Abul Kalam Azad is a Bangladeshi businessman, founder and managing director of Azad Products,[1] who was the president of the Bangladesh Printing Product Association.
Early life
editAzad was born Chandpur District and was raised in Shariatpur District. He worked in Dhaka as a lodging tutor.[2]
Career
editAzad started his business by buying posters from Old Dhaka and selling them on the streets in 1982. He expanded the business, called Azad Products, by importing pinups of popular TV shows, such as The Bionic Woman, and footballers from Singapore and selling them in Bangladesh. In the 1990s he started using local celebrities more and with the profit he built Azad Centre in Paltan.[2]
Azad expanded the company to create greeting cards and calendars. He became the president of the Bangladesh Printing Product Association. He also opened branches of Azad Products in different parts of Bangladesh.[2] He established the 'Ratnagarva' award for exceptional mothers.[3][4] In 2006, Banglalink created a television advertisement based on his biography.[5]
The COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh had been particularly difficult for Azad and his business. He had to close stores following declining demands.[2]
Controversy
editAzad was arrested on 29 August 2009 after Inspector Golam Sarwar, of the Criminal Investigation Department, filled a case against him for allegedly assaulting him. The inspector had gone to Azad for a job for his brother. Azad was remanded for a day and his company issued a statement denying the allegations.[6]
References
edit- ^ "News Feed | Momoda Foundation". momodafoundation.org. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
- ^ a b c d "Once I was a king: The rise and fall of Azad Products". The Business Standard. 2020-12-27. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
- ^ Sakibor Islam Sakib. "Azad Products, wedding card trendsetter". The Bangladesh Monitor. Retrieved 2020-12-27.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Recognising mothers' contributions to nation-building". The Daily Star. 2018-05-13. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
- ^ "Abul Kalam Azad: A success story". The Daily Star. 2007-09-07. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
- ^ "Businessman arrested for beating cop". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2020-12-27.