Obaidul Karim

Obaidul Karim is a Bangladeshi businessman and the founder and chairman of Orion.[1] He is the president of sporting club Mohammedan SC Limited.[2]

Career

The Orion Group was founded by Obaidul Karim[3] during 1985 when he started with Orion Laboratories Ltd. The Group's early growth was driven organically through operations in pharmaceuticals & LVPs and toiletries & cosmetics. In 1993 Orion acquired the then ailing Kohinoor Chemical Co Ltd,[4] manufacturer of the major line of 'Tibet' brand toiletries and beauty care products. Orion has been a producer in the Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics and Toiletries sectors since 1985 in Bangladesh. More recently, Orion has been focused on Infrastructure Development and Power Generation businesses through major investments and joint ventures. One contribution in the country is the implementation of a 10 km elevated expressway (flyover) in Dhaka.

The Orion Group divides their operations into number of Strategic Business Units with multiple subsidiary companies in Agro Products, Cosmetic & Toiletries,[4] Construction and Allied, Energy Sector, Hospitality Management, Infrastructure Development, Pharma & healthcare, Power Generation, Real Estate, Sports & Events and Textiles & Garments.

Power operations

In December 2011, the Bangladesh Power Development Board announced the signing of three agreements with Orion Group Bangladesh for setting up coal-fired power plants with total capacity of 1,200 megawatt. Orion will build two plants in Khulna and Chittagong with the capacity of 282.67 MW each and one in Munshiganj of 522MW capacity as part of a $1.7 Billion.[5] All three plants will use imported coal to generate electricity. Orion's current HFO fuelled power generation projects of 300MW in the country contribute significantly in mitigating acute power crisis in the country.

Infrastructure

Orion Group's subsidiary companies are completing the Mayor Mohammad Hanif flyover in Dhaka. The dual carriageway flyover includes 11 slip roads or ramps (exit and entries) and will stretch from the Dhaka- Chittagong highway to Palashi. The contract is estimated to be completed by the end of 2014.

City Center

Orion has also developed City Center, a major skyscraper in the Dhaka and the tallest building in the country. The City Center project is a 39-storied commercial complex cum car parking in the business area of Dhaka city set to be the highest building in Dhaka.[6]

Controversy

He "gifted" a luxury SUV to the Harris Chowdhury, personal secretary of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Khaleda Zia for favour in gaining contracts.[7][8] He was charged with corruption by the anti-corruption commission.[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ "Scamster Obaidul Karim gets 5 years". The Daily Star. 13 August 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "Karim urges for unity". The Daily Star. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "Worldfolio Article". Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Kohinoor & Orion". Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  5. ↑ "Orion to build coal-based power plants in pvt sector". The Financial Express. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  6. ↑ "City Center Complex". Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  7. ↑ "Threats, trickery were Harris' tools for ill-gotten gains". The Daily Star. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  8. ↑ Manik, Julfikar Ali; Khan, Sharier. "Harris Chowdhury Another rags to riches story". The Daily Star. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  9. ↑ "Ashraf, Harris Chy, Obaidul Karim charged with bribery". The Daily Star. 15 November 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  10. ↑ "ACC presses charge against Orion chief Obaidul Karim". The Daily Star. 28 August 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2016.

Further reading

  • "Bangladeshi criminals take refuge in Kolkata, say reports". The Hindustan Times. 28 January 2007 – via HighBeam Research. (Subscription required (help)). Awami League leader Shamim Osman, a bank-loan defaulter businessman Obaidul Karim, ward commissioner Chowdhury Alam, and Monowar Hossain Dipjal are among many others who have crossed the border to India since the army-backed interim government took over on January 12.
  • Byron, Rejaul Karim (30 January 2007). "70pc Oriental Bank shares cancelled". The Daily Star.
  • "Orion Group chairman submits wealth statement". The Financial Express. 14 June 2007.
  • "Scamster Obaidul Karim gets 13yrs". The Daily Star. 26 June 2008.
  • "Scamster Obaidul Karim gets 5 years". The Daily Star. 13 August 2008.
  • "Conviction order of seven stayed by HC". The Daily Star. 18 September 2008.
  • "Ex-MP Sayedul, Orion group chairman charge-sheeted". The Financial Express. 22 September 2008.
  • "Orion chief asked to surrender". The Daily Star. 22 January 2009.
  • Sarkar, Ashutosh (29 March 2009). "ACC hamstrung from SC stay". The Daily Star.
  • "HC rejects 1274 graft cases out of 1561". The New Nation. 17 June 2012 – via HighBeam Research. (Subscription required (help)). The persons who were exempted from rigorous imprisonment include ... Obaidul Karim
  • Islam, Jibon (3 October 2015). "Tk 600 cr embezzled from Oriental Bank". The Daily Observer.
  • Islam, Jibon (5 October 2015). "Tk 1000cr industry bought for Tk 7cr !". The Daily Observer.
  • Islam, Jibon (6 October 2015). "The inside story of how City Centre grabbed". The Daily Observer.
  • Islam, Jibon (7 October 2015). "Windfall profit of Tk 5,000cr by investing Tk 116.6cr!". The Daily Observer.
  • Islam, Jibon (8 October 2015). "Faulty construction of Hanif Flyover". The Daily Observer.
  • Islam, Jibon (9 October 2015). "Manipulation in share sales and dividend". The Daily Observer.
  • "Sayedul Hoque, Obaidul Karim acquitted". The Daily Observer. 19 August 2016.
  • "Orion Pharma Ltd". The Wall Street Journal.
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