Eminent entrepreneur and chairman of Apex Group Syed Manzur Elahi on Wednesday passed away at a hospital in Singapore, where he was undergoing treatment.
The prominent industrialist and former adviser to a caretaker government breathed his last at about 9:45am (Bangladesh time) at the age of 83.
He left behind one son, one daughter, relatives, and a host of well-wishers to mourn his death.
The first namaz-e-janaza of Manzur Elahi will be held at 10:30am today at the East West University premises in the capital Dhaka, and the second one will be held after Zuhr prayers at Azad Masjid at Gulshan-2 in the city.
Manzur Elahi was the pioneer of Apex Footwear, Apex Tannery, Mutual Trust Bank, Pioneer Insurance, Grey Advertising, East West University, Sunbeams School, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Freedom Foundation and many others.
He also served as a trustee member at the Centre for Policy Dialogue and guided the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh and The Financial Express.
Manzur Elahi served in the caretaker government in 1996, holding responsibility of various ministries, including communications, shipping, civil aviation and tourism, posts and telecommunications, and housing and public works.
In 2001, he served as the adviser to the ministries of agriculture, shipping, fisheries, and livestock of the then caretaker government.
He also played a key role in the Bangladesh Association of Banks, Bangladesh Bank, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other financial and industrial institutions.
His contributions to Bangladesh鈥檚 economic landscape earned him honours, including 鈥楤usiness Executive of the Year 2000鈥� by AmCham, 鈥楤usiness Person of the Year 2002鈥� by The Daily Star and DHL, and 鈥楲ifetime Achievement Award鈥� in 2023 from the UKBCCI.
Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed deep shock at the death of the prominent businessman and the former adviser to a caretaker government.
In a condolence message, the chief adviser said, 鈥楽yed Manzur Elahi was a distinguished personality in Bangladesh鈥檚 entrepreneurial realm. He was a patriotic businessman who played a significant role in advancing the country鈥檚 leather industry. Through his dedicated efforts, Apex Footwear became the leading footwear exporter in the country.鈥�
鈥楬e was an exceptional organiser. He served as the president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dhaka and was a member of the board of trustees of the private research organisation CPD,鈥� he added.
He prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed their deep condolences.
Manzur Elahi was the president of the MCCI in 1990-91.聽
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Taskeen Ahmed and members of the board of directors expressed their deep condolences on Manzur Elahi鈥檚 death and extended their profound sympathy to the bereaved family.
In a press statement, Bangladesh Chamber of Industries president Anwar Ul Alam Chowdhury expressed deep condolences.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed condolences on the death of Manzur Elahi.
Manzur Elahi was born on September 26, 1942, in Kolkota in the then British India.
His father, Sir Syed Nasim Ali, was the chief justice of undivided Bengal.
After completing his education at St. Xavier鈥檚 College, Kolkata, and earning a master鈥檚 degree in economics from the University of Dhaka, he briefly worked at British American Tobacco before venturing into business.