Akij Group

Introduction:
Akij Group is one of the largest Bangladeshi industrial conglomerates. The industries under this
conglomerate include textiles, tobacco, food & beverage, cement, ceramics, printing and packaging,
pharmaceuticals, consumer products etc. In 2009, Akij Group paid 3731,17,98,728 taka in tax, making it
the biggest local tax-payer, contributing two per cent to this nation's entire budget. Akij also provides
services in healthcare, information and communication technology. Its turnover in 2009 was 89 billion
Taka. In 2018, Akij sold their tobacco division to JTI for a sum of $1.47 billion. It was the biggest ever
single foreign direct investment in Bangladesh.

The Story and success of Akij Uddin (Akij Group):

From zero to peak: The word is easy to say but difficult to show. And that difficult reality was overcome
by the late businessman Sheikh Akij Uddin. The man left the house with only 18 rupees. He was an
established businessman in the society. Owner of thousands of crores of rupees. He believes in the
principle of 'owner will be poor and organization will be rich'. Despite owning so much wealth, he has
worked all his life for the welfare of workers, day laborers and helpless people. He has set up business
organizations, trusts, hospitals and many other social service organizations.

The story of a peddler becoming an industrialist with a capital of only 18 rupees is a fairy tale. Is it ever
possible in reality? Yes, possible. Sheikh Akij Uddin, the founder of Akij Group, is the hero of such a real
story. He was born in 1929 in Madhyadanga village of Fultala police station in Khulna. Her father was
Sheikh Mofizuddin, a small trader, and her mother's name was Matina Begum. Khude Akij, seven or
eight years old, used to sit in a basket of goods hanging on his father's neck. In the other basket were
various vegetables. The peddler took the road with his father and saved his business desire. But the
father's single income. Despite their wishes, Akij did not pay attention to his studies due to poverty.
Going to school is also irregular. He spends some time wandering here and there and playing with his
friends. But no, he never goes back to school. Then, at the age of nine, he became a chocolate and almond
peddler with the help of his mother. That's when it started. He used to take the whole family to a hut. Near
the house is a vast crop field. Then there was Bejerdanga railway station in Khulna. That's where the
small Akij ferry started selling it. Only when a little bit of business knowledge came along did new ideas
come to mind. He left home in 1942 with only 18 rupees from his father. The destination is Kolkata.
Going there, he took shelter at Sealdah railway station. Walking around all day, looking for work and
lying down in a corner of the station at night. His food for the whole day was six paise. Meanwhile, the
money was running out fast and he could not find a suitable job. Then, after much thought, he started the
orange-lemon business. He bought oranges at wholesale prices and started retailing them by ferry around
Howrah Bridge. That's why he had to pay a bribe of two rupees to the police. Then another new business
plan comes to his mind. Itinerant grocery business. But he also had to drop the business after serving
three days in police custody. A few days later, he moved to Peshawar with a Peshawar businessman. He
had to learn Pashto and Hindi for business purposes. Thus two years passed. Then the transition period of
the Second World War was going on. Akij Uddin returned to his parents with a capital of about 10,000
rupees. But happiness did not last long.
Within a short time, both parents died. At that time Akij Uddin was only 19 years old. Couldn't figure out
what to do. Akij Uddin got married and became a housewife. He did not pay attention to his father-in-
law's farming. A friend's father was excited to see Bidhubhushan's bidi business. The idea of making bidis
and selling them comes to mind. In 1952, he went into the bidi business with two workers. In a short time,
the face of profit can be seen. Then Bejerdanga gave a grocery store next to the railway station. In 1954-
55, the amount of investment of the shop was about 60 thousand rupees. Suddenly one night the shop
caught fire. Akij Uddin, who was sleeping, somehow came out from inside the shop but everything was
burnt to ashes. He did not lose his morale even for a moment after losing everything. Started again from
scratch with conviction. Then he started a new shop with the help of his people. This time he started
trading in paddy, jute, rice, molasses and pulses. In all cases his capital was fidelity. Everyone believed in
him without hesitation. In 1960 he moved to Navaran Old Bazaar on the border of Jessore. There he
started a new bidi business. He built a bidi factory. Gradually concentrated on other businesses as well.
He was also a victim of rural manipulation while trying to start a bidi factory in Navaran. It was these
conspiracies that gave him a place in society. Because he was sweet-spoken. Apart from that, he created
job opportunities for the distressed men and women of Navaran. This hardworking people have given him
support. He was a fighter since childhood. The burden of his life began by jumping from one roof of the
train to the other. He was admirable as a manager. Nowhere from business to family was his management
policy paired. Business has given more importance to marketing. In his early life he worked in marketing
himself. In this case, he had some special strategies. The company's products did not reach the affected
areas during natural disasters. But he would call the officials and say the opportunity must be seized.
Even if it costs extra, the product has to be delivered there. It will meet the social responsibility, at the
same time the identity of the Akij brand will increase. Even marketing alone will be possible. He was the
first to introduce product advertising system on radio in Bangladesh. Akij had placed a bidi advertisement
in his car. In the eighties, when the business was Jessore-centric, he appointed a marketing representative.
Before that he has marketed himself in different markets. His policy was ‘Owner should be poor and
organization should be rich’ — he took salary from the company based on this policy. The salaries of
many officers were higher than his salary. Has partnered the children in his business ownership. And he
has kept his share less. He was as unique in innovation as he was in the founding of the business empire,
and was determined in the family of three wives.

Sister projects:
In August 2018, Japan Tobacco acquires Akij's tobacco business for US$1.5 billion.

 Akij Plastics Limited.

 Akij Cables limited.
 Abrar Tours and Travels
 Ad-din Foundation
 Akij Automotive Industry
 Akij Biri Factory Ltd.
 Akij Cement Company Ltd.
 Akij Ceramics Company Ltd.
 Akij Computer Ltd.
 Akij Corporation Limited
 Akij Food & Beverage Ltd.
 Akij Foundation School & College
 Akij Gas Company Ltd.
 Akij Gas Station Ltd.
 Akij Hotel and Resorts
 Akij Institute of Technology
 Akij Jute Mills Ltd.
 Akij Match Factory Ltd.
 Akij Motors
 Akij Particle Board Mills Ltd.
 Akij Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
 Akij Printing & Packaging Ltd
 Akij Real Estate Ltd.
 Akij Securities Ltd.
 Akij Textile Mills Ltd.
 Akij Wildlife Farm Limited
 Akij Zarda Factory Ltd.
 Dhaka Tobacco Industries
 S.A.F Industries Ltd.
 Akij Foundation School and College (Uttara, Manikganj, and Mohammadpur)
 Akij Rice Mill Industry
 Akij Flour Mill Industry
 Akij Ceramics Ltd.
 Akij BIAX Films Limited.
 Akij BAKERS Limited.