The pioneer in PC market

MN Islam

He quit his banking career and opted for doing business, in late 1960s, at the age of around 40. He was already late thinking about what to do. Doing something with the next generation technology was a choice, but it was a bit different and risky too, at that time in Bangladesh.
MN Islam had no idea about technology, and he was grappling to find an answer to uncertainty waiting ahead. He found the answer, as he could clearly see -- the world is becoming tech-fond.
In a family gathering, one of his friends from the US showed him a calculator, the technology that was not much familiar to the Bangladeshis that time. "I never saw calculator in the way he showed me," says Islam.
Meanwhile the Liberation War began. He started afresh after the independence in 1971 when Bangla typewriter was getting popularity.
Islam rented a tiny room of 150 square feet in the Motijheel area for Tk 90 a month. He along with his younger brother started to import typewriters from Japan under a company name, Flora Limited.
His business got a momentum when Flora introduced Canon calculator to the Bangladesh market in early 1970s.
"I had a plan to do business with the future technology," says Islam. "And the calculator business gave a boost to my confidence."
However, Islam is not famous for such a startup. He is famous because of his pioneer role in introducing personal computer (PC) on a commercial basis to Bangladesh for the first time.
Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) recently awarded him for his role in introducing PC in Bangladesh.
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star, Islam says he actually started business for survival as he became unemployed suddenly. "I had already four children when I quit my banking career."
He says some multinational insurance companies and donors in Bangladesh had access to computer technology in 1970s. But it was too much ambitious for a businessman to introduce computer on a commercial basis in a market like Bangladesh where the customers were not ready.
"But I felt that the technology is spreading around the globe. Why shouldn't I go for it?" he says.
Islam found Radio Shack, a US-based company that was making computers with CP/M (Control Program for Microcomputers) operating system.
Flora Limited imported five CP/M computers in 1982 on a commercial basis. The price ranged from Tk 3 lakh to Tk 3.5 lakh.
But Flora could not advance much with CP/M computer, as it was not user friendly. However, some individual customers bought the computers. "As I can remember, one of the five customers was an architect," he says.
Since Flora started computer business, Islam shifted his office to another tiny room at Red Cross Building in Motijheel in 1975. But the PC introducer still knew a little about the technology.
Only his desperate bid to go ahead with the new technology sent him Tokyo in 1984 for communicating with Epson, another PC maker. But Islam failed to have any fruitful talks with Epson. The company suggested he communicate with its Singapore office.
On his way back, Islam met Epson officials in Singapore. He was offered to open an L/C (letter of credit) worth $13,000 for importing computers.
"Yes, I can open the L/C. No problem -- I just replied to the Epson officials. I got the permission for importing computers from Epson," says Islam.
In the late 1980s some big PC brands, including IBM, HP and Compaq, were getting popularity. Islam could understand the trend of the upcoming technology.
Once he overlooked a letter which one of his office bearers dropped on his table.
"It's all my luck," Islam says. His son noticed the letter. "It was actually an offer letter from Compaq to become their agent in Bangladesh."
Islam replied to them without any delay and went to Bombay, India to meet the Compaq officials in 1991. "The high officials did not give me much time. They just said I got the deal."
It was a breakthrough for Flora in computer business. What happened then? Islam names the companies which one after another joined Flora for selling their products in Bangladesh market -- HP, Epson, Canon, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, 3M, Systimax, APC, Olympus, Nikon, Roland, Creative, Centralion, Verbatim, Linksys, Dell and Intel.
Islam says, till 1991 Flora's business was very small, as the nation had no idea about computer technology. A very few individuals had interest in computer or working with PC. Donors and multinational companies were the major customers.
The revolution in computer use started when some tech-savvy young graduates initiated the process of assembling computers locally in 1993. The assemblers helped cut down PC prices that time.
However, Islam says he is grateful to some tech magazines, especially Computer Jagat, that create enthusiasm for computer technology.
At present, there are more than 10,000 computer vendors in Bangladesh. The industry sells around 300,000 computers a year on an average. Flora has 10 percent market share in the computer segment.
With 23 branches across the country, the company has already employed 600 people. The tiny office has become the headquarters at Adamjee Court in Motijheel.
In the last 39 years Islam experienced so many things. Now smartphones are there. Can such a technology become a threat for computer business?
"Technology complements each other," he says.
[email protected]