DHAKA: “The fire could blaze our factory building only, but it could not blaze our confidence,” a self-assured Moshrraf Hossain told Banglanews.

Educated as an engineer, but businessman in profession Mr. Moshrraf Hossain is the managing director Standard Group. Atiqur Rahman, a bosom friend of Mosharraf, is the chairman of the group of industries.

They were class-mate and room-mate in the dormitory of the University of Bangladesh Engineering and Technology- BUET. Now they are friends for 50 years and business partners for 45 years.

Banglanews team talked to Engineer Mosharraf Hossain at their office where they share the same room.

It is rare that both the Chairman and the Managing director of a major industrial group share one room as their office. But they do because they are special.

When Moshrraf Hossain welcomed the Banglanews team, Atiqur Rahman was busy with papers on his table.

“Mosharraf will talk, I have authorized him,” Atiqur threw a single sentence from his table.

“We keep no wall between us,” Moshrraf began. “And due to that we have been maintaining the 50 years of friendship and 45 years of business partnership.”

Discussion got a quick flow as the issue of fire was raised.

On November 28 at 11:30 pm fire caught at the factory building of Standard Group, situated at Zarun area in Konabari of Gazipur district.

The whole night and the next whole day the devastating fire continued. And when the firefighters dowsed it, all three buildings were gutted. All equipments, machineries were burnt while four covered vans among several other vehicles got damaged.

The fire only could blaze our factory building and assets, but it could not shake our confidence. With that confidence the Standard Group will come back again.

“We are now emphasizing, how quick we can bring our workers back to the factory floor. How quick we can pay them wages to ensure livelihood,” said Moshrraf Hossain.

Not me, I would rather prefer our workers to be interviewed. They might give media a better picture about the Standard Group. They will definitely tell you that Standard Group never keeps them in pain. They always get their wages on time. The group takes responsibilities for their treatment and good health. They can also inform, how carefully their kids are raised in the factory day care center, said Moshrraf Hossain.

The statements of Mr Mosharraf were the same to the comments the workers made to Banglanews correspondent on November 29 when the factory building was being burnt. The workers in front of the burning factory were saying, we have no problem, we get wages on time, we are very happy with our owner. It is the outsiders who blazed our factory and our fate.

It was our proud that we could ensure the standard of Standard Group. Every worker is a family member here. And we are together, said Mosharraf Hossain.

The incident of Standard Industrial building was nothing but sabotage, but we dont know whom are involved with this, said Mr. Mosharraf Hossain. We can not even think that some one from the factory was involved. But we are sure that it was a conspiracy.

Sabotage or accident, whatever it is, the law-and-order forces will find it out. At present our priority is to make sure that our workers are back to work and they have started getting wage for their livelihood, said Mosharraf Hossain.

Mr. Mosharraf is thankful to the government as it has extended its hands of cooperation to them. PM came a talked to us, Bangladesh Bank has expressed its desire to cooperate us by giving loan. We are happy with that. We need no donation. Only the thing we need is cooperation.

Bangladesh is a poor country, if there is anything to donate that should go to the poor people. They will get a better life with that, said Mosharraf.

Many friends expressed their desire to give us money so that we can re-build our factory. But with due politeness we have denied all those offers. We want to get loan from central banks and others, and hope we will pay the loan back on time.

What is the base of your such a big confidence? Banglanews asked.

I was raised in a village on the bank of Zamuna. We lost our home in river erosion thrice and I know how to survive in any danger, answered Mosharraf Hossain.

Despite have a highest degree in engineering, Mosharraf Hossain never engaged himself as a service holder. He started doing business when he was in class nine.

But the reason behind his starting RMG business was to provide employment to the poor people from his own locality.

Cash money comes to no help to the poor people. They need job and regular income, so that they can run their family, said an experienced Mosharraf Hossain.

We are yet to get a final calculation of the losses due to blaze at Standard Group Industry Building. We do not know, if it would be possible to restart the factory in the same building. Just give us few months, we will re-structure the whole thing, a confident Mosharraf Hossain said when he was asked about his future plan.

Standard of your work and the strategy are important, and equally important are your honesty and self confidence to make a venture successful, said Engineer Moshrraf Hossain.

How Standard Group maintains work standard at its factory? Banglanews asked.

Workers rights according to the labour laws are ensured, he answered.

Within the first week of a month workers get wages or salary of previous month. They also draw their overtime benefit with monthly wages. They get monthly attendance bonus with two Eid bonuses. Their salary increased on the basis of their skills, capable workers duly get promotions, service benefits are given in the cases of retirement or leaving jobs. They enjoy leave with pay in festival vacations, casual leaves, maternity leaves and all these are provided according to the provisions of labour law.

Besides, in the cases of illness, workers get treatment at factory costs in the factory clinic by the employed physicians and nurses.

Kids of female workers get food, clothing and care at the day care center.

In the case of death of a worker his or her family get at least 3 lakh taka for survival.

Due to all these workers of Standard Group love us, we also love them, said Moshrraf Hossain.

We are a family. In this period of danger we will work together and hope we will overcome, he added.

BDST 1712 HRS, Dec 07, 2013