Staff Reporter :
Syed Manzur Elahi, the prominent businessman and chairman of Apex Group, passed away at a hospital in Singapore this morning. He was 83. He passed away around 7:30 am on Wednesday while undergoing treatment in Singapore.
Former BASIS president Syed Almas Kabir confirmed the matter, adding:”Manzur’s Besides being an eminent industrialist, he was also appointed Adviser to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh, twice (1996 and 2001) After graduating from St. Xavier’s College, Manzur Elahi completed his bachelor’s degree in Economics at the University of Dhaka. Following his studies, he joined the multinational company, Pakistan Tobacco.
After Bangladesh’s independence, he established Apex Tannery, laying the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey. With a vision for international expansion, he later founded Apex Footwear to export shoes to Japan.
By adopting the rigorous quality control practices of Japanese manufacturers, Apex Footwear became a pioneering company in Bangladesh’s shoe export industry.
Manzur Elahi also played a crucial role in pioneering shoe exports from Bangladesh to Europe. At one stage, he partnered with the Italian footwear businessman Adelchi, further strengthening his presence in the global market Manzur Elahi’s ancestral home was in Bainan village of Howrah district in West Bengal.
His father, Sir Syed Nasim Ali, served as the Chief Justice of undivided Bengal in Calcutta. His eldest brother, Justice S A Masud, also held the position of Chief Justice at the Calcutta High Court and was honored with the “Padma Bhushan Award” as well as the “Friends of Bangladesh Liberation War” recognition.
Among his other brothers, Syed A Moudud and the youngest, Syed Manzur Elahi, moved to what was then East Pakistan, while his third brother, Syed A Mansur, settled in West Bengal.
