Apex Group chairman Syed Manzur Elahi. Photo: Collected

DHAKA, March 13, 2025 (BSS) - Syed Manzur Elahi, the prominent businessman and chairman of Apex Group, was laid to eternal rest at the Banani graveyard next to the grave of his wife Niloufer Manzur.

He was buried at around 4:30 pm.

He breathed his last at a hospital in Singapore about 7.30am on Wednesday at 83 while undergoing treatment.

Earlier, the first Namaz-e-Janaza of renowned entrepreneur and industrialist Syed Manzur Elahi was held on the premises of East West University in the city at 10:30 am today.

He was then brought to the headquarters of Mutual Trust Bank PLC, where employees of the private bank and Apex Group paid their respects and bid him farewell.

Later, he was buried at Banani graveyard after another Namaz-e-Janaza after Zuhr prayers at Azad Masjid in Gulshan-2.

Earlier, his body was brought to Dhaka on a Singapore Airlines flight from Singapore around 10:20 pm at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. He was taken to his residence around 11:30 pm on Wednesday.

Syed Manzur Elahi was a leading businessman in Bangladesh, and has won various awards for his contributions to trade and industry including "Business Executive of the Year 2000" by the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), Bangladesh and "Business Person of the Year 2002" award.
 
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 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 the West Bengal.