Business leaders, friends, family members and well-wishers on Saturday lauded the late industrialist Anwar Hossain for his unparalleled contribution to economy through multiple business endeavours.
They said his role in facilitating new leadership, pro-people thinking, innovative business ideas and enthusiasm for more employments in the country was unique.
They were speaking at a condolence meeting organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) at its office in the capital along with a virtual platform.
DCCI leaders and politicians also joined the event moderated by DCCI president Rizwan Rahman.
Speaking on the occasion, former commerce minister Tofail Ahmed said Anwar Hossain was a man of liberal mind, who used to consider the people working with him as family members.
Despite his full capacity and scope, Mr Hossain did not lead the trade bodies like the DCCI, rather he inspired young leadership, he added.
International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh president Mahbubur Rahman, also former DCCI president, said Mr Hossain's visionary entrepreneurship was a unique endeavour as he established the group of industries all by himself.
"He was a humane leader, an ideal industrialist and a novel business leader," said Mr Rahman, adding that Mr Hossain also preferred creating new business leaders.
Mr Hossain also played a significant role in enhancing the status of the DCCI to help the businesses, he added.
"His contribution to the industry, commerce, society at large and poor people actually knows no bound," said the ICCB chief.
Federation of Bang-ladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Md Jashim Uddin said Mr Hossain had been one of the few business leaders who made the real contribution to the country's present economic achievement.
"He has been a pioneer in the business arena, as he worked to generate employments through his entrepreneurship in many sectors."
DCCI President Rizwan Rahman said Mr Hossain did not differentiate between his family members and over 14,000 workers employed in different companies of Anwar Group of Industries.
He had a vision to generate employment for more 50,000 people in his life-time.
The eldest son of Anwar Hossain and Managing Director of Anwar Group Manwar Hossain, former DCCI presidents, including Hossain Khaled, Asif Ibrahim, Abul Kasem Khan, Sabur Khan and Shams Mahmud, among others, joined the programme.
A brief video documentary on the eventful life of late Mr Hossain was shown to the audience.
The condolence meeting ended with prayers seeking the eternal peace of the departed soul.
Mr Hossain breathed his last on August 17 at a city hospital due to old-age complications at the age of 83.
He was the founder chairman of the DCCI Foundation and Anwar Group of Industries.
