Syed Manzur Elahi, a towering figure in Bangladesh’s business landscape and chairman of Apex Group, has passed away at the age of 79.
He breathed his last at 9:31 am local time in Singapore (7:31 am Bangladesh time) today while undergoing medical treatment. His son, Syed Nasim Manzur, confirmed the news.
The family is currently making arrangements to bring his body back to Bangladesh.
Syed Manzur Elahi was a pioneer in Bangladesh’s footwear export industry, becoming the first entrepreneur to export Bangladeshi-made shoes to international markets.
After leaving his job at a multinational company, he ventured into business and founded Manzur Industries in 1972. Four years later, he acquired the state-owned Orient Tannery, renaming it Apex Tannery in 1976.
In 1990, he established Apex Footwear, which has grown into Bangladesh’s leading shoe exporter and one of the country’s top footwear brands.
Beyond his business success, Syed Manzur Elahi also served as an adviser to a former caretaker government.
