Remembering Chowdhury, a Christian entrepreneur and a role model for ethics in interfaith dialogue
Bangladesh is celebrating the centenary of the birth of a businessman who remains an inspiration to many in the country. A prominent figure in the Baptist community, he passed away in 2012. During his life, he showed the power of integrity across religious boundaries. His children have taken on his legacy and set up a foundation to carry on his projects and pursue new initiatives, including a mobile clinic providing free healthcare to low-income people in Dhaka.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) – "If you love people, God will love you," Samson H. Chowdhury, one of Bangladesh's most respected entrepreneurs, used to say.
Even today, on the centenary of his birth on 25 September 1925, his life and legacy continue to inspire generations of business leaders, social reformers, and communities of different faiths across the country.
A devout Christian, Chowdhury was a prominent member of the Baptist community, serving as vice president of the Baptist World Alliance and leading the Bangladesh Baptist Church Fellowship multiple times.
His faith shaped his values, but over the years he also worked to boost interfaith dialogue, while his charitable work transcended religious and national boundaries, becoming an example even abroad.
Responding to a request from Muslim employees at the Sabazpur Tea Estate, he helped establish the Suzaul Madrasah, reflecting his deep commitment to confessional harmony.
This is why Samson H. Chowdhury remains a symbol of ethical entrepreneurship and compassionate leadership as the country marks his centenary in a celebration that unites Christians and Muslims.
His legacy is a lesson for those who start a business, proof that work must not be solely inspired by profit but should also be characterised by the values of love and humanity, which represent a positive and proactive force.
Born on 25 September, 100 years ago, in the village of Aruakandi, Gopalganj, Chowdhury's journey from humble beginnings to the leadership of one of Bangladesh's largest industrial conglomerates is a testament to "the power of integrity, vision, and compassion."
The Christian entrepreneur died on 5 January 2012, at the age of 86, leaving a legacy that extends beyond the world of business.
Chowdhury's entrepreneurial journey began in 1952, when he left his job at the Post Office to join his father's pharmacy in Pabna.
Four years later, he borrowed money from his father and founded a small pharmaceutical company, E Sons (Yakub and Sons).
In 1958, he and three friends (Kazi Harunur Rashid, PK Saha, and Radhabinda Roy) founded Square Pharmaceuticals, named after the four founders' equal investment.
From producing basic syrups in a small factory, Square grew into a diversified business empire. Today, the Square Group operates in eight sectors, including healthcare, consumer goods, textiles, media, IT, banking, aviation, and agriculture.
With 23 companies and over 80,000 employees, the group's annual revenue is just shy of US$ 2 billion.
However, Chowdhury's success has never been just about profit. He believed that business was a tool for social transformation, a philosophy continued by his son Tapan Chowdhury, who is the Square Group’s current managing director.
“Our father became a top industrialist from a simple background by working hard and staying honest. We are carrying forward his philosophy and ideals,” he said.
To mark he centenary, the Anita and Samson Foundation, established by his children, announced a series of initiatives.
On a plot of land in Aminbazar, the foundation intends to build a hospital, a medical school, a nursing school, a retirement home, and a children's home, with construction set to begin by the end of the year.
“This hospital will be bigger than Square Hospital, but the medical expenses will be lower,” explained Tapan Chowdhury. “We want to serve the common people, just as our father dreamed.”
In another tribute, the Square Group is launching a mobile clinic titled "Across Fifty-Six Thousand Square Miles," aiming to provide free healthcare to low-income communities.
The initiative, run by the Anita and Samson Foundation, will offer primary healthcare, maternal and child health services, eye care, and free glasses and medical drugs.
The programme was announced yesterday during a press conference at the Samson Centre in Gulshan-1, Dhaka, and will be officially inaugurated this evening at St Mary's Cathedral in Kakrail.
Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario will be present to pay tribute to the extraordinary legacy left by Samson Chowdhury, whose life story is even included in the Bangladesh Open University's tenth-grade textbook.
In the chapter titled "Business Initiatives," he is featured as one of Bangladesh's most successful businessmen, described as a “hero from zero” who thrived as a business owner, manager, accountant, typist, worker, and medical representative.
.png)
