Innovation was his driving force

It all started in 1988, the day Bashir finished his matriculation exams. While his friends went to Cox’s Bazar to celebrate, his father called him and asked him to join the family business.

He started as a stationery buyer for the company with a monthly salary of Tk 300. His job was to buy books, notebooks and pens for the company.

Slowly but steadily, he climbed the corporate ladder. By the age of 32, Bashir was appointed CEO of Akij Group after the death of his father Sk. Akij Uddin.

“I was quite restless and my father thought I needed to be disciplined,” Bashir Uddin recalled in an interview with The Daily Star.

“I was treated like any other employee, without special privileges. My father never gave me a voice in the company until I proved my capabilities and earned his trust.

“Even my salary increases followed formal procedures and I could not draw more than what I was officially allowed,” he added.

Bashir worked under his father for 17 years. “I consider myself very fortunate to have had this opportunity and have always considered myself his number one servant. He was a man of excellence and precision in everything he did. A tough boss, no doubt.

“My father constantly set challenges that seemed impossible for someone my age, but from him I learned values, ethics, the ability to objectively analyze any situation and the importance of creating a culture where everyone’s voice is heard and respected.”

Born in Navaron village of Jashore in 1974, Bashir completed his schooling there before moving to Dhaka with his mother in 1977. Under his father’s leadership, Bashir helped the company venture into more sophisticated industries including textiles, food and beverage and printing.

The group also reorganized its core tobacco business. “Between 1997 and 2003, we completely rebranded and modernized our tobacco division. It required an investment of Tk 1,000 crore”.

When Bashir’s father died in 2006, the responsibility of running a company with 55,000 employees fell squarely on Bashir’s shoulders. “It’s been an incredibly difficult time for us.”

But Bashir eventually overcame this and accepted greater challenges. The most important was the sale of Akij’s most famous and profitable tobacco business in 2018.

“Tobacco was synonymous with our brand, but our non-tobacco business grew tremendously. Tobacco then became a burden on our other successes,” he recalled.

He also cited his mother’s strong disapproval of the tobacco business as a key factor in their decision to divest. “It took us about five to six years just to find the right buyer.”

In 2018, Akij Group sold its tobacco division to Japan Tobacco International for $1.47 billion, the largest foreign direct investment in Bangladesh’s history.

“It was a very complex transaction. Japanese companies are meticulous, and the due diligence process, which ensures compliance with legal and manufacturing regulations, took nearly two years.”

As part of a family agreement, Akij Group split into five entities in 2020. Bashir inherited mostly new businesses and then founded AkijBashir Group.

The group, which now has 25,000 employees, has focused on expansion and diversification.

Today, AkijBashir Group’s portfolio includes Akij Ceramics Limited, Akij Particle Board Mills Limited, Akij Polymer Limited, Akij Steel Mills Limited, Robin Resources (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd, Janata Sadat Jute Industries, Akij Biax Films Limited and Akij Cartons.

In addition to maintaining the highest quality standards, Bashir said he prioritized employee well-being. Its initiatives include subsidized housing for employees, schools, sports facilities and the AkijBashir Trust, which supports education and healthcare.

He said he strongly believes that progress is a collective effort. “Through collaborative efforts with our employees, customers and partners, we can cultivate a sense of community and common purpose.”

Recently, the group launched glass production at a state-of-the-art plant in Habiganj’s Madhabpur upazila, positioning itself as a key player in the fast-growing market.

According to Bashir, the AkijBashir glass factory is a testament to the group’s commitment to sustainability and green practices.

“Up to 71% of our electricity consumption in that facility comes from renewable energy sources,” he said. “The goal is to get to 100 percent on time.”

Regarding the future of the AkijBashir Group, Bashir said he wants to make it structurally sound. “I want it to be a place for talent, an entity that solves people’s problems and offers value for money.”

Asked what kind of future he envisions for Bangladesh, especially in light of the reform initiatives after the fall of the Awami League government, he said: “I want to see a fair country where everyone gets justice.

“Social or financial influence should not trump justice – this is the kind of country I want to leave to future generations.

“In a just society, if someone loses, they will understand that they lost because of lack of competence, not because of injustice,” he said.

“There should be fairness in the distribution of wealth, in the punishment of crimes and equality under the law.”

In the final part of the conversation, when asked about the philosophy that drives him, Bashir hesitated.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. What philosophy drives me? To get richer? No. To create more companies? No, that’s not it.”

He turned to a colleague who had just entered the room moments earlier and asked, “What motivates me?”

“New challenges and innovation,” replied the colleague.