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Business icons honoured
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and certain government policies, Anam said.
However, to level up, the weakness in the whole governance system needs to be corrected.
“The key to a successful improvement in the governance system is a provision of accountability. Power, by itself, is a dangerous commodity. But power with checks and balance is a brilliant instrument of moving forward.”
He suggested a thorough reform of the legal structure in keeping with the progression of the economy.
For the private sector to grow, there has to be a transformational change to the tax system as well, Anam added.
Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman and chief executive officer of Pran-RFL Group, said the business house is working towards the industrialisation of Bangladesh.
“We are feeling encouraged. We will accelerate our work so that Bangladesh marches ahead. We will take Bangladesh forward,” he added.
Jabbar described winning the award as “absolutely amazing”. “And definitely it will encourage us to do more,” he said.
After 50 years of independence, Bangladesh is making a giant leap towards prosperity with inclusive growth, said Kamal Quadir, founder and CEO of bKash.
“Keeping up with this pace, in just over a decade, bKash has relentlessly worked to bring unbanked and underbanked people into the formal financial sector under the regulations of Bangladesh Bank from the very beginning, which reflected the government’s vision.”
The recognition from the DHL-The Daily Star is a validation of the MFS provider’s steadfast journey.
“It has not been a sprint, but a marathon with corporate discipline, compliant practices and customer-centric focus,” Quadir added.
At the event, Ayman Sadiq, founder and CEO of 10 Minute School, and Shahir Chowdhury, co-founder and CEO of Shikho, both educational technology start-ups, were honoured as youth icons.
Sadiq shared a number of stories about how 10 Minute School and its largely free educational contents are changing the lives of students, including the underprivileged, from across the country by helping them get into the best universities in Bangladesh.
Chowdhury also talked about the changing landscape in the education sector and how digitalisation is shaping it.
“Digitalisation in the educational sector has been taking place for many years. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the pace,” he said, adding that e-learning is crucial to bridge the skill gap and making education accessible.
Mannan also gave away the trophies to the winners of the 19th edition of the Awards, which took place virtually in December 2020 for the global coronavirus pandemic.
Abdul Muktadir, chairman and managing director of Incepta Pharmaceuticals, was the Business Person of the Year, while Rupali Chowdhury, managing director of Berger Paints Bangladesh, was the Outstanding Woman in Business.
Dutch-Bangla Bank was the Best Financial Institution and Snowtex the Business Enterprise of the Year.
Muktadir and SM Khaled, managing director of Snowtex, received the crests.
Li Jiming, Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh; Vikram K Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh; Mahbubur Rahman, president of the International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh; Syed Alamgir, managing director and CEO of Akij Ventures; Nasir Ahmad Choudhury, adviser and founding managing director of Green Delta Insurance; Golam Mainuddin, chairman of British American Tobacco Bangladesh; Naser Ezaz Bijoy, CEO of Standard Chartered Bangladesh; Syed Mahbubur Rahman, managing director and CEO of Mutual Trust Bank; Md Kyser Hamid, managing director and CEO of Bangladesh Finance and Investment; Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation; Syed Mohammad Kamal, country manager of MasterCard; and Sabiha Amjad and Uzma Chowdhury, directors of Pran-RFL Group, were present on the occasion.
Azra Mahmood, famed choreographer and television presenter, was the master of the ceremony.