A visionary who blazed trails for many
MA Hashem, a business tycoon, started as a humble tobacco trader in the early 1960s before becoming one of the leading entrepreneurs and industrialists in Bangladesh.
After Bangladesh's independence in 1971, Hashem realised that the war-torn nation was struggling to supply its people with essential commodities at affordable prices.
He started importing steel, cement, sugar, rice, spices, wheat, salt, milk and numerous other essential commodities after establishing MS Hashem Corporation in Chattogram.
But in order to make the country self-reliant, Hashem decided that these imports would have to be substituted with locally manufactured products. And so, he continued to expand his efforts, and this led to the birth of Partex Group.
The industrial conglomerate is involved in a number of manufacturing and service-oriented sectors such as food and beverages, steel, furniture, real estate, textile, agribusiness, plastics and jute.
More than 75,000 people are directly and indirectly employed by Partex Group, which comprises about 50 enterprises.
Hashem, also a former member of parliament from his hometown of Noakhali, died of a coronavirus infection on Thursday at the Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. He was 77. Following his demise, condolences started pouring in from both home and abroad.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun and Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi were among the noted politicians who expressed grief at the sudden demise of the industrialist. "I got to know him during our time together at Amin Market in Chattogram," said Abdul Hai Sarker, chairman of Dhaka Bank.
The relationship grew deeper after shifting to Dhaka in 1978, he said.
"He had a wonderful personality and was creative like a craftsman when it came to entrepreneurship. We have lost one of our very good friends," said Sarker, also the chairman of Purbani Group and former president of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association.
Hashem was a reflection of some of the country's greatest entrepreneurial exploits as he went from the humble beginnings to the head of a vast industrial empire by serving the people with quality goods.
He was also one of the country's best examples of a self-made businessman.
Following his success in the general commodity business, Hashem turned his attention to particle boards, which are still a unique item in the country today.
"Although our family business was divided among five brothers with separate entities, we implemented various projects in accordance with our father's vision," Showkat Aziz Russell, a son of the eminent business personality, told The Daily Star yesterday.
"My father's final dream project was to launch the country's largest private-sector petroleum refinery mill in Chattogram, but unfortunately, he met an untimely demise," he added.
The five groups owned by the brothers are Amber Group, Partex Star, Partex Group, Danish Group and Partex Papers.
The petroleum refinery Chattogram is expected to go into production soon as all related construction works were recently completed.
Once operational, the refinery will produce about 10,000 gallons of petroleum products each day, Russell said.
Hashem was also a pioneer and leading businessman in other growing sectors, according to BTMA President Mohammad Ali Khokon.
For instance, he was the pioneer in the condensed milk, particle boards, private banks, universities, and sugar mills segments, he said.
"Our business relationship turned into a family relationship over time. I was involved in many of his family affairs, and he was in mine. We lost not only a good friend, but also a very brilliant entrepreneur and guardian," Khokon added.
Hashem founded City Bank, United Commercial Bank Ltd and Janata insurance Ltd.
The philanthropist established a school and a hospital under his name in Noakhali, both of which are non-profit organisations.
He founded the MA Hashem University College in Noakhali and was a member of the board of trustees of North South University, the first private university in Bangladesh.
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