Speakers at a commemorative meeting Saturday recalled Samson H Chowdhury’s contribution to Bangladesh’s business arena, paying rich tributes to the business tycoon who passed away on January 5. They said Chowdhury was a rare quality businessman who never compromised with ethics. He always put people’s welfare at the centre of entrepreneurship.

They pointed out that Chowdhury remained above any controversy throughout his long career as the founder chairman of Square group, one of the largest conglomerates.

They also underscored the need for preserving his memory and presenting his life before the general people.

Top chamber bodies Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and industry (FBCCI), Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and industry (DCCI), Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh chapter jointly organised the memorial meeting at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

Finance minister A MA Muhith, Rehman Sobhan, former adviser to a caretaker government Syed Monzur Elahi, former secretary CM Mohsin, FBCCI president A K Azad, FBCCI former presidents Salman F Rahman and Mir Nasir Hossain, MCCI president Amjad Hosain Khan, former president Latifur Rahman, DCCI president Asif Ibrahim, CCCI vice-president Mahbubul Alam, Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Annisul Huq, former president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) M A Awal, American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) president Aftabul Islam, former president of BKMEA Fazlul Haq, economic analyst Mamun Rashid, Barrister Rafiqul Haque, Barrister Rokan Uddin Mahmud, Dr Danish Dutta and Tapan Chowdhury, son of Samson Chowdhury and a former adviser to a caretaker government, took part in the discussion.

ICC-B president Mahbubur Rahman moderated.

A MA Muhith said Samson Chowdhury contributed a lot in the formation of national drug policy in 1984.
“This policy helped develop the pharmaceutical industry,” the finance minister said.

President of Bangladesh Aushad Shilpa Samity and former president of FBCCI Salman F Rahman recollected his 32-year long friendship with Chowdhury. “He always gave very importance to the younger people,” Rahman said. “It is his single contribution that Bangladesh achieved high production growth in pharmaceutical sector and now it meets 99 per cent of domestic demand,” Rahman recalled. He also called upon the new generation to follow his ideal in building a prosperous Bangladesh.
“We want that the next generation would take lessons from the life of Samson H Chowdhury who increased the prestige of the business community,” said AK Azad.