Bangladeshi Conglomerates
Meghna Group of Industries (MGI) is one of the largest Bangladeshi industrial conglomerates.[4] The industries under this conglomerate include chemicals, cement, consumer products, real estate, insurance, securities, utilities, etc.[5]
History
1970s
Meghna Group traces its origins to Kamal Trading Company, established in 1976 by Mostafa Kamal. But early in the business, poor quality products were seized by customs, jeopardizing his first venture into small-scale imports.
1980s
The company has encountered fluctuations and challenges throughout its journey, experiencing both periods of success and setbacks. But in 1989, The company expanded its business by establishing a subsidiary company Meghna Vegetable Oil Industries Limited. Also in 1980s, the company became "Meghna Group" as a Group of Companies.[6][7]
1990s
In May 1996, the Group made its foray into the financial sector by establishing Bangladesh National Insurance Company Limited (BNIC), with Mostafa Kamal assuming the position of chairman.[8][9]
In 1999, Meghna Group established its another subsidiary company to manufacture small bags, United Fibre Industries Limited.[10]
2000s
In 2001, Meghna Group established United Feeds Limited to produce poultry feed.[11]
In 2002, Meghna Group established an export-oriented WPP bag manufacturing company Tanveer Polymer Industries Limited. To further enhance their Bag manufacturing capabilities, the group added a new plant in 2009, Global AD Star Bag Industries Limited.[10] The group entered into the CNG and Chemical business and established Everest CNG Refueling & Conversion Limited & Tasnim Chemical Complex Limited.[12][13]
2010s
In 2011, Meghna Group founded Meghna Aviation Limited as a helicopter rental service and owns four helicopters.[14][15]
In June 2013, Mr. Kamal bought Ekattor TV's 50% of shares from its founder Mozammel Hossain and entered into the news media business by holding the ownership under Meghna Group.[16][17] Later the Channel recognized as the fifth biggest publisher of fake news in Bangladesh by Rumor Scanner Bangladesh, a fact-checking organization.[18]
In 2016, Meghna Group planned to build a PVC factory in the country's first private economic zone, Meghna Economic Zone.[19][20]
In 2017, The Group launched Sonargaon Steel Fabricate Limited.[21]
In March 2018, Meghna Group announced an investment of 300 million USD in the Meghnaghat Economic Zone to build eight new manufacturing units.[22] At the June of this year, Meghna Sugar Refinery Limited, a sister concern of the Group received an 82 million USD loan from a consortium of German Development Finance Institution, FMO, Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG, and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector.[23] Its factory has 3000 tonnes sugar refine capacity per day.[24]
2020s
In March 2021, The Meghna Group of Industries entered the shipping business by launching two oceangoing vessels, MV Meghna Princess and MV Meghna Adventure, with a carrying capacity of 62,500 tonnes each, further expanding their fleet to a total of eight vessels.[25]
In the August of this year, the Group also entered the ceramic business with the brand Fresh Ceramics under Meghna Ceramic Industries Limited. The group invested around 500 crore taka in building its manufacturing unit at Narayanganj District.[26][27]
In April 2022, Meghna Group initiated to build of its third economic zoneCumilla Economic Zone with an investment of 1.2 billion BDT(1200 Crore taka) in 350 acres of land.[28]
The group also started construction for its manufacturing unit for rice mill and rice bran oil plant at Bogra District under one of its sister concern, Tanveer Foods Limited in this year.[21] And runs its business by storing 2000 metric tons of paddy with its under-construction manufacturing unit. Thus, the foods were seized by the Directorate General of Food at the end of this year.[29]
Its ceramic company Meghna Ceramic Industries Limited became the member of Bangladesh Ceramic Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BCMEA) at the mid of August of this year.[30]
In January 2023, Meghna Group plans to establish another rice mill at Naogaon District with an investment of 7 billion BDT(700 crores Taka).[21] Later in March, Tanveer Foods Limited (TFL) got an investment of 35 million USD from International Finance Corporation (IFC).[31]
In 2023, MGI launched four new oceangoing vessels MV Meghna Victory, MV Meghna Prestige, MV Meghna Hope and MV Meghna Progress, with a carrying capacity of 66000 tonnes each, further expanding their fleet to a total of twenty-two vessels.[32]
৳200 billion