NAZRUL ISLAM MAZUMDER : THE CHOICE OF THE TIME (a biography)

NAZRUL ISLAM MAZUMDER

The choice of the time

“The purpose of a business is to create a customer who creates customers.”

-         Shiv Shing

# NASSA GROUP #

30,000 employees

#EXIM Bank #

3,000 employees

And so on………..

A Biography By

OMAR KHALED RUMI

M. Sc., MBA, LL.B

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“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.”  

- Napoleon Hill

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Prlogue

Like another man Nazrul Islam Mazunder is also a man. But, how he has made some stories of success. Why people consider him as a special. Why he is applaused as Philanthropic in mind, dynamic in thinking, far-sighted in vision. There must some reasons. The reason is what he wanted himself he has been now. Mazumder, a conglomerate icon, in no way, a trifle name. His success, over years, makes him a legend. So, there are many reasons to pen something about him.

In Bangleedesh, it is obvious and widely observed that business means some unethical means. Nowadays, it has been a common belief that businessmen do whatever they like. There is only darkness in all corporate affairs. It is not my duty to discuss such a type of vast issue. But I only want to make it clear that there is exception also. In my book, through his life, I just want to present the verve of such a man who already proof that honesty of thinking can make it all.

I am neither a close associate of Mazumder nor any chance to be. I am neither requested nor ordered by anybody to write on him. But I always feel one thing I should write on such a man who has become an instance through his good deeds. Since the thought, I started searching on him. The findings were not sufficient to draw a real portrait of such an illustrious man.

I continued my job. But the success was not mentionable. I contacted some people who know him better. They helped me a lot through their information. Writing on him is a great experience in my life. You may be by the side of a shore to see the ocean.  But you must be sailed in the ocean to know it. I just drowned in him.

A small book like it is not sufficient to tell all the tales. So, I am in a good position to say that it is nothing but a little scratch over a canvass of time. He is always beyond my evaluation. Greatness can not be described. Greatness can be felt. So, my earnest request is not to judge him through this book. My request is to feel him from the very core of your heart. You will get most of the answers of your questions.

      

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Chapters

Epilogue

i.                    His birth and boyhood

ii.                 Education and other activities

iii.               Entrepreneurship

iv.               NASSA and a revolution

v.                  EXIM Bank and a second revolution

vi.               Setting up Hospitals, Universities and many more

vii.             Other business endeavours

viii.          I am Mazumder (In his own handwriting)

ix.               Conclusion

Prologue

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“One of the luckiest things that can happen to you in life is, I think, to have a happy childhood.”

-         Agatha Christie

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Chapter 1 :  His birth and boyhood

Mazumder took his birth in a small village of Laksham.

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“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. ”

-         Nelson Mandela

 

Chapter 2: Education and other activities

Mazumder completed his Graduation and post Graduation English discipline from Chittagong University. As a student he was an enthusiastic learner. He maintained good relationship with his classmates and teachers. The long endured relationship till today proved it unequivocally. One of his favorite teachers is still with him and taking part with his business. Such a type of instance is very rare nowadays. Hail Mazumder. Who remembers his old teachers? Not only old friends, teachers, classmates but also whomsoever he met once are remembered by him. Such a bravura human being he is.

Mazumder was involved in many extra curricular activities. He was very fond of Music, games, traveling, reading etc. he possesses many more good habits.

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“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow know what you truly want to become. ”

-         Steve jobs

Chapter 3: A Born Entrepreneur  

The white Tiger Mazumder took his endeavor at the beginning of the nineties. Country’s Ready-made Garments sector was flourishing then. It was a juncture of Bangladesh economy. The new entrepreneurship was being introduced at large. A good number of businessmen ventured at that time which further created a good number of companies now leading the country. Actually, that was the real fertile time after liberation. Mazumder started his journey by setting up a small factory Starlight Knit-wear at 2/b Elephant road, Dhaka. That was the starting and the factory is still located there as a symbol of nostalgia.

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“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.”

-         Thomas Hardy

Chapter 4 : NASSA and a revolution

    In 1990 he established his dream merchant NASSA Group. It was a landmark of his life and as well as a victory of his tested friendship because the group was consisted of he and four of his intimate friends. The group is now a revolution in country’s Ready-made Garment business. NASSA is now operating its business all over the world especially in EU and the USA and Africa and Latin America.

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“Our business is really simple. When you look at a deal and its structure looks like an octopus or spider, just don’t do it. ”

-         Timothy Sloan

Chapter 5: EXIM Bank and a second revolution

At the eve of nineties when country’s banking sector was getting its shape a good number of private commercial banks was established. A renowned banker Late Shahjahan Kabir attempted to set up a bank. He remembered Mazumder and sought his cooperation. Mazumder with his friends who are also involved in NASSA Group joined with him at the very beginning of the process. At the launching momentum Mr. kabir died due to his illness and Mazumder hold the steering of the adventure. From now to till today Export Import Bank of Bangladesh Ltd. Nicknamed as “EXIM Bank” has expanded its network all over the country and somewhere outside the country. The bank is now one of the country’s leading banks with its eighty seven fully automated branches.

    

    

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“Corporate social responsibility is a hard-edged business decision. Not because it is a nice thing to do or because people are forcing us to do it…..because it is good for our business. ”

-         Niall Fitzgerald

Chapter 6: Setting up Hospitals, Universities and many more

Mazumder’s endeavour is not only to expand his business world but also to do the welfare of the society. He is a good searcher of miserable. The difference between he and other philanthropists is quite clear. The others are searched by the needy but he searches the needy in his own way. That is why he is special. To extend stipend, Quard e Hasana and foreign education of extra ordinary students his hand is always ready. He has established an agricultural university named “EXIM Bank Agricultural University, Bangladesh” in Chapainawabganj.  

He also established a Hospital named “EXIM Bank Hospital” situated at Kazipara, Mirpur, Dhaka. Through this hospital he is providing helps to the people at a reasonable cost as the institute is being operated as a non profitable organization.

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“I create new products and services because, where one sees a problem I see a solution.”

-          L. Bean

 

Chapter 7 : Other business endeavors

NASSA has a Textile manufacturing complex situated at Kanchpur, Dhaka. It is a large project with an area of 28 acres. It is one of it back up industry providing support to its export oriented Readymade Garments sector. It is a vertical integration of this large group.

NASSA Spinning Ltd is also a sister concern of this organization. It is a modern and well equipped world class unit to keep pace and cope up with the time and demand.

It has also a well equipped in house accessories and finishing unit named “Native Packaging Ltd” which provides buttons, threads, Zippers, labels and snap fasteners along with labeling packaging.

NASSA also has a stock broking unit named ANW Associates Ltd. It is one of the successful organizations in the curb market. It is a horizontal integration of the conglomerate.

Besides these, NASSA has following Commercial Properties:

NASSA Properties Ltd

RANS Real Estate Ltd.

Planet Travel etc.

 

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“I am who I am, take it or leave it, I leave to please me and no one else.”

-          Sheryl Montilla

 

Chapter 8 : I am Mazumder (In his own handwriting)

Nothing to write. Nothing to discuss. Life is life. Life is nothing but a small river. It flows its own way. It has its own verse. I am a wanderer in this lovely world. I have nothing to mention. I only want to survive without disturbing anyone.

My life is not at all a mentionable one. I am not Quiade e Azam, not Mahatma Ghandi. I am such a trifle man who only wants to make his way best. It is nothing but an approach. An approach of a very simple man.

People are used to tell me many things. They are whispering. But I do not want to consume me taking care of it. I want to survive. I want to remain alive. That is why I would like to minimize my mistakes and maximize my attempts.

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“A conclusion is the place where you get tired of thinking.”

-         Arthur Bloch

Chapter 9: Conclusion

Who writes whose conclusion? There is no conclusion. Mazumder is Mazumder. He is like himself. He is the shadow of himself. He is what really he is. I have no right to draw any conclusion on him. I am very trifle.

Saving all the truths, I would like to mention something to make an end of this futile writing. I consider this writing worth less as the man is bigger than my pen. So far I know I am not competent enough to write on him. Please forgive for my idiotic access. I know and believe that no one should exercise such a type of exotic affair.

But when I think that I respect this man since I saw him first at the interview board twelve years ago at the time of my entering into his bank as a Management Trainee Officer, I should portrait him as far as it is possible. So, I do not feel any hesitation to pen something about him. I do not like to care another consideration.

People, nowadays, like to think everything in a materialistic way.  But he is such a man who never think the result of his action but think of its fragrance. That is why Mazumder is Mazumder. He never fears failure that is why success is in his credit.

I would like to draw an ending of this little immature effort because I also have a sense of an ending. So, it is time to say good bye keeping a wise saying in mind:

“We saw the march of soldiers. It makes us feeling proud. But we never feel the pain of their boots which they endure silently.”       

    

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Epilogue

We always like to discuss how easily one amass a lot of wealth. Our heart is always like to be being touched by the windfalls. But we never think that how hard a dream comes true in ones life.

Mazumder also has failures. May be we do not know. It is the feelings he bears in a small corner in his big heart. No one can beat his memory. Everybody is driven by his nostalgia. Mazumder is not an exception.

But it is a great pleasure for us that he was not ousted by his fanatics and insanity. His great success lies into controlling all the evils and beast in himself. That is why he became able to make such a tower where many people like to climb on. Salute this Conglomerate Lion. Salute this living legend. 

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Chronological Mazumder

Company Milestones

·         Born in the village Razapur, Laksham, Comilla

·         Completed SSC in

·         Completed HSC in

·         Getting married with Nasrin Rahman in

·         Being father of a son named Walid Ibne Islam

·         Being father of a daughter named Anika Islam

·         1990: NASSA Group established by Founder and Chairman Mr Nazrul Islam Mazumder.

·         1995: NASSA Group established its Hong Kong sourcing office to streamline its production capabilities and client relations.

·         1999: EXIM Bank established, providing financial services for the retail, corporate, SME and agricultural sectors as well as in foreign trade.

·         2002: NASSA Taipei Textile Mills established, integrating textile production capacity into the group.

·         2005: NASSA Taipei Denims Ltd established, diversifying into the global denims market.

·         2005: NASSA Spinning Ltd established, embedding wholly owned spinning operations into the group.

·         2007: NASSA Properties Ltd established, investing in Dhaka’s commercial infrastructure via large scale commercial property investment.

·         2008: RANS Real Estate Ltd established, changing the domestic property landscape of Dhaka by creating new affordable luxury homes to meet the needs of modern Bangladeshi homeowners.*

·         2009: EXIM Bank becomes the first privately owned bank to open an exchange house in the UK, enhancing its capacity to deliver seamless services to Bangladeshis living and working in the UK.

·         2012: ANW Associates London Ltd established, bringing a new end-to-end apparel manufacture and supply solution to fashion buyers in the UK and Europe.

·         2013: NASSA brokerage house established, providing and secure, accredited and ethical trading services for clients wishing to invest in stocks and shares.

·         2014: ANW Associates Nigeria Ltd established.