Sikder Group chairman Zainul Haque Sikder passes away

Sikder Group Chairman Zainul Haque Sikder passed away at a hospital in Dubai of the UAE on Wednesday.

He was 91. An entrepreneur of post-independence Bangladesh and also chairman of National Bank Limited, Zainul Haque Sikder was born on August 12, 1930 in Assam of the undivided India and migrated to present-day Bangladesh with his family during the partition in 1947.

He established a large number of business ventures in the field of education, health, housing and tourism and employed about 20,000 people in the last seven decades, said a press release.

Apart from establishing business entities, Zainul Haque Sikder developed numerous entrepreneurs.

He extended helping hands to many leading entrepreneurs of the country during their initial days of establishing businesses. He is well-known as a philanthropist too. Besides founding schools, colleges and hospitals, he extended support to efforts for poverty reduction and welfare of the underprivileged and marginal people of society, the release added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of ZH Sikder.

She prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.

In separate condolence messages, Road Transport and Bridges Minister and General Secretary of ruling Awami League Obaidul Quader, Planning Minister MA Mannan, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, also prayed for eternal peace of Sikder's departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.