100 years on, Samson H Chowdhury's values still inspire Bangladesh

Shiabur Rahman | Published: September 24, 2025 22:07:34

Today is the day when one of the brightest sons of this soil -- Samson H Chowdhury - came into the world 100 years ago. He was an industrialist and public figure whose lifestory is intertwined with the modern entrepreneurial history of Bangladesh. Mr Chowdhury's business journey from running a modest medicine store to being the founder of a diversified industrial conglomerate embodied his vision, leadership, and deep concern for human welfare.
Born on September 25, 1925, in Aruakandi under Gopalganj to his parents - medical officer Eakub Hossain Chowdhury and Latika Chowdhury, got a childhood rooted in rural values and a strong sense of discipline. From a young age, he felt drawn toward service for people.
His schooling in so many different places -- Chandpur, Pabna, Mymensingh, and West Bengal's Bishnupur -- enabled him to come across diversified cultures at a young age that taught him how to effectively communicate with people. After passing the matriculation exam from Ataikula School in Pabna in 1943, Mr. Chowdhury began his career in modest roles. Before founding his own business, he held several modest positions and ran his father's pharma store wherefrom he learned the rigors of work, the importance of people, and the value of honesty.
The experience of running the medicine store instilled into him the dream of founding a pharmaceutical industry and the subsequent establishment of Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd, one the earliest pharmaceutical companies in then East Pakistan and later Bangladesh in 1958, came as a turning point of his career. Square Pharmaceuticals was not just a business venture; it was more than that as it was born from a deep conviction that the country needed to build self-reliance inessential medicines to ensure that essential health needs would not be overlooked or left vulnerable to external supply challenges. Mr Chowdhury's non-compromise on quality, reliability, compliance, and ethical standard became the defining traits of Square Group.
Under Mr Chowdhury's stewardship, Square grew beyond pharmaceuticals to have business divisions and sister concerns like Square Toiletries, Square Textiles, etc under the conglomerate. All the ventures under the group always maintain strict standards and ethical business conduct. His philosophy was never just about growth; it was about sustainable growth and about building institutions that can serve all stakeholders and the wider society.
One of Mr Chowdhury's core strengths was the belief in empowering employees -- a legacy Square Group never compromise with. He treated employees with respect, supported their development, and believed that people are the greatest asset. Mr Chowdhury's moral leadership went far beyond business. He never considered his role limited to profit-making. Rather he saw business as a form of public service.
Over decades, Square Group under his guidance gained recognition not just locally but internationally too. Compliance with global standards and investment in quality enabled flagship Square Pharmaceuticals under the group to win trust in both domestic and foreign markets.
The life of Mr Chowdhury reflected resilience. He navigated enormous political, economic, and social changes like the partition, the independence of Bangladesh, political instability on many occasions, and globalisation. Through all these, he maintained focus on high ethical standards and service to human welfare.
Mr Chowdhury left this mortal world in 2012, but his legacy has been kept a live through the institutions he built. Square Group stands out from its peers as an industrial conglomerate with presence in pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, textiles, and many more. The core values he believed in still continue to guide the policies, culture, and business practices in the group.
Samson H Chowdhury's life is a bright example of what can be built and achieved when vision meets integrity. His life inspires numerous business leaders and entrepreneurs to follow him. However, his example has broader implications for society at large. As Bangladesh is growing economically, demographically, technologically, the country needs more leaders like him. It needs business people who understand that service to society, fairness, and ethical standards are not optional but an integral part of lasting success.