Today is the first death anniversary of the founding Chairman of Sikder Group and valiant freedom fighter Zainul Haque Sikder.
He passed away on this day last year in Dubai.
Zainul Haque Sikder, one of the brightest industrialists of post-independence Bangladesh, was born on 12 August 1930 in Assam, India. He moved to the erstwhile East Bengal (now Bangladesh) with his family after the partition in 1947.
He was 91 at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife, five sons, three daughters, grandchildren and a host of relatives and well-wishers.
Zainul Haque Sikder played an important role in the economic development and progress of Bangladesh. For more than seven decades, he built numerous institutions in various sectors of the country, including banking, insurance, education, health, power, housing, hotel and aviation. He created employment for at least 20,000 people.
Apart from creating businesses and employment, Zainul Haque Sikder is well known as a philanthropist. Besides establishing schools, colleges and hospitals, he helped numerous people to alleviate poverty.
Zainul Haque Sikder had been a faithful and close companion of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman since 1945. On 15 August 1975, four days after the killing of the Father of the Nation and his family members, the veteran freedom fighter organized a Kulkhwani for them at Rayerbazar on 19 August braving the wrath of those who grabbed the state power.
Intelligence agencies harassed and intimidated him that time in various ways and even sent him to jail.
The Sikdar Group has businesses in various sectors including banking, insurance, power, health, education, housing, construction, hotels, and aviation. The group has several business ventures outside the country too.