Sayem Sobhan takes over as BAJUS president, vows to make jewellery sector export-oriented

Newly elected President of Bangladesh Jewellers Samity (BAJUS) Sayem Sobhan Anvir has said he will work for development of the country’s jewellery sector and making it export-oriented.

“As far as I’ve seen, we’re only importing gold. But we haven’t been able to flourish the export. VAT and tax are definitely a factor. I think even though the industry is expanding. My main target will be to make it sure that we can export gold abroad with the expansion of the industry,” he said.

Sayem Sobhan Anvir, also Managing Director of Bashundhara Group and founder of the country’s first gold refinery in the private sector, was speaking at an installation ceremony of the newly elected office-bearers of BAJUS at a hotel in the capital on Wednesday.

He expressed his gratitude to all concerned for electing him president of the organisation.

“I hope this new committee will work to develop this industry in future in terms of import and export,” Sayem Sobhan Anvir added.

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Md Jashim Uddin, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), expressed the hope that Sayem Sobhan Anvir will be able to take the jewellery sector to new heights.

Recalling the contribution of Bashundhara Group, he said, “Bashundhara Group has unleashed industrialisation and created huge employments in the country. Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan is leading all the sectors. Bashundhara Housing, media outlets, news TV and sports TV -- all are dominating their respective fields. Similarly, the jewellery sector will flourish under the guidance of Sayem Sobhan Anvir.”

The new executive committee of BAJUS, headed by newly elected President Sayem Sobhan Anvir, took charge from the outgoing president of the organisation, Enamul Haque Khan.

Sayem Sobhan Anvir, Managing Director of Bashundhara Gold Refinery Limited and Arisha Jewellers, was greeted with bouquets by the leaders of the jewellery sector after he officially took over as the BAJUS president.

Chairman of the BAJUS Election Board and President of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) Alamgir Shamsul Alamin (Kajal), member of the Election Board and FBCCI Director Mohammad Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury Jewel and another member of the Election Board and Director of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hossain A Sikder were present on the occasion.

FBCCI Vice-president Amin Helali, chairman of the Board of Appeals of the BAJUS election, and two members of the Board of Appeals FBCCI Director Dr Kazi Erteza Hassan and FBCCI Director MGR Nasir Majumder were also present.

Earlier, the final results of the BAJUS election were announced on November 29.

Dilip Kumar Agarwala, Managing Director of Diamond World Limited, was re-elected general secretary of BAJUS.

The newly elected seven vice-presidents are Gulzar Ahmed, owner of The Apan Jewellers; Anwar Hossain of New General Jewellers Ltd, MA Hannan Azad of Alankar Niketan (Pvt) Ltd, Badal Chandra Roy of Jarwa House (Pvt) Ltd, Dr Dewan Aminul Islam of Siraj Jewellers, Md Anisur Rahman of L Rahman Jewellers and Kazi Nazneen Islam Nipa of The Amin Jewellers.

The nine elected assistant secretaries are Masudur Rahman of Gold World, Samit Ghosh Apu of Fancy Diamond, Bidhan Malakar of Venus Diamond Collection, Md Joynal Abedin Khokon of Rizvi Jewellers, Md Liton Hawlader of New Sonartari Jewellers, Narayan Chandra Dey of Baishakhi Jewellers, Md Tajul Islam Lavlu of Moni Mala Jewellers, Enamul Haque Bhuiyan Liton of Gold King Jewellers and Mukta Ghosh of Purabi Jewellers (Pvt) Ltd.

Uttam Banik, owner of Messrs Kundan Jewellery House and Jaya Gold, was elected treasurer of the organisation.

There are 16 executive committee members and they are: Owner of Grameen Diamond House and former BAJUS President Dr Dilip Kumar Roy, owner of Sharmin Jewellers and Diamond & Divas and outgoing President of BAJUS Enamul Haque Khan, Mohammad Babul Mia of Sultana Jewellers (Pvt) Ltd, Md Imran Chowdhury of The Diamond Sea, Pabitra Chandra Ghosh of PC Chandra Jewellers, Md Ripnul Hasan of Jewellery House, Alhaj Md Mojibur Rahman Khan of Rahman Jewellers, Bablu Dutta of Messrs Lily Jewellers, Md Shahidul Islam (MD) of Rajnigandha Jewellers Ltd, Joydev Sahaler of The Pearl Oasis Jewellers, Iqbal Uddin of Messrs Sajni Jewellers, Kartik Karmakar of Shatarupa Jewellers, Uttam Ghosh of Aftab Jewellers, Md Ferdous Alam Shaheen of Shaili Jewellers, Kazi Nazneen Hossain Zara of Zara Gold and Mohammad Aslam Khan of Royal Malabar Jewellers (BD) Ltd.

SOURCE : Daily Sun