche Welle. In December of that year, she launched #LTTTW (Let's Travel The Third World), a campaign that encourages travellers to visit Third World countries. The campaign mobilises the Lovedesh Army bracelet, which gets travellers to select a country they wish to experience as well as fund an artisan workshop in Bangladesh.

Awards and recognition

In November 2013, Choudhury won the World Fringe Travel Market competition. In April 2014, she was named an expert on unusual destinations by Condé Nast Traveller.

In February 2016, she was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards.

Personal life

Choudhury is a single mother. In March 2004, her father died during a trip to Sylhet.