23 firms honoured

The government yesterday honoured 23 small, medium and large companies with the inaugural Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Industrial Award for their contribution to the industrialisation of the country and creating jobs.

Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun handed over the award to the winners at an event at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.

The award was given to firms in seven categories that include large, medium and hi-tech factories in line with a policy framed by the industries ministry in 2019 in order to accelerate the pace of industrialisation and the growth of the economy.

The industries ministry recognised four companies – Square Pharmaceuticals, Jaj Bhuiyan Textile Mills, Adury Apparels, and Universal Jeans, Chattogram – under the large industry category.

Auko Tex Ltd, Fortune Shoes, Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy, and Madhobdi Dyeing Finishing Mills were honoured under the medium industry category.

In the small industry category, Aman Plastic Industries, SR Handicrafts in Pabna, and Alim Industries in Sylhet were honoured.

M/S Karukola in Jamalpur, Trim Tex Bangladesh in Dhaka, and Janata Engineering in Chuadanga won the award in the micro-industry category.

The awards under the handicrafts industry category went to Classical Handmade Products BD of Nilphamari, Ayojon Jashore, and Sonargaon Nakhsikantha Mohila Unnayan Sangstha of Narayanganj.

Cumilla Arts and Crafts, Rongmela Nari Kalyan Sangstha (Narayanganj), and Agroj (Dhaka) were awarded in the cottage industry category.

"We expect the award in the name of Bangabandhu will encourage the development of creative entrepreneurs and industrialisation in the country," said the industries minister while speaking at the award ceremony.

ServicEngine Ltd received the first award in the hi-tech industry category. Two other firms that got recognition in the same group were Super Star Electronics and Mir Telecom.

"Definitely, it will encourage us to do better in future to position Bangladesh in a much stronger position on the global ICT map," said ASM Mohiuddin Monem, chairman of ServicEngine, after receiving the award.

ServicEngine, a joint venture with a US firm and one of the concerns of Abdul Monem Ltd, is a business process outsourcing company employing 1,100 people.

Monem, also the additional managing director of the group, said the winning of the first award reflected the company's contribution to Digital Bangladesh.

"It is great to be awarded in the name of the Father of the Nation, especially in his birth centenary."

"This is a special award because we have won it in the very first year of its inception," said Syed M Tanvir, managing director of Universal Jeans, a concern of Pacific Jeans Group, one of the top exporters.

"This will inspire us to grow and contribute more to the industrial sector and the economy."

Md Aman Ullah, managing director of Aman Plastic Industries, which won the top prize in the micro industries category, was elated after winning the first-ever award for his company.

The company began making toys in 2007. And this was the time when toys were mainly imported from China.

"Now, we have been able to reduce the imports of toys. This is a big achievement for us. We now aim to retain our edge and enter the global market," said Aman Ullah.

State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Mojumder said industrialists needed to increase competitiveness through their talents and creativity so that the country could become a developed economy by 2041.

Zakia Sultana, secretary of the industries ministry, hoped the awards would encourage entrepreneurs to establish factories to manufacture import-substitute goods and diversify products to cater to both domestic and global markets.

The top winner of the award got Tk 3 lakh and a crest plated with 25-gram gold. The firms that came second were given Tk 2 lakh along with a 20-gram gold-plated crest.

The third-placed winners received Tk 1 lakh, along with a 15-gram gold-plated crest. All winners also received certificates of appreciation.