Sikder Group

Sikder Group is a family-owned Bangladeshi business conglomerate. Zainul Haque Sikder founded the group in the early 1950s, and was its chairman at his death in 2021.[1] His sons, Rick Haque Sikder and Ron Haque Sikder, are directors of the Sikder Group.[2]

History

Sikder Group started as a textile and garment manufacturing company.[3]

In 2010, the US State of California sued the Group's carwash business to the tune of $6.6 million for allegedly exploiting workers.[4]

PowerPac Holdings, a sister concern of the Sikder group, got a contract to build a powerplant from Power Development Board in August 2011.[5]

Its subsidiary PowerPac Ports Limited was given the government contract to operate two jetties in the Port of Mongla in 2016.[6] The same year PowerPac got approval from Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority to operate Mongla Economic Zone in Bagerhat.[7] At the end of 2016, the company's liabilities included about 2,000 crore Bangladeshi taka ($253M as of 2016) spread among three banks.[8]

Sikder Group has also attracted attention from various law enforcement agencies around the world for having ties to criminal activities, including kidnapping, extortion, attempted murder and money laundering.[9]

On 19 May 2020, Exim Bank (Bangladesh) filed a case against the Group at Gulshan Police Station for allegedly shooting at and abducting the managing director and associate managing director of the bank.[10] Following this filing, the main accused in the case, Ron Haque Sikder and Dipu Haque Sikder, fled the country in an air ambulance disguised as patients.[11] Later the duo, Ron Sikder and Dipu Sikder, were acquitted in a court verdict.[12] Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury passed the order after complainant of the case Exim Bank Director Lt Col (retd) Serajul Islam told the court that he had no objection if the court accepted a police final report.[12]

Subsidiaries
  • Sikder Apparel[3]
  • Sikder Creation[3]
  • Sikder Fashion Wear[3]
  • Sikder Apparel Hosiery[3]
  • Sikder Classic Dyeing & Knitting[3]
  • Sikder Computerized Label[3]
  • Sikder Accessories[3]
  • Sikder Salt Industries[3]
  • Sikder Insurance Company Limited[13]
  • Sikder Real Estate Ltd.
  • PowerPac Holdings Ltd.
  • PowerPac Ports[6]
  • PowerPac Economic Zone (Pvt.) Ltd.[13]
  • PowerPac Petroleum Limited[13]
  • PowerPac Steel Mills Limited[13]
  • R&R Holdings[14][15]
  • R&R Aviation[16]
  • Zainul Haque Sikder Women's Medical College[17]
  • Multiplex Holdings Ltd.
  • Bangladesh Post (publication)[1]
  • Ajker Bangladesh Post (Bangla News portal)
  • Bangabandhu Tri Tower (Iconic Tower of Bangladesh)

See also

References
  1. "Industrialist Zainul Haque Sikder dies". New Age. 10 February 2021.
  2. "Zaki wins Sikder Group Independence Day Cup Golf Tournament". The New Nation. UNB. 26 March 2017. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021.
  3. "About Us". sikdergroup.com. Sikder Group of Companies Ltd. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  4. "Carwash owners sued by state for $6.6 million for allegedly exploiting workers". Los Angeles Times. 4 October 2010.
  5. "PDB signs deals for three power plants". The Daily Star. 26 August 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  6. "Sikder Group to partner govt in bringing Mongla Port up to speed". Prothom Alo. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  7. "PowerPac to get licence for Mongla Economic Zone". The Daily Star. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  8. Rahman, Sajjadur (2016-12-23). "Bank directors are good borrowers". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  9. "Sikder family amasses wealth in Las Vegas, other big cities of the world". Prothom Alo. 9 June 2020.
  10. "'I will shoot and cripple you for life' - Sikder Group MD threatens Exim Bank MD". Prothom Alo. 27 May 2020.
  11. "Sikder brothers escape to Thailand by air ambulance from legal charges at home". bdnews24.com. 29 May 2020.
  12. "Sikder Group welcomes court verdict that acquits Ron Sikder and Dipu Sikder". The Independent. Dhaka. 17 August 2021.
  13. Muntasir, Belal (14 October 2019). "5 firms of Sikder Group get land in Mongla Economic Zone". Dhaka Tribune.
  14. "Marriott hotel construction in Bandarban against laws". The Daily Star. 17 November 2020.
  15. "UN experts call for halt to contentious tourism resort in Bangladesh". Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. United Nations. 9 February 2021.
  16. Abdullah, Mamun (29 May 2020). "The dramatic escape by Sikder brothers". Dhaka Tribune.
  17. "Females' dorm remains unused for lack of gas, water". The Daily Star. 24 July 2010. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
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