Syed Manzur Elahi, chairman of Apex Group and former adviser to a caretaker government, passed away on Wednesday morning. He was 83.
He breathed his last at 9:31am (Bangladesh time) in Singapore while undergoing treatment at a hospital, said family members.
The businessman had been suffering from various age-related ailments.
Elahi was one of the pioneers of Bangladesh’s leather export industry and played a key role in introducing locally produced leather footwear to the global market. His company, Apex, holds a significant position in both local and international footwear markets.
Elahi completed his B.A. from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, and later earned a master's degree in Economics from the University of Dhaka.
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In 1962, he moved from Kolkata to Dhaka and in 1972, he resigned from his job and began working as an agent for a French leather importer.
After leaving his career in multinational corporations, he ventured into the leather business and became a successful entrepreneur.
In 1972, he established Manzur Industries and began selling leather on a commission basis.
Four years later, in 1976, he acquired state-owned Orient Tannery and founded Apex Tannery.
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Fourteen years later, he launched Apex Footwear, which has grown to become one of the country's leading shoe exporters.