Eighteen years ago, a young man from Narayanganj landed in Melbourne with a suitcase full of ambition and just a few hundred dollars to his name. Today, that man – Md Shamim – owns 108 Subway outlets across Australia, ranking him among the franchise's largest global operators.

Subway, one of the biggest fast-food chains in Australia with more than 1,200 stores, is known for its made-to-order sandwiches, salads and wraps.

"I started small," Shamim told The Daily Star during a recent visit to Chattogram for the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025. "My first job was behind the counter at a fast-food shop. I washed dishes, cleaned tables and saved every penny I could."

From those early days, Shamim opened his first Subway outlet in a quiet Melbourne suburb. What followed was a meteoric rise. His business now employs more than 2,000 people and brings in an annual turnover of 120 million Australian dollar (AUD).

Despite the success, one concern continues to trouble him – the limited number of Bangladeshis in his workforce.

"Only 3 percent of my employees are Bangladeshi, just about 60 people," he said. "I seek to hire from my country, but visa issues and a lack of training hold many back."

Now, Shamim is exploring ways to bring Bangladesh into his supply chain.

Each year, his business spends around AUD 30 million on condiments and packaging, with the majority sourced from China.

"Even if a small portion of that supply chain shifts to Bangladesh, it could create jobs, boost exports and help build technical capacity," he said. "And I'm just one player. There are over 12,000 Subway outlets worldwide  and thousands of other food chains with similar needs."

Shamim believes Bangladesh could become a reliable supplier of food-grade packaging, sauces, uniforms and other restaurant essentials, provided the country improves its logistics and regulatory environment.

To explain the nation's untapped potential, he offers a simple example.

"In Bangladesh, we produce a T-shirt for five to six dollars. The same shirt sells for 30 dollars in Australia," he said. "It's not just about margins, it's about realising how undervalued our production capacity truly is."

But low costs alone would not attract international buyers.

"What we do not have are fast, transparent and efficient systems – especially in banking and logistics," he said. One of the major problems, according to Shamim, is the difficulty in transferring money.

"If I send $10,000 through Western Union, it's in my account before I even step out of the car," he said. "But if I go through a Bangladeshi bank, it takes two days  just to see if the transfer works."

These delays may seem minor, but for entrepreneurs, they are deal-breakers.

"As a businessman, time is everything. An hour's delay can mean the difference between closing a deal or missing it altogether," he said. "Bangladesh needs to make life easier for diaspora investors like us."

For Shamim, investing in Bangladesh is more than a business decision, rather it is a personal mission. "I left my parents behind when I went to Australia. My siblings are still in Bangladesh. My heart is still there." 

He often dreams of replicating part of his success back home -- perhaps a packaging facility, a food processing plant, or even a training institute for aspiring hospitality workers.

"But every time I get serious, I am held back by red tape and uncertainty," he said. "I am not asking for subsidies, just smooth operations. Clear policies, efficient banking, better logistics. That's it."

Still, Shamim remains hopeful as he has begun initial talks with Bangladeshi suppliers to assess the viability of sourcing packaging materials locally. He is also exploring joint ventures in food processing with local partners.

"If the right conditions are in place, I am ready to invest in Bangladesh," he said. "And it would not just benefit my businesses, it will create opportunities for many others."

He believes such ventures could generate hundreds of jobs and help position Bangladesh as a trusted global supplier in the food retail sector.

"I am proud to be Bangladeshi. Whatever I have become, my roots are there," he said. "Now it's time to give back, not just in words, but through action."