Apex Group Chairman Syed Manzur Elahi passes away
He was the chairman of Apex Group
Noted business personality Syed Manzur Elahi, 83, who was the chairman of Apex Group, has passed away.
He passed away around 7:30am today while undergoing treatment in Singapore.
Former BASIS president Syed Almas Kabir' mother is a niece of Syed Manzur Elahi. Speaking to The Business Standard, Almas Kabir said, "Due to aging, Elahi's immune system had weakened. While he initially recovered from a lung infection, he later developed a stomach infection."
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Both of his children were with him at the time, Syed Almas Kabir wrote in a Facebook post.
Syed Manzur Elahi was the founding chairman and the chairman of Mutual Trust Bank PLC (MTB).
He was a leading business entrepreneur in Bangladesh, and has won various awards for his contributions to trade and industry including "Business Executive of the Year 2000" by the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), Bangladesh and "Business Person of the Year 2002" award.
Besides being an eminent industrialist, he was also appointed Adviser to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh, twice (1996 & 2001).
After graduating from St Xavier's College, Manzur Elahi completed his master's degree in Economics at the University of Dhaka. Following his studies, he joined the multinational company, Pakistan Tobacco.
After Bangladesh's independence, he established Apex Tannery, laying the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey. With a vision for international expansion, he later founded Apex Footwear to export shoes to Japan. By adopting the rigorous quality control practices of Japanese manufacturers, Apex Footwear became a pioneering company in Bangladesh's shoe export industry.
Manzur Elahi also played a crucial role in pioneering shoe exports from Bangladesh to Europe. At one stage, he partnered with the Italian footwear businessman Adelchi, further strengthening his presence in the global market.
Manzur Elahi's ancestral home was in Bainan village of Howrah district in West Bengal.
His father, Sir Syed Nasim Ali, served as the chief justice of undivided Bengal in Calcutta. His eldest brother, Justice S A Masud, also held the position of chief justice at the Calcutta High Court and was honored with the Padma Bhushan award as well as the "Friends of Bangladesh Liberation War" recognition. Among his other brothers, Syed A Moudud and the youngest, Syed Manzur Elahi, moved to what was then East Pakistan, while his third brother, Syed A Mansur, settled in West Bengal.
