Not just a businessman - Salman F Rahman

Salman F Rahman is not only a businessman. He is visionary, industry captain, he is behind the economic success of Bangladesh.

A nation’s growth and prosperity often depends on the Business and economic development. Any business-notion on part of pioneers brings good result for a nation’s economy. Many examples from history proves that individuals often can be attributed to kick start a nation’s potential as well as its growth. For Bangladesh, Salman F Rahman, the co-founder Beximco, is such a personality. His efforts in setting up a business paradigm and a conducive environment for local businesses has been instrumental for the relatively nascent economy of Bangladesh.

In other words, Salman F Rahman’s efforts have been synonymous with the growth of Bangladesh.

The visionary man - Salman F Rahman

He set up Beximco in 1972 after his family inherited jute mill was nationalized by then Government of Bangladesh in 1971. The business journey started out with seafood exports to target countries including Germany, France, the UK, Netherlands, and Belgium. The initial trajectory soon transformed into a journey towards setting a conglomerate that worked on Bangladesh’s strengths and harnessed its potential as well as gave the country and its trading partners an impetus to invest in Bangladeshi economy. An example for the uninitiated would be Salman’s initiative in the textile, seafood and the pharma industry. That predicament possibly transformed into Bangladesh’s first private stint with the international market and resulted in Salman’s foray into international markets. The polarized status quo resulted in his inclination towards pharma wherein instead of making heavy profits in cash, he chose to import medicines worth the same cost to meet the country’s pharmaceutical demands.


After some years, he decided to manufacture and supply local pharmaceutical requirements from within the country. Consequently, 1976 witnessed the birth of Beximco Pharmaceuticals and since then, Beximco has expanded under his’s vision and guidance. Apart from the company’s growth, he traversed a journey of his own as a businessman and industrialist of note internationally – considering how he shaped the world’s perception towards Bangladesh’s indigenous industries and exports. The associated acumen, vision and experience further resulted in his appointment as the Private Sector Development Affairs adviser to the Bangladesh Awami League President Sheikh Hasina.

Though the country’s rising GDP in the past decade is the testament of the aforementioned, Salman F Rahman’s belief of harnessing the country’s business potential for its enhanced prosperity could further be advanced to enhance, empower and strengthen the country’s economic potential at the political and administrative front.

Is Bangladesh ready for the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

The world is currently experiencing the fourth Industrial Revolution. Is Bangladesh ready?

There is just no point in arguing if it is good or bad, if it will benefit Bangladesh or not. Fourth Industrial Revolution is not something for us to accept or, reject or, regulate

The first Industrial Revolution began in the middle of the 18th century with the invention of the steam engine by Thomas Newcomen. Then, as we entered the second Industrial Revolution, we found a way to mass-produce electricity-based products until the 1970s. The third Industrial Revolution was the digital revolution, with the wave of information and communication technologies which gave birth to the new “knowledge economy.” This has created thousands of new businesses and millions of new jobs, and laid the foundation for a sustainable global economy in the 21st century. 

It is quite challenging for both developed and developing nations. Developed nations would perhaps be able to cope with it because of their technological progress, and their skilled workforce with specialized know-how, training, and experiences. Bangladesh has a large workforce but is it skilled?

At micro or macro levels, each of us is only to get ready – in the government or, in business or, in research. And, move fast. We need to employ our imagination, creativity, innovation without hindrance or, inhibition – for our schools, factories, companies and even government. Some 4,554 Union Digital Centres, e-procurement, 100+ simplified public services, and smart health cards for instance are leading us on the Fourth Industrial Revolution pathway.

Bangladesh has obtained unprecedented technological advancement through the ruling party’s Digital Bangladesh manifesto. However, Bangladesh has failed to develop technology-oriented employment sectors. For instance, despite these positive technological advances, Bangladesh is still lagging behind in the adoption of e-commerce in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). There is no doubt that SMEs contribute significantly to the economy of a country by creating employment opportunities, eradicating poverty, and generating export revenue. To accelerate and augment this economic contribution, the adoption of e-commerce in Bangladesh SMEs is essential. The emergence of globalization and the integration of regional economic growth have introduced new challenges as well as new opportunities for SME development in Bangladesh.