The country's business leaders at a commemoration meeting of eminent businessman Latifur Rahman remembered him for his great contribution to the nation and economy.
The speakers identified the departed entrepreneur as a person of integrity, value, strong will, principle and foresight.
They said Mr Rahman, who breathed his last on July 1, was a great patriot and extraordinary achiever, and uncompromising about his principle and integrity.
The participants also identified him as a role model, saying that youths of the country should follow his life.
The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI) and the International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh (ICC-B) jointly organised the event on Saturday evening on virtual meeting platform.
Speaking at the programme, ICC-B President Mahbubur Rahman said, "Mr Latifur Rahman was an exceptional friend, whose absence reminds me of his kind presence in my everyday life."
He was uncompromising in principles, ideals and integrity, even if this would go against his own interest.
He had been harassed many times due to being the owner of the country's leading English and Bangla dailies.
"Latifur Rahman took Bangladeshi businesses to a new height, when he received the Oslo Business for Peace Award, and the Best Business Person Award from the SAARC," Mr Mahbubur Rahman added.
Syed Manzur Elahi, a former president of the MCCI and a former caretaker government adviser, said Latifur Rahman's patriotism was admirable, and he was a role model for ethical business.
"He was a polite gentleman, and can disagree with anyone politely."
Latifur Rahman has done everything honestly and ethically, and he is a role model whom younger generations can follow.
Family was his first love and centre of everything. He was extremely analytical in business, and it brought him success.
"He had been a business giant, and whatever he touched had turned into success."
Syed Manzur Elahi recalled that he first met Mr Rahman at a dinner party in Dhaka in 1974.
"I was impressed by his inherent goodness," he noted.
Salman Ispahani, Chairman of M M Ispahani Group, said he learnt many tricks of business from Latifur Rahman, and he is very proud of Mr Rahman's achievements in many businesses.
Latifur Rahman considered each member of his company as an entrepreneur, said New Age Group Chairman A S M Quasem.
"Mr Rahman was a natural leader and a great architect in institution building. He proved it throughout his life."
"He was a man of courage and determination, and he never gave up hope even in the worst situations," he added.
"My father always tried to take the country forward with ethical business," said Simeen Hossain, the eldest daughter of Mr. Rahman and also the managing director of Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
She said her father's legacy will continue for generations. Throughout his life, he desired a thriving Bangladesh, which stands tall in the global arena.
"It was a matter of pride for my father to represent Bangladesh in the international arena."
She thanked the MCCI for naming a lounge of the chamber after the name of her father. As one of the longest serving presidents of the MCCI, he had a deep commitment to the business community.
ACI Chairman M Anis-ud-Dowla said it was fortunate to have a friend like Latifur Rahman, and it is equally painful to lose such one.
Mr Dowla, also a former president of the MCCI, noted that Mr Rahman left a business conglomerate, which is one of the finest in the country.
Latifur Rahman's leadership helped the MCCI reach its current stage. He also supported the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and the Bangladesh Employers' Federation (BEF).
"I remember such a good friend with a heavy heart. His demise is an irreparable loss to the country," Mr Dowla noted.
President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) Sheikh Fazle Fahim said a person is posthumously most remembered for his behaviour.
Mr Latifur Rahman will be remembered for his nice manner, he noted.
Shiv Shivakumar, group executive president for corporate strategy and business at Aditya Birla Group of India, said Latifur Rahman was a true business partner, a true friend, and a man who used to accept life as it comes.
He was first and foremost an entrepreneur. By paying tributes to him, people have honoured themselves.
"He was never angry. He believed in partnership responsibility in business."
Remembering his grandson Faraz Hossain's sacrifice, Mr Shivkumar said Latifur Rahman told him that he would be proud to say he is grandfather of Faraz.
Sanjiv Mehta, chairman and managing director of Hindustan Unilever Ltd, said there cannot be democracy without free press. No editor can run a newspaper without fear or favour, if he does not get freedom from the owner.
Latifur Rahman had given that freedom to the two newspapers he published. This is why his name will certainly be written in the history of Bangladesh's democracy.
Mr Rahman set the highest standards in businesses in Bangladesh.
Mr Mehta also said he left Bangladesh 14 years ago, but he had been in regular touch with Mr Rahman.
"Latifur Rahman was a true lover of his birthplace Bangladesh."
Rokia Afzal Rahman, a noted entrepreneur and a former caretaker government adviser, said she used to sit with Latifur Rahman on the boards of eight companies.
His presence in the meetings changed the whole environment, always added value, and made a difference.
"Mr Rahman left us with dignity," she concluded.
A K Azad, a former president of the FBCCI, said although Latifur Rahman was a very successful businessman, he never interfered in the decision-making of the newspapers he owned.
Mr Azad also said he has been benefited by learning many things in business (from Mr Rahman).
Tapan Chowdhury, another former president of the MCCI and managing director of Square Group, said Latifur Rahman was a friend of his family for almost 40 years.
"He always talked about prospects of the country. Nobody can raise questions about his integrity."
He promised that he will always be with the family of Mr Rahman, when they need him.
"Latifur Rahman's manners and behavior would attract anybody to him, and made him dear to all."
Mr Rahman was a man of vision and always non-compromising. He had to take a lot of pain and go through humiliation, but he never compromised, Mr Chowdhury further said.
Mir Nasir Hossain, a former president of the FBCCI, said no one can say what would happen to Bangladesh's journalism, if Latifur Rahman had not established two leading dailies.
Fazlul Haque, former president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), said Mr Rahman was a very friendly person, and he befriended everyone he met.
"I thought Mr Latifur loved me a lot. Later, I understood that he was friendly to everyone. I cannot remember shedding tears at anyone's death out of my family, except for him," he added.
Kutub Uddin Ahmed, another former president of the MCCI, said not everyone can create history, but Latifur Rahman created history.
"We are the witnesses of history when Latifur Rahman created history himself. If any Bangladeshi businessman is worth following, he is definitely the one," said Mr Ahmed, also Chairman of Envoy Group.
He said the ICC-B will do something to commemorate Mr Rahman.
Kamran T Rahman, President of the BEF, said Latifur Rahman was his uncle and an inspiration for all. He used to guide him in any difficulty in running businesses.
"Latifur Rahman was a great personality," said C K Hyder, former secretary-general of the MCCI.
"He was very honest person in any situation. Throughout his life he worked for clean and honest business."
"I saw him as a very religious person, but also a very secular person."
He said he was with Latifur Rahman once, when he took him to help destitute freedom fighters financially.
"He had deep respect for freedom fighters," he noted.
Latifur Rahman proved that doing business with integrity does not depend on socio-economic system, but on one's individual values, said Rumee Ali, former deputy governor of the Bangladesh Bank.
Mr Rahman was like a mentor and elder brother to him, he added.
Latifur Rahman's grandson Zaraif Ayaat Hossain said his grandfather loved the MCCI out of patriotism.
He wanted to advance the business of the country through the MCCI and the ICC-B.
"His legacy will encourage the business leadership and many generations in the future," he opined.
A video message from John W H Denton, general secretary of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), was broadcasted in the programme.
The MCCI Vice President Anis A Khan gave vote of thanks.
The ICC-B General Secretary Ataur Rahman said the ICC-B President Mahbubur Rahman conducted prayers for the departed soul at the end.
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