Beximco visit

This weekend we had the pleasure of visiting Beximco Industrial Park, the largest private sector group in Bangladesh. The flagship platform now has operations and investments across a wide range of industries including textiles, trading, marine food, real estate development, hospitality, construction, information and communication technologies, media, ceramics, aviation, pharmaceuticals, financial services and energy. The Group sells its products and services in the domestic Bangladesh market as well as international markets. BEXIMCO is the largest employer in the private sector in Bangladesh and employs over 48,000 people worldwide. The Group’s global clients include some of the world’s best known brands including BT, BASF, Chevron, Calvin Klein, H&M, JC Penney, Macys, Zara, UNICEF, Royal Doulton and Villeroy & Boch.

We drove out to their Gazipur industrial park to take a look around and learn about their huge operation. Fascinating day! We toured their garments factories and also visited their Shinepukur ceramics as well.

Beximco textiles is unique because it is a fully vertically-integrated production. Most Bangladeshi factories purchase their fabric abroad and just assemble the garments here to advantage of the low labor costs. Beximco, on the other hand, starts with just cotton, and does all their own spinning, dying, weaving, and garment assembly.

We saw lots of machine things, that did lots of cool things, from spinning to the weaving to dying and such. Process was highly automated and high-tech with very few people working for them.

National Martyr's Memorial

Located in Savar, the National Martyr's Memorial (Jatiyo Smriti Soudho in Bangla) was built to honor the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Liberation War of 1971. The war gave birth to what is now the country of Bangladesh.

Constructed from concrete, all surrounding paving is red brick and the complex itself is huge. A large body of water reminds you of the reflecting pool in DC, with the graves of many unidentified freedom fighters along the way.

Huge masses come to spend time here. The Memorial is incredibly important to the Bangladeshis, who are extremely proud of it. One will be  deeply moved, finding it a magnificent tribute and representation of the amazing struggle this country had to go through to gain independence. Or at least I was!