DHAKA: He was active in student politics. He was associated with ‘Chattra Moitree’ while a student at Rajshahi University. Due to political reason he left Bangladesh for Malaysia in the first quarter of 90’s. And then in Malaysia his fortune was built up. 

He is no one but the Managing Director (MD) of Malindo Air M Rezaul Karim Reza. His political identity is that there he holds the post of general secretary of Malaysian Awami League. But he is more known in the Bangladeshi community as the Reza Bhai of Malindo. Recently he met with Banglanews at his Kakrail residence of Dhaka.

While at Rajshahi University he had to be involved with the conflicts of Chhatra Shibir as activist of left oriented Chhatra Moitree and after that he faced lot of hassles during BNP rule and finally left the country. 

In 1994 he reached the South-East Asian country Malaysia. Initially he traveled Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and different corners without a specific purpose or work. 

After a year he was employed in a Japanese company. However he lost the job after 3 months 22 days when the Japanese company regretted that they will not issue visa on a Bangladeshi passport. 

Then he started struggle for doing business gradually.

In 1995 he imported knitwear garments from Bangladesh. Local businessmen purchased those knitwear products with a handsome price that helped him make a good profit. Simultaneously he got orders for human resources in the various Malaysian companies. After this he did not look behind. 

He got married in Jessore district in 2006. His elder son Jarjis was born in Malaysia who is now 8 years old while the younger Jawad is now 5.

Reza hails from Magura district and is the eldest among three sons and two sisters being their father a seasonal trader. After the birth of the younger son Reza passes most of the time at Dhaka. 

He had least experience in aviation business. Despite that he in 2008 signed an agreement with Air Asia to do business with Bangladesh. Finally the agreement did not last resulting the termination of business of Air Asia in Bangladesh. 

In 2013 he came in contact with a new airlines Malindo Air and finally he was employed in the new place the Chief executive officer of Malindo was once served in Air Asia. 

Reza told that actually I had little idea about aviation but finally Malindo started flight to Dhaka from Malaysia due to my personal initiatives. 

On July 28 of 2013 Malindo was formally launched in function held at hotel Rupashi Bangla. The CEO of Malindo Air Chandan Rama Murti was present on the occasion. From that day Malindo started flight of Dhaka-Kualalumpur route. The Indian route began operation on November 10. 

After the Malaysia-Indonesia route Dhaka was the first place in its International route. 

Regarding traveling in Malindo Air this GSA told that various airlines were running in Dhaka-KL route on exorbitant high fare. But after Malindo got in the return fare is not exceeding Taka 60 thousand. We are the first to take initiative to reduce the fair. 

Besides that we sell mostly return tickets. The tourists now like to travel in Malindo. Because we have arranged enough space inside the aircraft by reducing the seat capacity from 200 to 160 so that the passengers feel comfort in journey. There are arrangements of in-flight entertainment. 

The Dhaka-KL flight of Malindo supplies heavy food. 

Earlier light food was supplied. I pointed out to the authority that many passengers come from remote areas and have to wait at airport for a long time and then take four hours journey so light food is not enough. Accordingly arrangements were made for heavy food. 

Lastly we again bogged on political discussion. Regarding the politics of Awami League he said that we had work hard to establish the politics of pro-liberation forces in Malaysia. I had to collect workers going around different areas of Malaysia. We passed a bad time once. I utilized my own experience to become successful in politics. 

Reza informed that on July 25 of 2003 the Malaysian Awami League committee was approved in Dhaka and that committee is still working. During 1/11 there was a ban on Bangladeshis to do politics in foreign land. However in 2010 when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had visited Malaysia She attended our meeting. 

Regarding his joining with Awami League politics by a left political belief he said that my family also believes in the spirit of liberation war. As there is no platform of left politics in Malaysia so naturally I had to select pro-liberation force Awami League as my platform. I have set up proximity and closeness with Awami League leaders. 

On next November 2 PM Sheikh Hasina will go to Malaysia. Rezaul Karim Reza is now passing a busy time in connection with that visit. 

BDST: 1604 HRS, NOV 13, 2014