Speakers at an event on Monday expressed that today, Bangladesh is witnessing a phase of premature de-industrialization with services evolving fast and contributing almost half of the GDP of the nation, and agriculture declining yielding place to manufacturing, which thanks mainly to the textiles sector, has already crossed 25% of the GDP.
The event was organized to honor business leaders of Bangladesh, twelve first generation entrepreneurs, the pioneers of business from undivided India moving on to East Pakistan and to independent Bangladesh, with their businesses still running strong, were handpicked to be presented to the people through a book on Monday.
The launch occasion of ‘Pathikrit Udyoktader Jeebonsangram’ (The Life Stories of Struggles of Pioneering Entrepreneurs), edited by the Chairman of Daffodil Group, Dr Md Sabur Khan, was done in the presence of the families of these entrepreneurs along with one of them who is still going strong, at Daffodil Smart City, located in Ashulia, Savar.
The only surviving entrepreneur of these twelve, founder of ACI group, Anis Ud Dowla (the only other surviving entrepreneur, Syed Manzur Elahi of the Apex group, is indisposed), called it a distinctive initiative, and noted that no one has monopoly of wisdom and anyone can evolve to be a fore-ranking entrepreneur or institution-builder, for which lifelong learning is needed.
He underlined that ACI was the first company in BD with ISO certification. It upheld the values of quality, customer focus, innovation, fairness and continuous improvement. It is a local company with an MNC culture and outlook and initiated its business first through exports of world class footwear and then came to the domestic market.
Two distinguished economists and thought-leaders of BD today also participated in this significant event: Debopriya Bhattacharjee and former Bangladesh Bank Governor Salauddin Ahmed.
Bhattacharya lauded the twelve inspirational stories in this volume and noted that this must go into the educational curriculum to bring it to the younger generation the stories of how homegrown entrepreneurs have evolved from the scratch, or received resources by inheritance, while some acquired ailing firms and turned them around remarkably, and some started first with exports to create higher standards.
He explained that traditional economics talks about a linear movement from agriculture to manufacturing to services.
But today, BD is witnessing a phase of premature de-industrialization with services evolving fast and contributing almost half of the GDP of the nation, and agriculture declining yielding place to manufacturing, which thanks mainly to the textiles sector, has already crossed 25% of the GDP.
Carrying forward the story of CSR, economist Dr. Salauddin Ahmed, the chief guest of the ceremony, noted that education and health are must areas of CSR of these enterprises today.
He urged the publishers to bring it out as case-studies in English too for global consumption, and also have a future edition on the success stories of rural micro and small businesses.
Akij Group MD, Sk Bashiruddin Akij, who arrived by helicopter from Mymensingh a bit late due to weather conditions, started with the Chinese proverb, ‘The journey of a million miles starts with a single step.’
Anwar Group chief, Maminur Anwar, who attended in spite of not being fully well, saluted the efforts telling that the industrial and economic history and roots of BD have been documented through it. The PRAN group chief, Ahsan Khan Chaudhary, recounted how his father, the founder of PRAN group, Maj Gen (Retd) Amjad Khan Chaudhary, set personal examples to make the team inspired.
The editor of the book and the Chairman of the Daffodil Group, Dr Md Sabur Khan, speaking towards the end, noted that there shall be more value additions in the book.
The book also tells the stories of AK Khan of Khan group, AC Abdur Rahim, founder of Rahimafrooz BD Ltd, Samson H Chaudhary, founder of Square group, Abdul Monem of Abdul Monem Ltd, Syed Manzur Elahi of Apex Group, Latifur Rahman of Transcom Ltd, apart from that of the Ispahani group.
