A new Bangladesh can emerge as a leader in the world if its young generation dreams big to make the world their oyster, said Sufi Mohamed Mizanur Rahman, Chairman of PHP Family, one of the largest conglomerates in the country.
The young generation must be enterprising and hardworking to turn their dreams into realities, Sufi Mizan said in a documentary made on him by private television ‘Channel 24’.
The documentary titled 'Ponchash er Prokritajan' (bona fide person of 50’s) was aired on the channel on Friday, the third day of the Eid special programme.
Addressing the young generation, he said that one must be self-motivated in life as this core urge cannot be borrowed from anyone else. He said that the drive to be great must come from within and must be nurtured carefully. The almighty has enabled each and every one to overcome obstacles in attaining goals. But inspiration must be there alongside an excitement for attaining the goals, he said.
How much effort one wants to make depends on an individual and if the person has the potential in him or her, nothing can stop him in standing out tall among the crowds, Sufi Mizan added.
In the documentary, Sufi Mizan further said that the independence of the country was achieved in exchange for blood of three million martyrs and the dignity of two and a half lakh women.
Sufi Mizan also said that he dreamed to turn his motherland into a very prosperous country.
Doing this does not require any supernatural power. It is enough to work with love for the people of the country. “I believe if you work with love and affection for the people then no one will go hungry in the country,” he said.
Sufi Mohamed Mizanur Rahman was born in March 1943 in Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj and his life has been greatly influenced by the ideals of his father. Sufi Mizan said, he acquired various human qualities from his father in childhood and has been toeing the path shown by him. He said that his father taught him to love, respect people and lend a hand for the troubled fellows in need.
After completing his higher secondary education, Sufi Mizan worked for a firm in Narayanganj with a salary of Tk 100 per month. He later became a banker. However, he always aspired to become a successful businessman. After independence of the country in 1971, he left his career in banking and started own business.
Sufi Mizan said, he went to a bank for loan for his business. He was successful in convincing the bank authorities of the potentials of his start-up.
“At first, I started importing tyres from Japan. As the demand was much higher than supply, the goods I imported were sold out in advance even before the consignment reached the country. First of all, I paid back the bank loan. After completing several transactions properly, I was able to gain the trust and confidence of the bank and proceeded to establish an industry in 1972,” he said.
The PHP group — formed by Sufi Mizan — launched a shipbreaking industry in Chattogram. Since then, the group has been branching out its businesses into various sectors including glass, steel and petrochemicals. Now PHP Group has 35 organisations, employing 10 thousand workers. The group won the 'Best Business Award' in 2003 for its outstanding contribution to various sectors.
Referring to his father's advice, Sufi Mizan said, "My father used to say that if someone has the power to take initiative then no obstacle can stop him."
“My organisation’s name is PHP which is an abbreviation of Peace, Happiness and Prosperity. Here, we all are like a family,” he said.
The secret of Sufi Mizanur Rahman’s success is hard work with honesty. Relying on these two principles, he has reached a new height in Bangladesh today. He also became engaged in various welfare activities and was awarded with the “Ekushey Padak”. He was the second industrialist of the country to be awarded with the prestigious accolade.
Mentioning that the people of the country are becoming skilled workers, Sufi Mizan said, "At the beginning we had to hire foreign engineers and technicians for our factories. Now the people of the country are becoming skilled and they are working in our factories.”
He said, “Our glass factory used to have 160 Chinese workers, now almost the entire manpower is from Bangladesh. PHP is now making cars for the people of the country.”
The University of Information Technology and Sciences (UITS) is an institution which PHP Family had set up to promote higher education at low cost for youths in the country.
Former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam attended the first convocation of UITS while the second was attended by former Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad.
