Founding chairman of Partex Group and renowned industrialist MA Hashem died at a city hospital early Thursday. He was 77.
Mr Hashem had been undergoing treatment at the city's Evercare Hospital since December 11 after he was diagnosed with Covid-19.
As his health condition showed a deteriorating trend, he was taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital on December 16 and put on life support there.
Mr Hashem left behind his wife Sultana Hashem, five sons -- Aziz Al Kaiser, Aziz Al Mahmud, Aziz Al Masud, Rubel Aziz and Shawkat Aziz Russell -- and a host of relatives and admirers to mourn his death.
Born in Noakhali on August 30, 1943, MA Hashem made his debut in tobacco business in 1962.
In the early 70s, he established M/S Hashem Corporation (Pvt.) Ltd headquartered in the port city of Chattogram, says a Partex Group release.
After the birth of Bangladesh in 1971, he got involved in import of iron, steel, cement, sugar, rice, spices, wheat, salt, milk and other essential commodities.
He did not stop there, but in order to make the country self-sufficient, he started manufacturing imported products as substitutes.
This led to the birth of Partex Group which over the years set its footprints in the areas of furniture, boards, food and beverages, plastics, paper, cotton, yarn, jute, real estate, textile, shipping, agro, garments, aero-marine logistics etc, the release added.
He established Partex Group from scratch to one of the largest conglomerates in Bangladesh and set an example of ethical business which will inspire many others in the years to come.
During his long business career spanning nearly six decades, Mr Hashem set rare example of honesty and integrity in business and was a role model for young entrepreneurs.
He was one of the founding members of the two largest private banks in Bangladesh - The City Bank Limited and United Commercial Bank Limited.
He also founded Janata Insurance Ltd.
He was also one of the founders of North South University in Dhaka while he also founded MA Hashem University College in Noakhali.
Mr Hashem was elected a parliament member from Noakhali-2 constituency in 2001 national election with BNP ticket.
His namaz-e-janaza will be held at Gulshan Azad Mosque after Juma prayers today, according to a Facebook post by his son Showkat Aziz Russell.
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