The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) today honoured 10 individuals and companies with the inaugural Business Excellence Awards in recognition of their contribution to the business and the economy.

Flanked by Tipu Munshi, commerce minister, and Md Jashim Uddin, president of the apex trade body, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun handed over the accolades to the winners on the concluding day of the Bangladesh Business Summit at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

Nazmul Hasan, managing director of Beximco Pharmaceuticals, picked up the award for his role in the development of the pharmaceuticals industry, especially for making Bangladesh a new manufacturing hub for global generic drugs.

Alihussain Akberali, chairman of BSRM, has been honoured for shaping Bangladesh's steel industry and revolutionising the entire steel market.

In the industry category, Mubarak Ali, managing director of Olympic Industries won the award. Anjan Chowdhury, managing director of Square Food and Beverage Ltd, was given the award in the agriculture and agro-business category.

Md Kazim Uddin, CEO of National Life Insurance Co Ltd, took the award in the service sector, and Humayun Rashid, CEO of Energypac Power Generation Ltd, won it in the trade category.

The awards in the SME category went to Md Rashedul Karim Munna, managing director of Creation Private Ltd, and Safius Sami Alamgir, managing director of Tampaco Foils Ltd.

Tania Wahab, managing partner of Karigar, was crowned as the best woman entrepreneur and Safwan Sobhan, managing director of Bashundhara Paper Mills Ltd and Bashundhara Multi Paper Industries Ltd, was honoured as the young entrepreneur.

Mahbubur Rahman, a former president of the FBCCI, and Maleka Khan, a heritage and crafts researcher, won the jury special award.

The lifetime achievement awards were handed to Sabina Yasmin, a noted singer, and Salman F Rahman, vice-chairman of Beximco Group, one of the largest business conglomerates in Bangladesh.

SM Faruqi Hasan, chairman and managing director of Protik Ceramics
Limited, won the award in the special recognition category.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun said: "The government is constantly working to achieve the goal of knowledge-based industrialisation."

"Laws and regulations have been enacted to protect the interests of industrial entrepreneurs as they are the courageous partner in the country's development journey."