A night for change makers

It was an event to recognise the best in business that set inspiring examples for others to emulate.
DHL Express, the world’s leading logistics company, and The Daily Star, the nation’s most-read English-language newspaper, honoured two individuals and two enterprises at the 13th annual premier business event at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on May 31.
The Bangladesh Business Awards have been given to those who have witnessed success and created much-needed jobs to contribute to the economy.
The title for the Business Person of the Year was handed over to Nasir Uddin Biswas, chairman of Nasir Group of Industries. Starting out as a small tobacco trader four decades ago, he now steers a conglomerate that boasts an annual turnover of Tk 2,000 crore and employs over 23,000 people.
Next came the Best Financial Institution category. IDLC Finance, a popular brand for its aggressive business, compliance and ethical practices, bagged the award.
The non-bank financial institution’s deposit almost doubled to Tk 2,200 crore in 2012 from two years ago, and credit disbursement reached Tk 2,799 crore from Tk 1,561 crore. In the last couple of years, it cut its non-performing loans to 2.09 percent while doubling the number of branches to 26.
DBL Group, a leading composite garment factory, has landed the Enterprise of the Year award. It now boasts 19 subsidiaries — mostly in garments, textiles, telecoms and ceramics, with turnover close to $243 million in 2012. The number of employees stands at 15,700.

School teacher-turned entrepreneur Masuda Islam was recognised as the Outstanding Woman in Business for her hard work and success. Starting from scratch, she now employs 26.
She now leads Protina BD Foods, which makes frozen snacks, sweets, bakery items and vermicelli, and supplies to superstores in the capital. Her venture now has an asset value of Tk 1 crore.
The ceremony began with a minute of silence in memory of the garment workers killed in the Rana Plaza collapse in Savar on April 24.

Musicians pay tributes to sitarist Ravi Shankar, who campaigned for Bangladesh through his 1971 concert in New York.

A local musical group later performed a score to pay tribute to Pandit Ravi Shankar who organised a concert in New York in 1971 for Bangladesh.
Separately, other performers sang the famous song, ‘Bangladesh’ by legendary musician George Harrison, whose joint effort with Shankar brought global attention to the 1971 massacre in the erstwhile East Pakistan.

Singers perform at the event to commemorate legendary musician George Harrison whose song on Bangladesh still evokes fond memories.

Over 300 businesspeople, diplomats, bureaucrats, politicians, entrepreneurs, celebrities, civil society members, academics and former award recipients gathered at the event to salute the best businesses and the people behind.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith

Finance Minister AMA Muhith handed the crests to the winners as chief guest. Malcolm Monteiro, senior vice president and area director for South Asia of DHL, was also present.