A visionary who blazed trails for most
MA Hashem, a organization tycoon, started as a humble tobacco trader in the first 1960s before becoming among the leading business owners and industrialists in Bangladesh.
After Bangladesh's independence in 1971, Hashem realised that the war-torn nation was struggling to provide its persons with essential commodities at affordable prices.
He started importing metal, cement, sugar, rice, spices, wheat, salt, milk and different other necessary commodities after establishing MS Hashem Company in Chattogram.
But in order to make the region self-reliant, Hashem decided that these imports would have to be substituted with locally created products. Therefore, he continued to develop his efforts, which led to the birth of Partex Group.
The industrial conglomerate is involved with several manufacturing and service-oriented sectors such as for example food and beverages, steel, furniture, property, textile, agribusiness, plastics and jute.
More than 75,000 persons are directly and indirectly utilized by Partex Group, which comprises about 50 enterprises.
Hashem, also a previous person in parliament from his hometown of Noakhali, passed away of a coronavirus disease on Thursday at the Evercare Medical center in Dhaka. He was 77. Pursuing his demise, condolences started pouring in from both home and abroad.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Sectors Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun and Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi were among the noted politicians who expressed grief in the sudden demise of the industrialist. "I got to understand him during our period together at Amin Marketplace in Chattogram," explained Abdul Hai Sarker, chairman of Dhaka Lender.
The relationship grew much deeper after shifting to Dhaka in 1978, he said.
"He had an excellent personality and was imaginative like a craftsman when it found entrepreneurship. We have lost among our very friends," said Sarker, as well the chairman of Purbani Group and past president of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association.
Hashem was a reflection of a number of the country's greatest entrepreneurial exploits as he went from the humble beginnings to the head of a vast commercial empire by serving the persons with quality goods.
He was also one of the country's best types of a self-made businessman.
Following his achievement in the overall commodity business, Hashem switched his focus on particle boards, which remain a distinctive item in the country today.
"Although our family organization was divided among five brothers with independent entities, we implemented various projects relative to our father's vision," Showkat Aziz Russell, a son of the eminent organization individuality, told The Daily Star yesterday.
"My father's final fantasy project was to launch the country's major private-sector petroleum refinery mill in Chattogram, but unfortunately, he met a great untimely demise," he added.
The five groups owned by the brothers are Amber Group, Partex Star, Partex Group, Danish Group and Partex Papers.
The petroleum refinery Chattogram is likely to get into production soon as all related construction works were recently completed.
Once operational, the refinery will make about 10,000 gallons of petroleum products every day, Russell said.
Hashem was also a pioneer and leading businessman in other developing sectors, according to BTMA President Mohammad Ali Khokon.
For example, he was the pioneer in the condensed milk, particle boards, private banks, universities, and sugar mills segments, he said.
"Our business relationship converted into a family romantic relationship over time. I was involved with many of his friends and family affairs, and he was in mine. We lost not only a good friend, but also an extremely amazing entrepreneur and guardian," Khokon added.
Hashem founded City Bank, United Commercial Lender Ltd and Janata insurance Ltd.
The philanthropist established a university and a medical center under his name in Noakhali, both of which are non-profit organisations.
He founded the MA Hashem University School in Noakhali and was an associate of the plank of trustees of North South University, the primary private university found in Bangladesh.
