Samson H Chowdhury, a leading businessman of the country and chairman of renowned conglomerate Square Group, has died. He breathed his last at a hospital in Singapore Thursday at the age of 86, Maasranga Television reports.
A recognised entrepreneur, Chowdhury was undergoing treatment for old age complexities at the Singapore hospital. He died at 10:15am (Bangladesh time), the private satellite TV channel owned by the group said in a special bulletin.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the death of the veteran businessman and prayed for his departed soul.
The Square Group and Maasranga TV, which is also owned by Square Group, have prayed for peace on Samson Chowdhury.
Born on February 25, 1926 in Ataikula area of Pabna, Chowdhury, son of a medical officer in an outdoor dispensary, started a small pharmacy there in 1952. He then ventured into a partnership pharmaceutical company with three of his friends in 1958.
They named the company Square because, according to him, “it was started by four friends and also because it signifies accuracy and perfection meaning quality”.
That small company of 1958 is now a publicly listed diversified group of companies employing over 28,000 people. The current yearly group turnover is $616 million, according to information available on the group’s website.
With his innovative ideas, tireless efforts and dedication, Samson H Chowdhury led Square from the front to become the leading manufacturer of quality medicine, toiletries, health products, textiles, agro vet products and information technology.
Former president of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chowdhury served as the chairman, of Transparency International Bangladesh during 2004-2007 besides holding a number of key positions local and international business bodies.
The American Chamber in Bangladesh honoured him as the ‘Business Executive of the Year’ in 1998. Samson Chowdhury received the ‘Best Entrepreneur of the Country for the year 2000-2001’ awarded by The Daily Star and DHL Worldwide Express.
