Sikder Group
{{short description|Bangladeshi Business 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.{{cite news |title=Industrialist Zainul Haque Sikder dies |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/129786/industrialist-zainul-haque-sikder-dies |work=New Age |date=10 February 2021}} His sons, Rick Haque Sikder and Ron Haque Sikder, are directors of the Sikder Group.{{cite news |title=Zaki wins Sikder Group Independence Day Cup Golf Tournament |url=http://www.thedailynewnation.com/news/128716/zaki-wins-sikder-group-independence-day-cup-golf-tournament |work=The New Nation |agency=UNB |date=26 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328044213/http://www.thedailynewnation.com/news/128716/zaki-wins-sikder-group-independence-day-cup-golf-tournament |archive-date=28 March 2021}}
{{Infobox company
| logo =
| logo_caption =
| type = Private
| founded = {{start date|1950}}
| founder = Zainul Haque Sikder
| hq_location_city = Dhaka
| hq_location_country = Bangladesh
| owner = Rick Haque Sikder
}}
History
Sikder Group started as a textile and garment manufacturing company.{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.sikdergroup.com/about-us/|website=sikdergroup.com|publisher=Sikder Group of Companies Ltd.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230124449/http://www.sikdergroup.com:80/about-us/|archive-date=30 December 2017|access-date=17 December 2017}}
In 2010, the US State of California sued the Group's carwash business for $6.6 million for allegedly exploiting workers.{{cite news |date=4 October 2010 |title=Carwash owners sued by state for $6.6 million for allegedly exploiting workers |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/10/state-prosecutors-filed-a-multi-million-dollar-lawsuit-monday-against-the-family-that-owns-celebrity-favorite-koi-restaurant.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323121231/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/10/state-prosecutors-filed-a-multi-million-dollar-lawsuit-monday-against-the-family-that-owns-celebrity-favorite-koi-restaurant.html|archive-date=23 March 2015}}
PowerPac Holdings, a sister concern of the Sikder group, got a contract to build a powerplant from Power Development Board in August 2011.{{cite news|title=PDB signs deals for three power plants|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-200245|work=The Daily Star|date=26 August 2011|access-date=17 December 2017|language=en}}
Its subsidiary PowerPac Ports Limited was given the government contract to operate two jetties in the Port of Mongla in 2016.{{cite news|title=Sikder Group to partner govt in bringing Mongla Port up to speed|url=http://en.prothom-alo.com/economy/news/117449/Sikder-Group-to-partner-govt-in-bringing-Mongla|work=Prothom Alo|access-date=17 December 2017}} The same year PowerPac got approval from Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority to operate Mongla Economic Zone in Bagerhat.{{cite news |title=PowerPac to get licence for Mongla Economic Zone |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/business/powerpac-get-licence-mongla-economic-zone-659845 |work=The Daily Star |date=24 February 2016|access-date=17 December 2017}} At the end of 2016, the company's liabilities included about 2,000 crore Bangladeshi taka ($253M as of 2016) spread among three banks.{{Cite news |last=Rahman |first=Sajjadur |date=2016-12-23 |title=Bank directors are good borrowers |work=The Daily Star |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/bank-directors-are-good-borrowers-1334212 |access-date=2020-06-29}}
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.{{cite news |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/crime-and-law/sikder-family-amasses-wealth-in-las-vegas-and-other-big-cities-of-the-world |title=Sikder family amasses wealth in Las Vegas, other big cities of the world |work=Prothom Alo |date=9 June 2020}}
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.{{cite news |date=27 May 2020 |title=‘I will shoot and cripple you for life’ - Sikder Group MD threatens Exim Bank MD |work=Prothom Alo |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/crime-and-law/i-will-shoot-you-and-cripple-you-for-life-sikder-group-md-threatens-exim-bank-md}} 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.{{cite news |date=29 May 2020 |title=Sikder brothers escape to Thailand by air ambulance from legal charges at home |work=bdnews24.com |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2020/05/29/sikder-brothers-escape-to-thailand-by-air-ambulance-from-legal-charges-at-home}} Later the duo, Ron Sikder and Dipu Sikder, were acquitted in a court verdict.{{cite news |date=17 August 2021 |title=Sikder Group welcomes court verdict that acquits Ron Sikder and Dipu Sikder |work=The Independent |location=Dhaka |url=https://m.theindependentbd.com/post/266856}} 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.
Subsidiaries
{{columns-list|
- Sikder Apparel
- Sikder Creation
- Sikder Fashion Wear
- Sikder Apparel Hosiery
- Sikder Classic Dyeing & Knitting
- Sikder Computerized Label
- Sikder Accessories
- Sikder Salt Industries
- Sikder Insurance Company Limited{{cite news |last1=Muntasir |first1=Belal |title=5 firms of Sikder Group get land in Mongla Economic Zone |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2019/10/14/5-firms-of-sikder-group-get-land-in-mongla-economic-zone |work=Dhaka Tribune |date=14 October 2019}}
- Sikder Real Estate Ltd.
- PowerPac Holdings Ltd.
- PowerPac Ports
- PowerPac Economic Zone (Pvt.) Ltd.
- PowerPac Petroleum Limited
- PowerPac Steel Mills Limited
- R&R Holdings{{cite news |title=Marriott hotel construction in Bandarban against laws |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/news/marriott-hotel-construction-illegal-bandarban-1996145 |work=The Daily Star |date=17 November 2020}}{{cite web |title=UN experts call for halt to contentious tourism resort in Bangladesh |url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26733&LangID=E |date=9 February 2021 |website=Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights |publisher=United Nations}}
- R&R Aviation{{cite news |last1=Abdullah |first1=Mamun |title=The dramatic escape by Sikder brothers |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2020/05/29/dramatic-escape-by-sikder-brothers-authorities-unaware-of-passengers-id-in-the-flight |work=Dhaka Tribune |date=29 May 2020}}
- Zainul Haque Sikder Women's Medical College{{cite news |title=Females' dorm remains unused for lack of gas, water |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-148005 |work=The Daily Star |date=24 July 2010 |access-date=17 December 2017 |language=en}}
- Multiplex Holdings Ltd.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
- Bangladesh Post (publication)
- Ajker Bangladesh Post (Bangla News portal){{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
- Bangabandhu Tri Tower (Iconic Tower of Bangladesh){{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
}}