Former Snapchat CSO Meets Prof Yunus, Expresses Interest In Investing In Bangladesh

Imran Khan, a prominent American investor of Bangladeshi origin, met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka on Saturday and expressed keen interest in investing in Bangladesh.

Khan, 48, moved to the U.S. at the age of 18 for higher studies and built a distinguished career as an investment banker specializing in technology companies. He is currently Chairman of the Board at Aleph Holding and founder and CEO of Proem Asset, an investment firm he launched in 2018 that focuses on technology-driven sectors, particularly fintech.

Professor Yunus invited him to explore opportunities in Bangladesh’s growing fintech, healthcare, and social business sectors. Inspired by Yunus’s lifelong mission to eradicate poverty, Khan said the timing was ideal to begin investing in his homeland.

“I am a great admirer of your work. You are a national pride for all of us,” Khan told Professor Yunus, crediting him as a key influence behind his desire to contribute to Bangladesh’s development.

A former banker at JP Morgan and Credit Suisse, Khan gained prominence for playing a pivotal role in Alibaba’s record-breaking IPO—one of the largest in stock market history—and for driving Snapchat’s valuation from zero to US$728 million within months.

Khan said he has been closely following Bangladesh’s investment climate since the interim government took office in August last year. “The timing is favorable: the regulatory environment has become more enabling,” he observed.

Highlighting fintech as a major growth area, he added: “Bangladesh is a frontier market with an underpenetrated fintech opportunity. With its large young population, the growth potential is enormous.”

Professor Yunus encouraged Khan to visit Bangladesh in the coming months to explore opportunities on the ground. In response, Khan said he would plan a trip soon.

“Bangladesh’s young people need role models like you. It’s an exciting time back home—you can help inspire a new generation,” Professor Yunus told him.

During the meeting, Professor Yunus also suggested that top U.S. investors allocate one percent of their portfolios to social business initiatives or to a dedicated social business fund. Khan welcomed the idea warmly and expressed his interest in supporting such an initiative.

SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.