They all share a common feature — feeling the urge to make a difference. One changed his fate by thinking out of the box and breaking all barriers. One brought his company to a new height to become the best in the market. One was quick in understanding the politics of products and innovation. And another one, a woman, rises from nothing and leaves a trail of success for millions to follow. The Daily Star and DHL salute these genius minds.
BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR
A man of innovation
Sajjadur Rahman
A pioneer and an innovator, Nasiruddin Biswas has never shied away from challenges.
Biswas now runs a group of nine industries, from float glass to energy saving bulb, all state-of-the-art. With nearly Tk 2,000 crore in annual turnover, his conglomerate — Nasir Group of Industries — is a preferred client for banks for its excellent repayment practices.
His relentless efforts to enliven the country’s economy have earned him a prestigious recognition this year — The Daily Star-DHL Business Award.
“I always go for the products that are not made in Bangladesh, but have a huge demand in the country,” says Biswas who is in his late 60s now.
Such products also help save foreign currencies, he says.
Nasir Group, which started its journey in 1977, now employs more than 23,000 people. It is also the largest melamine and float glass manufacturer.
Biswas, a commerce graduate, got a breakthrough in 1975 when Akij Uddin, the founder of Akij Group, asked him to supply tobacco to his Dhaka Tobacco Factory.
But a misunderstanding ended the relation with Akij Uddin and made Biswas an industrialist from a mere tobacco trader.
Biswas then set up North Bengal Plastic Industry in Kushtia in 1977 and a sports shoe factory — Jump Keds — in Kanchpur near Dhaka in 1982.
The visionary businessman says Bangladesh has a huge potential to grow and compete with other countries.
BEST FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
Financing the best way
Sarwar A Chowdhury
IDLC Finance’s drive to become the best financial brand in Bangladesh got a push when Selim RF Hussain took its leadership in 2010 and put the right infrastructure in the right place.
In the next two years, the firm invested heavily in people, premises, technology, processes and finally in re-branding.
The efforts paid off — the company was picked for The Daily Star-DHL Business Award this year.
“Our success is basically a blend of quality planning and quality execution,” Hussain, the managing director of the firm, says.
IDLC was formed in 1985 as Industrial Development Leasing Company of Bangladesh.
Apart from investment, the company focussed on building up its clientele in terms of deposit and credit, and product diversification and loan realisation.
The company’s total deposit rose to Tk 2,200 crore in 2012 from Tk 1,237 crore in 2010, while credit disbursement reached Tk 2,799 crore from Tk 1,561 crore during the period. The number of branches more than doubled to 26 in the two-year time.
“IDLC had been a popular brand since its inception, but it was running conservatively and the growth was also slow,” Hussain says. “What we have done is aggressive business, but with compliance and ethical practices.”
The firm has two subsidiaries — IDLC Investments and IDLC Securities — and offers products and services in four categories: corporate, consumer, SME and treasury.
ENTERPRISE OF THE YEAR
The rise of a giant
Md Fazlur Rahman
It was in 1991 when the DBL Group started its journey, with a small garment factory in Dhaka. It had only 37 sewing machine and less than 100 people then.
Thanks to the dynamic leadership of its managing director, Mohammed Abdul Jabbar, the company today stands as one of the largest garment makers.
At present, DBL Group has 19 subsidiaries in areas of garments, textiles, telecommunications and ceramics, with turnover coming to around $243 million in 2012. The number of employees reaches 15,700.
“Quality products at competitive prices and timely delivery made the Group a success,” Jabbar says.
Jabbar, who has a degree in computer science from the University of Texas, says as orders from abroad started flowing in, the Group reinvested the profits in setting up modern backward linkage industries — from spinning and fabric knitting to fabric dyeing and finishing units.
Investment was also made in washing plants, printing, garment screen printing and corrugated carton factories.
Jabbar says the strong backward linkage industries helped the Group have in-house quality control and shorter lead time, resulting in higher growth. The Group plans to double its workforce to 30,000 and turnover to $600 million by 2016.
The company exports garments to 42 countries in Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Asia. It is the platinum supplier of H&M, and also supplies to Wal-Mart, Esprit, Puma, G-Star and Decathlon.
OUTSTANDING WOMAN IN BUSINESS
Tiny yet heavyweight
Sohel Parvez
Masuda Islam’s journey as an entrepreneur began in mid-80s.
After completing her graduation, she became a school teacher in Dhaka. But she had something else on her mind.
An opportunity came her way one day when she went to Mouchak market in the capital with her daughter, who was wearing a dress Masuda tailored at home.
A clothes seller approached Masuda and asked about the dress her daughter was wearing. When he heard Masuda herself had made it, he asked if she would be interested in making a few more for his store.
“I took the offer, but I had no extra money to buy fabrics and accessories,” Masuda says.
She borrowed Tk 500 from a relative and made 18 dresses in total. The shop owner paid her Tk 1,800 upfront.
“It was an exciting moment and I returned home with more orders.”
There was no looking back for Masuda.
In 1996, she diversified to making ready snacks. After attending a training course on how to make Malaysian snacks, she began to make snacks and supply those to a departmental store in Gulshan.
Today, her firm — Protina Bd Foods — makes 100 items, including frozen snacks, sweets, vermicelli and other bakery items. She supplies the snacks to Agora and other large shops.
She now employs 26 people to run the business and her asset value stands at more than Tk 1 crore.
Source: The Daily Star
