Business heroes honoured

From left, Sanjiv Mehta, executive vice president of Unilever South Asia, and managing director and CEO of Hindustan Unilever; Tania Wahab, managing partner of Karigar; Laila Rahman Kabir, managing director of Kedarpur Tea Company; Tofail Ahmed, commerce minister; Desmond Quiah, country manager of DHL Worldwide Express (Bangladesh); Quazi M Shariful Ala, managing director of Delta Brac Housing Finance Corporation; and Yasin Ali, managing director of Habib Group, pose for photographs at the Bangladesh Business Awards ceremony at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka last night. photo: Amran Hossain

One non-bank financial institution, a business enterprise and two individuals have been honoured, not only for transforming own ideas into symbols of success but also for triumphing over adversity.
As they were presented with the 14th Bangladesh Business Awards yesterday, DHL Express and The Daily Star recognised their excellence in business as well as reminded them of social responsibilities.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed gave away the trophies to the winners at a colourful ceremony at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka last night.
The Best Financial Institution of the Year went to Delta Brac Housing Finance Corporation Ltd (DBH), one of the top non-bank financial institutions, for providing the middle and lower middle class with an opportunity to own houses in metropolitan cities.
In a fiercely contested market, DBH has shown consistent growth and exceeded revenue targets for three successive years from 2010, and the growth in revenue and deposits over the last fiscal was nearly 24 percent.
Chittagong-based Habib Group, which has emerged as a leading conglomerate from a regional trading house in six decades, got the Enterprise of the Year award for delivering products and service of the highest standards.
With diverse interests in aviation, cement, garment, fertiliser, energy, power and steel, the group earns over $425 million in revenues each year. It employs more than 20,000 people.
Tania Wahab, owner of Karigar, a brand of customised leather products, was honoured as the Outstanding Woman in Business for her steady journey towards fames from scratches in less than a decade. The 32-year-old has already become a role model for budding entrepreneurs.
The Lifetime Contribution Award was given to 80-year-old Laila Rahman Kabir for her services to the economy in general and women's empowerment in particular.
A former president of Association of Tea Planters of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Employers Federation and Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Laila Kabir built her Kedarpur Tea Company despite financial difficulty, little demand in the domestic market and lack of international buyers in the 70s.   
Quazi M Shariful Ala, managing director of the DBH; Yasin Ali, managing director of Habib Group; Tania Wahab and Laila Kabir received the trophies.  
DHL Express, the world's top logistics company, and The Daily Star, the country's leading English newspaper, launched the awards in 2000 to celebrate the achievements of local businesses and entrepreneurs.
Last night's award gala began with a dance performance from Pallavi Dance Group.
In his address, Tofail Ahmed said Bangladesh's business community is so capable that everyone can be proud of.
“The country's businesses have become the engine of growth of the country,” he said. “Our exports growth for the current fiscal year is on target despite political unrest last year.”
The minister added that if businesses could be kept out of politics, the country can grow further.
Sanjiv Mehta, executive vice president of Unilever South Asia, delivered a keynote speech.
He said instead of running only after profit, businesses have to be caring about the society and environment for sustainable growth.
“We believe if we do the right thing for a consumer, a customer, an employee and the society, shareholder value will [automatically] get created.”  
Desmond Quiah, country manager of DHL Express, said his company was proud to join The Daily Star in recognising the outstanding achievements in the business and corporate world of Bangladesh.
He said every year they look at the successes of the businesses and become amazed to see even stronger commitment from entrepreneurs and innovators to overcome any odd.
“Today we are the second largest garment exporting country. We show strong growth potential in pharmaceuticals, footwear and leather sector; our small entrepreneurs are eyeing towards global possibilities on information and communication technology businesses and many more,” he said.
“I believe excellence in business is going to be the core of us in the days to come.”
He said 2013 was a year of uncertainty and unpredictability mainly due to political unrest and deadly industrial disasters which dealt a serious blow to the businesses and the economy.
“But as in the past, our economy and businesses have showed great resilience in facing tough situation. We are here to celebrate the resilience the businesses have showed.”
He called for consistent policy framework and environment enabling the businesses to contribute further to the development of the economy.
Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, said over the years, Bangladesh's business leaders, through hard work, creativity and ability to take risks, have competed with the best and the brightest and secured their place in the world.
"Bangladeshi businesses are capable of producing goods and services which can be competitively sold anywhere in the world."
"From the corporate world, Bangladesh now expects better, future-looking and visionary worker-owner relationship,” Mahfuz Anam said.
"We also want the businesses to be environmentally sensible."
He said the country's corporate world has created jobs and wealth and built institutions. “But much of the pollution that is destroying the four rivers around the Dhaka city unfortunately comes from the private enterprises.
“We have to be more environment-friendly if we really love our cities. We can't have industries that destroy our rivers. We can't have production that pollutes our air. That is not progress; that is building something in one hand and taking away something in another."
He called for a more efficient, productive and transparent management system from the corporate world, as the management actually transforms a sick company into a thriving one.
“We are asking more from the corporate world because it has proven that it can deliver.”
In her immediate reactions, Tania Wahab said creativity, honesty and confidence helped her achieve an astounding growth in business and built her own brand. She urged the government to provide policy support so women entrepreneurs could tap into the local market now depending on imports.  
Laila Kabir said new entrepreneurs should not be worried about allowing workers to unionise. “Otherwise, the industries will suffer. In tea estates, we have unions, but we don't have problems.”
Over 300 noted businesspeople, diplomats, bureaucrats, politicians, entrepreneurs, celebrities, civil society members and academics attended the ceremony.
Before yesterday's event, 54 individuals and enterprises were given the country's most prestigious business award since 2000.