Ethics, honesty and integrity of legendary entrepreneur late Samson H. Chowdhury will be remembered by the present and future generations as source of inspiration, said speakers at a memorial meeting in the city Saturday.

They said that Samson Chowdhury had proved that how honesty, dedication and commitment could put a person at the highest peak of success.

They said that he had contributed a lot to alleviating poverty as well as employment generation in the country.

They also suggested to the family members of late Samson H Chowdhury to form an institute after him so that the new generation and businessmen in the country could know his ideology and ethics.

The memorial meeting was held at the celebrity hall of Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).

It was organsied by Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

President of ICC Bangladesh Mahbubur Rahman moderated the memorial meeting. Finance Minister AMA Muhith was also present.

Finance Minister said that late Samson H Chowhury had played an active role in developing the countrys pharmaceutical industry. He was one of the highest tax payers in the country.

Lauding the services of Square Group he said, “The services of Square Hospital are comparatively good and it should be maintained at any cost”.

“We, the businessmen, consider that nation has lost the business legend of our time. Samson Bhai was one of those very rare individuals who touched many hearts and souls he came across for his fatherly and friendly loving care,” said Mahbubur Rahman.

He said that late Samson was always down to earth and never gave a feeling to his friends and colleagues that he was a giant in his own right.

“ICC Bangladesh is deeply shocked and grieved at the sad demise of Mr Samson H. Chowdhury. Mr Chowdhury had been associated with ICC Bangladesh since it started its journey in the 90s,” he said.

He said that Mr Samson had done a lot of philanthropic deeds both in his ancestral home in Pabna and Dhaka. But he is someone who did all these outside the glare of the spotlight.

President of MCCI Major Gen (retd) Amjad Khan Chowdhury said the business community mourned the death of Samson H. Chowdhury.

Recalling bold entrepreneurial leadership of late Samson, he said, “Samson H. Chowdhury was a true icon of entrepreneurial leadership who had employed fourty thousands people at his different business establishments”.

President of DCCI Asif Ibrahim said, “Let us promise to follow the ethics of late Saman H Chowdury. He had given us a glowing example on how to do businesses through merit, integrity, dedication and honesty that can ensure success”.

Vice- President of CCCI Mahbubul Alam said, “Late Samson did a lot for the welfare of the countrys people”.

President of FBCCI AK Azad said the apex trade body would publish in its next bulletin the life and success stories of late Samson H. Chowdhury elaborately so that the people and businessmen could know him and get inspiration to move forward.

He called upon chambers and business bodies members and people to send their writings on late Samson H. Chowdhury.

Renowned economist and Chairman of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Prof Rehman Sobhan said late Samson H. Chowdury did not only contribute a lot to the countrys businesses but also in the countrys civil society.

“He was one of the greatest businessmen of the country who had demonstrated his ethics, honesty and integrity in achieving the successes that he earned,” he said.

Eminent industrialist Syed Manzur Elahi said that late Samson H. Chowdhury did not show any pride in his life despite having wealth.

Mr Elahi, who was also a former adviser to the caretaker government said the ethics, honesty and dedication of late Samson will be a source of inspiration for the countrys businessmen.

President of Bangladesh Aushad Shilpa Shamity (Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industry) Salman F Rahman said that late Samson H. Chowdhury had contributed a lot to the development of countrys pharmaceutical industry .

“He (late Samson) had played a key role with us (pharmaceutical entrepreneurs). We are now able to export medicines to 85 countries and meeting 90 per cent requirement of local demand,” he said.

President of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Annisul Huq said that late Samon had patiently listened to others.

“I called upon the family members of late Samson H. Chowdhury to publish his biography,” he said.

Chariman of Transcom Group Latifur Rahman said that late Samson H. Chowdhury had maintained standard values and ethics in doing business.

Former governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Mohammad Farashuddin suggested formation of a Samson H. Chowdhury Memorial Council so that the new generation of the country could know about him.

Barrister Rafique-ul Haque said that late Samson H. Chowhury was a businessman of integrity and honesty which is very rare in the country.

Tapan Chowdhury, son of late Samson H. Chowdhury and a former adviser to care-taker government expressed gratitude to the businessmen and people of the country.

“I, and other members of our family express our heartfelt gratitude to you (businessmen and people) as you paid tribute to our father late Samson H. Chowhury,” he said.

Born on February 25, 1926 in Pabna late Samon H. Chowdhury built Square Group, with an annual turnover of US $ 781 million (2009-10) or over Tk 60 billion (6000 crore). He died on January 5, 2012.

Chairman of Bangladesh Insurance Association Sheikh Kabir Hossain, Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud, former president of FBCCI Mir Nasiruddin, former president of BKMEA (Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association) Fazlul Haque, former president of BTMA (Bangladesh Textiles Mills Association) MA Awal, economic analyst Mamun Rashid and Danish Dutta, among others, also spoke on the occaiosn.