Starting from a small drug store in Pabna, the man created an international business institution, all through his hard work and honesty. Samson H Chowdhury’s Square Group now employs 40,000 people.

His honesty and diligence sets an example for ideal business institutions and environment.

That is how business leaders remembered Samson H Chowdhury at a condolence meeting by the top business associations in the country.

The event, titled ‘The Business Legend’, was organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, and the International Chamber of Commerce.

Chowdhury, one of the country’s biggest industrialists, died of old age complications at a hospital in Singapore on Jan 5.

He was 86.

The finance minister, AMA Muhith, reminisced about the late business leader, saying, ‘I met him while in government service. He played a significant role in implementing the 1982 National Drug Policy. He has a great contribution in taking this industry to the international sphere.’

The minister expressed hope that Chowdhury’s successors would take Square to an international height.

‘His unique contribution is that 99 per cent of the drugs consumed in the country are produced locally. We export drugs to 84 countries.

He made this possible through incredible hard work,’ Salman F Rahman, president of Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Industries Association, said.

ICC president Mahbubur Rahman said Chowdhury’s honesty had also made him the chairman of Transparency International, Bangladesh.

DCCI president Asif Ibrahim remarked that the present generation of businessmen had much to learn from his example.

‘Let us take the lesson from Samon H Chowdhury, so that we are not called loan defaulters anymore, we are not blamed for destroying the share market, we are not held responsible for inflation,’ he said.

MCCI president retired Major General Amjad Hosain Chowdhury said Chowdhury was an amiable man who treated all his employees with respect.

FBCCI president AK Azad announced that the next FBCCI bulletin would be dedicated to Samson H Chowdhury and invited articles for the bulletin.

Former caretaker government adviser Syed Manjur Elahi said Chowdhury was a man who never compromised with ethics. ‘His business honesty is what earns him this respect across the spectrum,’ he added.

At the end of the condolence meeting Chowdhury’s son Tapan Chowdhury thanked all the attendees for their love and respect for his father.