Never compromise on ethical business practices and the quality we provide to our customers. It’s the trust we’re trading."
Latifur Rahman
Founder Chairman, Transcom Group
Symbol of Ethics
Recognized globally for his ethical values, coupled with business excellence.
Mr. Latifur Rahman was a towering figure in the Business world of Bangladesh. He was born on the 28th August, 1945 and passed away on the 1st July, 2020, leaving behind a glorious legacy.
He was the Founder Chairman of Transcom Group, which today is one of the largest and most diversified Business Conglomerates of Bangladesh. He remains as the symbol of ethical business and uncompromising business excellence.
Mr. Latifur Rahman’s commitment to ethical business practices has made Bangladesh proud, as he was honored with one of the most prestigious awards, Oslo Business for Peace Award, decided by a jury board consisting of Nobel Laureates, in 2012 by Business for Peace Foundation of Norway. This award recognizes business leaders who have built trust, stability and peace; the ultimate recognition for ethical business.
He had also been honored with the "SAARC Outstanding Leader" award for setting a “rare example” of doing business by upholding moral values while also fulfilling the organization’s social responsibilities. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the UK Bangladesh Catalysts of Commerce and Industry.
Mr. Latifur Rahman started his career in 1966 in his family-owned jute mills in Chandpur, but had to start from scratch because in 1972, the jute mills were nationalized.
1973 marks the beginning of Transcom Group as Mr. Latifur Rahman facilitated Bangladesh’s first international trade in its history. Our Founder Chairman, a young patriot in a newly independent Bangladesh believed in the immense potential of his country and his country’s people.
In the 1980s, Mr. Rahman became the sole importer and distributor of Nestlé products in Bangladesh. In the 1990s, he acquired Smith Kline & French, a US-based MNC, making history yet again as the first acquisition of an MNC’s operations by a Bangladesh business. This acquisition formed Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Ltd, one of the leading Pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh.
Today, Transcom Group has more than 20,000 employees working in its diversified business entities from health care, fast-moving consumer goods, food and beverage, media, electronics, and distribution. Transcom also prides itself on its partnerships with global companies extending across some of the biggest and best blue chips in the world. The group manufactures appliances and white goods for Whirlpool, cosmetics for L’Oreal, and acts as the local partner for others including Frito-Lays, KFC, Pizza Hut, Abbott, and Mars among others.
Mr. Latifur Rahman was a member of the Executive Board of the International Chamber of Commerce-ICC, Paris, Vice President of ICC-Bangladesh and member of the governing body of BRAC, the largest NGO of the world.
He was a member of the Bangladesh Better Business Forum and Advisory Committee on World Trade Organization. He was also one of the longest serving presidents of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka for seven terms and of Bangladesh Employers' Federation. He was also chairman of the Bangladesh government's Trade Body Reforms Committee and a member of Bangladesh Bank's Executive Board.
Mr. Latifur Rahman continues to be an iconic figure in the business world of Bangladesh and respected by business leaders internationally.
His illustrious legacy of ethical business will continue through generations.
Founder Chairman, Mr. Latifur Rahman, passed away on the same day as his grandson Faraaz Hossain, just 4 years later on July 1, 2020.
