Number 1 businessman of Bangladesh - Salman F Rahman
Salman F Rahman, in all respect, is the number one businessman of Bangladesh. His positive contribution to the business sector and corporate sector of the country is unparallel. In fact Beximco Group, of which he is the owner, has created the ‘corporate culture’ in Bangladesh. Same goes for professionalism. Under his leadership, Beximco Group worked as an institute to mentor the professionals of the business sector. Beximco Group is pioneer in many fields. In most of the fields it invested, it became number 1; and Salman F Rahman has always been instrumental in Beximco Group’s success.
This efficient businessman started his business ventures with a jute mill. Along with his brother Ahmed Sohail Fasiur Rahman, he started operating a jute mill which their father started. Their father was home minister of Pakistan. After Bangladesh became independent, newly formed government nationalized the mill. At that time Salman F Rahman and Sohail Fasiur Rahman shifted their business into trading. At the beginning, they started exporting seafood and crushed bones from Bangladesh to some European countries including Germany, France and Belgium. With the foreign currency that they received, they imported medicine. In course of time this business became very big. Then they started hiring professional people in order to expand their operations. As they were pioneer of medicine business in the country, they set up a pharmaceuticals factory under the name Beximco Pharma. This company is currently the leading company in the pharmaceuticals sector.
In course of time, Salman F Rahman started investing in textiles, ceramics, media and real estate. The company grew, more and more professionals were trained, thousands of people got employment and the economy got the boost it needed from the private sector. At the moment, there are more than 60,000 people working for Beximco Group.
Apart from contributing with Beximco Group, Salman F Rahman has contributed to the business sector by being founder of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, by being president of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and by being president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association. In 1996, he created a political party under Shomriddho Bangladesh Andolon banner. The party did not do well and he later joined Bangladesh Awami League. He is currently special advisor to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. By being close to the ruling party and Prime Minister, he, concentrates to make the corporate world more professional and efficient.
Number 1 businessman however is not completely without controversies. Many people accuse him of manipulating the shares at the stock exchanges. Some accuse him of being a loan defaulter. But he had re-scheduled all his loans and banks do not hold any complaints against him. Several cases were filed against him over manipulation of shares but none were proven.