Ispahani Group chairperson passes away
Mirza Ali Behrouze Ispahani, chairperson of Ispahani Group, passed away yesterday at the age of 67.
He died of a heart attack at Apollo Hospital in Dhaka early in the morning, the company said on its website.
His first namaj-e-janaja was held after Asr prayer at Gulshan Azad Mosque, while the second janaja took place after Maghreb prayer at Hoseni Dalan Mosque in Old Dhaka. Later, he was buried at a graveyard in the area.
Born on October 30, 1950, Behrouze was a member of a Perso-Bangalee business family in Bangladesh, which owns and manages Ispahani Group, one of the most respected business conglomerates in the Indian subcontinent.
He took charge as chairman of the group after his father Mirza Mehdy Ispahani died in 2004.
Ispahani Group has been the forerunner in numerous fields and has achieved noteworthy success in many endeavours. But its Ispahani Tea is a household name and is the largest tea trading company in the country.
Behrouze Ispahani was the managing director of International Publications Ltd, the owning company of The Financial Express. He was also a board member of Dhaka Stock Exchange, Midas Financing Ltd and the Independent University of Bangladesh.
A committed philanthropist, Behrouze chaired the board of Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute and Hospital. He was former chairman of Ispahani Adarsha High School and College.
The group is also one of the largest employers in Bangladesh, directly providing jobs to over 20,000 people in many sectors such as tea, textile, real estate, crisps, poultry, shipping and internet services.
It was honoured with Bangladesh Business Award 2003 -- initiated by DHL Express and The Daily Star -- for achieving success in numerous sectors while making significant social contributions.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the death of Behrouze.
In a condolence message, the premier recalled with gratitude Ispahani's contributions to flourishing trade and commerce in the country, reports BSS.
Hasina prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family.