More than celebration hallmarks

One leading entrepreneur and two vibrant enterprises in the country were recently crowned with the top echelon of business awards. Dubbed as the Bangladesh Business Awards, the annual honour is a well-hyped recognition of business excellence in the country's private sector. Global logistics company DHL and leading national daily The Daily Star have been giving this award since 2000.

This year, the theme of this prestigious award was "bridge to prosperity, connecting beyond border" and quite befittingly, all the selected recipients had visibly significant success stories and contributions in their own domain. In fact, the winners – managing director of DBL Group as best entrepreneur, and bKash and Pran-RFL Group as best enterprises – have not only been stamping good footprints in their own marketplaces but clearly making extra mile achievements over the years. Each of them played their due role to create a bridge towards prosperity and to make global footprints by connecting beyond the borders of the country. For them, it was successful business dynamics but for the nation, it was country branding. In such a scenario, appreciation like this certainly stimulates the commitment and engagement of all those in business operations besides buoying up the morale of winners.

In fact, awards like this are more than just a thank you note. Over the years we have seen a lot of initiatives from different domains to extend appreciation for good work and achievements by the private sector. These are instrumental in recognising the vital role being played by the private sector in the country. These endeavours also set the tune for improving standards, compliance, financial spreadsheet, accountability, human resource development, supply chain management and above all, sustainability.

The selection of the winners this year was quite prudential. As a leader of DBL Group, the managing director has been steering the company to reach heights of excellence in various fronts, mainly readymade garments and ceramics. DBL Group rose to fame for their quality production, research and development, marketing strategy and approaches for sustainability. So, it is no wonder that the company has pegged its presence in Africa by establishing a huge readymade garments complex in Ethiopia.

Pran-RFL, with its wide-angled packed food products and plastic utensils, has become a household name in the country as well as in neighbouring India. Pran products have also become popular among the Bangladeshi communities in the US, Canada, Australia and Singapore. Their penetration into these markets has no doubt greatly enhanced the image of the country.

Talking about bKash, it is a story of a game changer. Starting its operation in 2011 in facilitating common people to transfer money through the use of simple mobile phones, bKash has unveiled the opportunities of millions of unbanked people across the country to enjoy accessibility to instant financial transactions. bKash has been piloting the mobile financial service (MFS) sector with innovative and market demand-based services, including facilitating remittance and payment of utility bills. The MFS sector in particular has vividly shown its worth during the pandemic by enabling payments for online purchases or disbursement of salaries and incentives when offices, businesses and communications remained closed due to lockdown.

While the award winners carry the storyline of their successes, we must also appreciate the initiatives of recognising the feats. They have also proved that challenges can be overcome and new milestones can be created. They have also attested the fact that the private sector, given the proper opportunities, can drive economic and social pathways to reach new frontiers. Perhaps, there is a plethora of such successful stories waiting to be explored and duly rewarded. With initiatives like this, there is a feel of reassurance that good works will not go in vain. Truly, recognitions like this go beyond the hallmarks of celebration, accelerating the zeal of business to conduct their operations keeping the flag hoisted high and ensuring benefits to the society.

The writer is a freelancer