British American Tobacco Bangladesh - Mr. Syed Afzal Hossain
Company Secretary & Head of Compliance
Background
Mr. Syed Afzal Hossain is a distinguished Barrister and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh with more than a decade of litigation practice and nine years of corporate sector experience. His areas of specialization include banking and finance, telecommunications, corporate law, VAT and taxation, labour and employment, and power and energy. He has also developed extensive expertise in both domestic and international commercial arbitration.
He attained his LLB (Hons) from the University of Leicester, UK, completed the Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law, London, and earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional and Legal Skills from City University, London.
Career Highlights
- Appeared as an advocate before the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, District Courts of Dhaka and Chittagong, Labour Court of Dhaka, and the Trademark Tribunal of Bangladesh.
- Joined BAT Bangladesh in 2017 as Litigation and Commercial Counsel. He played a pivotal role in securing a favorable outcome in a GBP 158 million VAT and SD claim, for which he received BATB’s prestigious Tier 3 Award.
- Recognized with two Stellar Awards and multiple Honour Club (Tier 2) awards for interdisciplinary contributions.
- Promoted to Company Secretary & Senior Legal Counsel of BAT Bangladesh in April 2024, where he continues to uphold compliance, strengthen governance frameworks, and provide strategic legal stewardship.
- Prior to BAT Bangladesh, he worked as:
- Advocate, Law House (Chambers of Barrister ABM Siddiqur Rahman Khan), 2014–2016
- Advocate, A Hossain and Associates (Chambers of Mr. Ajmalul Hossain KC), 2004–2014
- Legal Associate, Central Bank Strengthening Project of Bangladesh Bank, 2004–2007
Membership In Professional Societies:
- Bar of England & Wales
- Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
- Supreme Court Bar Association, Bangladesh
- Dhaka Bar Association, Bangladesh
- Bangladesh Bar Council