DHAKA: The country is now in deep crisis. Law and order situation is now at its lowest ebb. It is urgent to come out of the situation like this now prevailing.
Otherwise stability will not come in country’s economy that will hamper development. The whole economy might be at risks. However, the GSP suspension will not cause any harm to our economy.
This was the opinion of ACI Executive Director (EC) Syed Alamgir better known in country’s corporate circle as the Bangladeshi Philip Cotler. He has taken the retailing business to an envious position.
Hundred percent ‘Halal’ slogan is his brainchild. He made the Aromatic soap as market leader using this slogan.
Due to this achievement he is called the Philip Cotler of Bangladesh. Even Philip Cotler himself in one of the chapter of his (Cotler) last published book has showered praises for Alamgir.
The great retailer had a wide ranging discussion on Bangladesh’s economy, progress, development and potentialities on Monday last at the Tejgaon office of ACI with Banglanews special correspondent Ahmed Raju.
Syed Alamgir told that Bangladesh economy is not so bad despite political restiveness and crisis. Lot of development work is going on. Bangladesh is going ahead with a systematic progress. He is confident that this pace of development will continue in the coming days.
He told that garments industry is one of our main strength of economy. This is a big sector for earning foreign remittance. This sector is keeping our economy moving forward. A large number of workers are working in this sector. They are contributing lot in our economy.
He mentioned that the suspension of GSP in readymade garments will not create any adverse impact because due to GSP we cannot make any sizeable profit; the buyers extract commission from the range of 10 to 15 percent from the Generalized System Preference (GSP) facilities.
Syed Alamgir continued that our dollar reserve is very much satisfactory reflecting a sound economy.
We need a sound infrastructure for our development. If there is sound infrastructure the country will go ahead with its own generated speed. If the government can arrange communication, water, gas and power then the country will progress at god speed.
He told that our industries and factories are centered within the capital. For this reason our capital is becoming inhabitable gradually. The factories must be shifted outside the capital. Government will have to take up long term plan. Industrial zones shall have to be set up in different regions having good communications with the capital.
He told that government should not only set up good communications with the capital but it will have to arrange other facilities available in the capital like health, education and related others.
Due to the absence of these facilities people rush to the capital making it inhabitable. Whenever these facilities will be available outside the capital people will not rush to Dhaka. Government should think over the matter.
Syed Alamgir gave stress on setting up factories in the district and upazilla levels for creating employment opportunities to reduce the rush towards the capital for employment.
Regarding the consumer products of ACI Syed Alamgir informed that millions of Bangladeshi people are fond of ACI products. He further informed that while he was in Jamuna group he had brought ‘Halal’ soap in the market and became popular among crores of people.
Claiming his products are used by millions he told that ‘I am now working on Atta-flour, iodized salt, mosquito coil and food products.
He added that our product Aerosol and Savlon have occupied 86 percent and 80 percent market share respectively. ACI iodized salt is being consumed by millions. For its quality ACI salt got awards for consecutive three years as the best brand.
Regarding the quality and price he informed that our quality and packing container is world class. We like to feed the consumers of the same quality which myself consume. Regarding the price of the products he said we fix the price considering the purchasing capacity of the consumers.
Recently he was awarded as the best Retail Leader in the Retailer Congress held in Mumbai. In the congress about 250 representatives of 40 countries participated.
Regarding the success of ACI he informed that a man without values has no value. On each table of our office the sermon of values are written in a cubator. We follow six values. These are transparency, idealism, correct weight, correct price and quality of products. Every ACI worker carries their activities following these values.
An optimistic Syed Alamgir informed that the people of Bangladesh is very intelligent, they can turn about in case of any danger. He claimed that this sort of people is not seen anywhere in the world. He wholeheartedly believes that we must one day raise our head with prestige and pride.
In the latest book Principle of Marketing written by globally famous market leader Philip Cotler has profusely praised the quality of marketing by Syed Alamgir and the hundred percent ‘halal’ have been included as Alamgir’s recognition as retailing king. Millions of students of the world will now read it.
Philip has written that how through a slogan a product can be a top seller.
In future he wants to work more for the welfare of the people. Syed Alamgir wants to serve the people and also wants to change their lot.
BDST: 1655 HRS, MAY 14, 2014
