The first namaz-e-janaza of renowned entrepreneur and industrialist Syed Manzur Elahi was held at the premises of East West University in Dhaka 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, officials said.

Later, he would be taken to Gulshan Central (Azad Masjid) Mosque. His second namaz-e-janaza will take place there after the Zohr prayer.

Elahi will be buried at the Banani graveyard in Dhaka beside his wife, Niloufer Manzur.

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

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A lighthouse to businesses

Elahi breathed his last at Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore on Wednesday at 7:30 am Bangladesh time. He was suffering from old-age complications. He was 83.

With his demise, Bangladesh has lost one of its finest industrialists—a man who built not just businesses but institutions, including Apex Footwear, Apex Tannery, Mutual Trust Bank, Pioneer Insurance, Grey Advertising, East West University, Sunbeams School, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Freedom Foundation, and many more, Apex said.

Born on September 26, 1942, in Calcutta, British India, Elahi belonged to a family of legal minds. His father, Sir Syed Nasim Ali, was the Chief Justice of undivided Bengal. While he could have followed the same path, he chose to be an entrepreneur and succeeded.

His illustrious journey was not confined to business alone. He served as an adviser to the caretaker government twice, played a leadership role in various chambers and associations, and contributed to improving the business and regulatory environment.

Tributes poured in from various quarters following his demise.