Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
A doa mahfil, seeking the salvation of the departed soul of Syed Manzur Elahi, the publisher of The Financial Express, was held at the FE office on Monday afternoon.
The event was organised by The Financial Express and attended by its employees as part of a commemorative gathering.
Speaking at the occasion, FE Editor Shamsul Huq Zahid described Syed Manzur Elahi as a multi-dimensional personality, whose influence spanned various sectors.
He noted that while Mr. Manzur lived to an octogenarian age, he remained modern in his outlook and ideas.
"Syed Manzur loved The Financial Express deeply and was always encouraging its progressive transformation," he said.
"We'll continue to move forward with the guidance he provided."
The commemorating gathering was conducted by Maj Md Atiar Rahman (retd), the Chief General Manager of The Financial Express.
Other notable speakers included Planning Editor Asjadul Kibria, News Editor Md Anisur Rahman, Chief Reporter SM Jahangir, Senior Management Consultant Md Riazuddin Khan, Special Correspondent Siddique Islam, and Senior Manager (Advertisement) Md Rajab Ali.
They fondly commemorated Syed Manzur's life, contributions to the newspaper, and his broader impact on the country.
Syed Manzur Elahi, a distinguished businessman and philanthropist, passed away at the age of 83 on March 12 at Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore.
He was laid to rest at the Banani graveyard in Dhaka the following day, beside his late wife, Niloufer Manzur, after a namaz-e-janaza at Azad Masjid in Gulshan-2.
Syed Manzur Elahi had been battling age-related health issues for some time.
He was a trailblazer in Bangladesh’s industrial landscape, founding and leading key institutions such as Apex Footwear, Apex Tannery, Mutual Trust Bank, Pioneer Insurance, Grey Advertising, East West University, and Sunbeams School.
He was also the chairman of Apex Group and the managing director of International Publications Limited, the parent company of The Financial Express.
Born on September 26, 1942, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), British India, Syed Manzur belonged to a family with a strong legal heritage. His father, Sir Syed Nasim Ali, was the Chief Justice of the undivided Bengal.
While he could have followed a legal career, Syed Manzur chose entrepreneurship and industry instead. He completed his education at St Xavier's College in Kolkata and earned a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Dhaka. He briefly worked at British American Tobacco before venturing into business.
Syed Manzur's entrepreneurial journey began in 1972 with the establishment of Manzur Industries, a company focused on trading leather between Dhaka and Paris. In 1976, he acquired the state-owned Orient Tannery, which eventually led to the formation of Apex Tannery. As the founding chairman of Apex Footwear Ltd., he turned the company into one of Bangladesh’s largest footwear exporters.
Beyond business, Syed Manzur Elahi was an influential figure in various economic and social spheres. He served as an advisor to the caretaker government and held key roles in organisations such as the Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB), Bangladesh Bank, and the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). He was also a board member of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, and The Financial Express.
His significant contributions to Bangladesh’s economic development earned him numerous accolades, including "Business Executive of the Year 2000" from AMCHAM, "Business Person of the Year 2002" by The Daily Star and DHL, and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 from UKBCCI.
Syed Manzur Elahi left behind his beloved family, including his daughter, son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, relatives, and friends, all of whom will carry forward his legacy.
bdsmile@gmail.com