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Eminent entrepreneur and philanthropist Syed Manzur Elahi has passed away (Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un). He was 83.
Syed Manzur Elahi, the Chairman of Apex Group, one of Bangladesh's leading business conglomerates, breathed his last on Wednesday morning while receiving treatment at a hospital in Singapore. He had been suffering from various age-related illnesses for some time.
Syed Manzur Elahi was serving as the Managing Director of International Publications Limited, the owning company of The Financial Express, and was also the publisher of the newspaper.
He also served as the founding chairman of Mutual Trust Bank, Pioneer Insurance Company and Grey Advertising Bangladesh.
Besides being an eminent industrialist, he was appointed twice as an adviser to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh, in 1996 and 2001, for his leadership qualities.
Syed Manzur Elahi’s contributions extended to various institutions as he chaired organisations such as the Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh (CRAB), Sunbeams School Ltd, and the MTB Foundation. Additionally, he was a trustee member of East West University, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (owner of BIRDEM Hospitals), and Bangladesh Freedom Foundation.
Syed Manzur Elahi also served as the chairman of the Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB), vice-chairman of the Bangladesh Association of Publicly Listed Companies (BAPLC), and director of Bangladesh Bank, Sonali Bank, and Bangladesh Krishi Bank. He was the president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and Bangladesh Employers Association (BEA).
In addition to his corporate and financial endeavours, Syed Manzur Elahi was the Honorary Consul for Belgium in Dhaka and a staunch supporter of social and philanthropic causes.
He won various awards for his contributions to trade and industry, including the “Business Executive of the Year 2000” by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), Bangladesh, and “Business Person of the Year 2002” award, sponsored by the Daily Star and DHL Worldwide Express.
Born on February 26, 1942, in Kolkata, Manzur Elahi moved to Dhaka with his family after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from St Xavier's College. He later completed his Master’s in Economics from the University of Dhaka. He served as the President of the Dhaka University Alumni Association (DUAA).