Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan has said Bangladesh is marching forward at rocket speed taking the development highway that the government has created, and Bashundhara Group wants to be the partner of the uplift journey.

He made the remarks at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) and Bashundhara Industrial Economic Zone Ltd (BIEZL) at Radisson Blu hotel in the capital on Monday.

Under the deal, BEZA will lease out 500 acres of land to BIEZL, a concern of the country’s leading business conglomerate Bashundhara Group for Mirsarai Economic Zone in Chittagong.

BEZA Executive Member Mohammad Harunur Rashid and Bashundhara Group Vice Chairman Safwan Sobhan signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides.

Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs) at the Prime Minister’s Office Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad attended the MoU signing ceremony as the chief guest and Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan as the special guest while BEZA Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury presided over it.

Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir, BDG-Magura Group Chairman Mustafa Kamal Mohiuddin, BEPZA Executive Chairman Major General Mohd Habibur Rahman Khan and BEZA Executive Member M Emdadul Haque were also present on the occasion.

In his speech, the Bashundhara Group chairman said Mirsarai is going to be the biggest economic zone of the country and Bashundhara Group has got 500 acres of land allocated for it.

Highlighting Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s contribution to Bangladesh’s independence and its economic development, he said the Father of the Nation dreamt of an economically stable country, which faced a major setback after his killing.

“Bangladesh turned back to his dream under the leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been taking bold steps one after another to attain her vision to turn Bangladesh a middle-income country by 2021 and developed nation by 2041,” said Ahmed Akbar Sobhan.

He said Bangladesh is going ahead at a great pace but still has problems like inadequate infrastructures and traffic congestion.

He expressed his hope that the government and its agencies will address the issues.

The Bashundhara Group chairman suggested bringing back the money that has been sent to foreign countries ‘in right or wrong way’ through imposing minimum penalty or fess.

“There are huge scopes of investment in Bangladesh. If that money gets white, Bangladeshi people can change the face of country.

Foreign direct investment will not be needed that much,” he said.Ahmed Akbar Sobhan advised BEZA to include establishment of a sports complex in every divisional and district city to attract the new generation to sports and save them from the drugs.

Principal SDG Coordinator Abul Kalam Azad said Bashundhara Group has proved its worth in all sectors as a leading investor of the country and the MoU with BEZA will lead it towards further success.

He also said: “Scope of investment in EZ is a great opportunity and we urge leading entrepreneurs of the country to come forward and BEZA and BIDA is ready to provide all-out support in this regard.”

BEZA Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury said the private sector is the main pillar of country’s economic force and it is the duty of the government to extend policy and other supports to nourish investment.

He said the country still lacks an investment culture and the government is trying to develop it.

Chairman of Bashundhara Group Ahmed Akbar Sobhan inaugurates the 53rd branch of The Farmers Bank Limited by cutting a ribbon at Bashundhara Residential Area in the city on Tuesday. Chairman of the bank Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir was also present on the occasion.

Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Monday visits country’s largest media conglomerate East West Media Group Limited complex in Bashundhara of the capital.

The envoy arrives at the media complex at 2:45pm this afternoon. Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan along with the editors and senior journalists of different media houses of the complex gave him a floral reception at his arrival.

Shiabur Rahman, Acting Editor of daily sun, Imdadul Haq Milon, Editor Kaler Kantho, Alamgir Hossain, Editor in Chief Banglanews24 and Naem Nizam, Editor Bangladesh Pratidin, among others received the envoy.

Later, the envoy sits with the media personnel at a discussion meeting and exchanges views over the Prime Minister’s upcoming India visit.

Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan was also present at the meeting.

Bangladesh Pratidin, the highest circulated Bangla daily in the country, celebrated the seventh anniversary of its publication on Wednesday amid festivity.

Patrons and well-wishers of the daily attended the celebration programme at International Convention City Bashundhara (Noborattri Hall) in the capital. They shared the joy of success of the Bangla daily.

The presence of a galaxy of personalities, including ministers, politicians, academics, celebrities, businesspersons, members of civil society and media people, adorned the event.
They started joining the programme at 11:00am and greeted Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan and Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Naem Nizam with bouquets.In his welcome speech, Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan said, “The highest circulated and popular daily of the country Bangladesh Pratidin has stepped into its 8th year. I am proud and very much delighted as people of all walks of life have come to greet the Bangladesh Pratidin. I hope that you will extend wholehearted support in the upcoming days as you supported the East West Media Group Limited in the last seven years.”

He said Bangladesh Pratidin started its journey on this day of 2010. Later, within few years this daily has become the most popular. The anniversary programme of Bangladesh Pratidin is being held at home and abroad with much pomp and grandeur, he added.

The event was attended by Bashundhara Group Vice Chairman Safwan Sobhan, Publisher of Kaler Kantho, Daily Sun and Bangladesh Pratidin Maynal Hossain Chowdhury, Media Adviser Mohammad Abu Tayeb and senior journalists of East West Media Group Limited.

On the occasion, the Bangla daily, an outlet of East-West Media Group Limited (EWMGL), arranged a cake-cutting ceremony at its office in Bashundhara residential area in the city on Tuesday.

Managing Director of Bashundhara Group and EWMGL Sayem Sobhan Anvir cut a giant cake at the function attended by Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Naem Nizam, Kaler Kantho Editor Imdadul Haque Milan, Banglanews24.com Editor-in-Chief Alamgir Hossain and daily sun Acting Editor Shiabur Rahman.

The Bangladesh Pratidin and Social Islami Bank Ltd (SIBL) have jointly awarded CRP Hospital-founder Valerie Ann Taylor and Banchte Shekha executive director Angela Gomes for their outstanding contributions to health and socioeconomic sectors.

The daily awarded the two noble women on Tuesday on the occasion of its seventh anniversary of publication.

Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan handed over a crest and a cheque for Tk 2 lakh to each of them.

Besides, he announced donation of Tk 25 lakh from Bashundhara Group to facilitate the two noble women to work for the destitute and vulnerable people in the society.

Bangladesh Pratidin editor Naem Nizam, Kaler Kantho editor Imdadul Haque Milon, SIBL chairman Major (retd) Dr Rezaul Haque and NEWS24 head of current affairs Samia Rahman were present there.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Railways Minister Mujibul Haque and Prime Minister’s Information Advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury greeted the Bangladesh Pratidin on the occasion of its anniversary.

Among the BNP leaders, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, Gayeshawr Chandra Roy, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Abdullah Al Noman, Md Shahjahan, Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin, Begum Selima Rahman greeted the Bangladesh Pratidin.

Those who came to greet the family of Bangladesh Pratidin included former President and Chairman of Jatiya Party HM Ershad, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, RAB DG Benazir Ahmed, Krishak Sramik Janata League Chairman Kader Siddiqui, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP leader and former minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, former UGC chairman Prof AK Azad Chowdhury, BNP organising secretary Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, Nagarik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, former minister Zafar Imam, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, former Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Shakhawat Hossain, general secretary of Economic Summit Dr Jamal Ahmed, Awami League City Unit (South) general secretary Shahe Alam Murad, BNP leader Shama Obaid, Mahila Dal president Afroza Abbas and actor Saimon.

Jatiya Party (JP) Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, JSD President ASM Abdur Rab, FBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmad, former Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Saleh Uddin Ahmed and former FBCCI President Abdul Awal Mintoo also greeted the Bangladesh Pratidin.

Acting Editor of daily sun Shiabur Rahman, Kaler Kantho Editor Imdadul Haq Milan and Editor-in-Chief of Banglanews24.com Alamgir Hossain greeted the Bangladesh Pratidin and attended the anniversary event.

The guests praised the Bangladesh Pratidin as the highest circulated daily in the country and hoped success in the field of journalism in the days to come.

To mark the occasion, East West Media building has been decorated colourfully along with installing lighting system. The Bangladesh Paratidin arranged a cultural programme at the International Convention City Bashundhara on Wednesday.

On the occasion of its birth anniversary, daily sun wished the Bangladesh Pratidin. A team of senior journalists led by Acting Editor Shiabur Rahman greeted the family of Bangladesh Pratidin with flower bouquets at the gala event at ICCB on Wednesday.

Bangladesh Pratidin started its journey on March 15, 2010 with a slogan of Amra Jonogoner Pokkhe (We are in favour of the people) and eventually earned a huge popularity among the readers at home and abroad.

Leading industrialists of Bangladesh pose for a photograph with Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla at a reception accorded to them at the new Indian High Commission Complex in the capital on Sunday. Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, Chairman of Bashundhara Group, Salman F Rahman, MD of Beximco Group and Adviser to PM on Private Sector, and Abdul Matlub Ahmed, President of FBCCI, were among them.

বসুন্ধরা গ্রুপের চেয়ারম্যান আহমেদ আকবর সোবহান বলেছেন, আর্তমানবতার সেবায় বসুন্ধরা গ্রুপ সব সময় কাজ করে আসছে, ”আগামীতেও করবে। দেশের অর্থনীতি ও জিডিপি উন্নয়নে আবাসন খাতের বড় অবদান রয়েছে। বসুন্ধরা এই এলাকার মানুষকে নিয়েই সেই অবদানে ভূমিকা রাখছে। ” সোমবার রাজধানীর কুড়িল বড়বাড়িতে ছয়তলা জামে মসজিদের ভিত্তি প্রস্থর স্থাপনকালে তিনি এ কথা বলেন।

মসজিদের সভাপতি ইসরাফিল আশরাফের সঞ্চালনায় অনুষ্ঠানে আরও উপস্থিত ছিলেন ঢাকা মহানগর (উত্তর) আওয়ামী লীগের কোষাধ্যক্ষ ওয়াকিল উদ্দিন, ভাটারা থানা আওয়ামী লীগের সভাপতি ইসহাক মিয়া, কুড়িল বড়বাড়ি জামে মসজিদের মোতায়াল্লি মো. আলাউদ্দিন, মসজিদের কোষাধ্যক্ষ হাজি ইজাফফর হোসেন, ১৭ নম্বর ওয়ার্ড যুবলীগের সভাপতি লাইস উদ্দিনসহ স্থানীয় গণ্যমান্য ব্যক্তিবর্গ ও বসুন্ধরা গ্রুপের কর্মকর্তাগণ।

অনুষ্ঠানে প্রধান অতিথির বক্তৃতায় বসুন্ধরা চেয়ারম্যান বলেন, ”শিল্প খাতের পাশাপাশি ক্ষুদ্রঋণসহ বিভিন্ন কর্মসূচির মাধ্যমে বসুন্ধরা গ্রুপ দীর্ঘদিন থেকে কাজ করে আসছে। আগামীতে কর্মসংস্থান সৃষ্টিতে এই কর্মপরিধি আরও বাড়ানো হবে। ”
বক্তব্য শেষে সবাইকে নিয়ে ছয়তলা মসজিদটির ভিত্তিপ্রস্তর স্থাপন ও দোয়ায় অংশ নেন আহমেদ আকবর সোবহান।