Anita Chowdhury laid to rest

Anita Chowdhury, wife of late Samson H. Chowdhury, a legendary industrialist and founder of Bangladesh's leading industrial group - Square Group - was laid to rest on Monday.

On Sunday evening, prayers and rituals were performed in presence of her relatives, friends and dignitaries at the Ramna Cathedral Church in Kakrail in the city.

She was buried next to Samson H. Chowdhury at Astras Farm House in Hemayetpur after prayers at Ataikula Church in Pabna, according to a statement.

Anita Chowdhury died of old-age complications while undergoing treatment at Square Hospital on Sunday afternoon. She was 90.

Anita Chowdhury was born on August 5, 1932. Since the inception of Square in the 1950s, she has always been supportive with encouragement, energy and motivation to make the initiative of Samson H. Chowdhury a success.

During his lifetime, Samson H. Chowdhury mentioned the contribution of his wife Anita Chowdhury in his speeches at various events. Since the demise of Samson H. Chowdhury in 2012, she took care of all 64,000 workers of Square Group just like her child.

For her motherly love, she was known as 'Square Mother' at Square Group. Her four children, three sons -- Samuel Chowdhury, Tapan Chowdhury and Anjan Chowdhury and only daughter Ratna Patra, and her grandchildren are now taking the Square Group forward.

Anita Chowdhury was involved in various activities of religious, social development and voluntary organizations at national and international level. Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Deputy Speaker of National Parliament Advocate Shamsul Haque Tuku, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Zahid Ahsan Russel, Minister of Foreign Affairs AK Abdul Momen, Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud along with many prominent personalities of the country shared their deep condolences.

After bidding farewell to Anita Chowdhury, her family expressed their special gratitude to all the well-wishers who came from far and wide to be around them during their difficult time and conveyed their love and respect.

The deceased's three sons Samuel Chowdhury, Tapan Chowdhury and Anjan Chowdhury, only daughter Ratna Patra, prominent business personality and president of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Bangladesh Mahbubur Rahman, former FBCCI president AK Azad, Deputy Commissioner of Pabna Biswas Rasel Hossain and police super Akbar Ali, among others, were present during the funeral.