Unique Group
{{Short description|Bangladeshi company}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Unique Group
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| formation = 1983
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| headquarters = Dhaka, Bangladesh
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| region_served = Bangladesh
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| language = Bengali
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| revenue = {{increase }}US$22.53 million
| website = {{URL|http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/}}
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Unique Group ({{Langx|bn|ইউনিক গ্রুপ}}) is a Bangladeshi diversified conglomerate based in Dhaka.{{Cite news |date=12 March 2017|title=Big business groups not tempted by stockmarket|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/big-business-groups-not-tempted-stockmarket-1374553|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}} Salina Ali is the chairperson and Mohammad Noor Ali is the managing director of Unique Group.{{Cite web|title=Management|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/Management.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=}}
History
Unique Group started business in the 1983 by Mohammad Noor Ali.{{Cite web|title=About Unique Group|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/Aboutug.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Unique Group}}{{Cite web|title=Star Infrastructure Development Consortium Limited|url=https://www.starconsortiumbd.com/noor_ali.php|access-date=9 May 2021|website=}} It started as an exporter of labour from Bangladesh.{{Cite news |script-title=bn:ব্যবসায়িক চাপের মুখে ইউনিক গ্রুপ|url=https://bonikbarta.net/home/news_description/251323/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%96%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%AA-|access-date=9 May 2021|work=Bonik Barta|language=bn}}
Unique Group established Borak Travels (Pvt) Limited in 1983. It represents Aeroflot Russian Airlines and Asiana Airlines. It also operates chartered flights between Bangladesh and South Korea.{{Cite web|title=Tours and Travels|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/ToursAndTravels.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Unique Group}}
In 1991, Unique group founded Unique Tours and Travels.{{Cite web|title=Unique tours|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/UniqueToursAndTravels.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Unique Board}}
Unique group established Unique Ceramic Industries Limited in 1995 with technical support from China.{{Cite web|title=Ceramic|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/Ceramic.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Unique Group}} It also established Freight Management Limited in 1995.
In 1999, Unique Group launched Unique Vocational Training Center Limited with support from Board of Investment and Building and Construction Authority of Singapore.{{Cite web|title=Vocation Training Centre|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/VocationTraingCenter.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Unique Group}}
Unique Group through its subsidiary, Unique Hotel & Resorts Limited, launched The Westin Dhaka in November 2000.{{Cite web|title=Hotels and Resorts|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/HotelAndResorts.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Unique Group}}
In 2007, Noor Ali was nominated by Awami League to contest the Bangladesh General Election on 22 January 2007 before it was cancelled. He then filed a 50 million extortion case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Helal, and Helal's wife Rupa Chowdhury over the contracts for three power plants in 1997 awarded to Unique Group. He withdrew the case and apologized publicly in December 2008 at a rally in Nawabganj Pilot High School. He alleged a "vested quarter" filed the case in his name. The rally was for the general elections to Dhaka-1 constituency and Sheikh Hasina was present there.{{Cite news |date=26 December 2008|title=Noor Ali sorry for 'unintended' act|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-68798|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}
On 21 August 2008, charges were framed against Mohammad Noor Ali, managing director of Unique Group, over alleged graft in the purchase of MiG-29 for Bangladesh Air Force. The other accused in the case are former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Chief of Air Staff Jamal Uddin Ahmed, retired Air Commodore Mirza Akhter Maruf, and retired joint secretary Mohammad Hossain Serniabat.{{Cite news |date=21 August 2008|title=MiG-29 corruption case goes to trial|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-51239|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}} All the accused were acquitted in the verdict on the case on 2 June 2011.{{Cite news |date=2 June 2011|title=5 acquitted in MiG-29 graft case|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-188294|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}
Unique Group announced plans to build five more luxurious hotels in Dhaka under Starwood brands.{{Cite news |date=9 March 2010|title=More five-star hotels planned|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-129250|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}} It signed an agreement with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide on 10 March 2010 to establish three hotels in Dhaka.{{Cite news |date=10 March 2010|title=Deal signed on three five-star hotels|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-129427|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}} Beximco group bought 5 percent stake in Unique Hotels and Resorts on 17 June 2010 for 1.6 billion taka.{{Cite news |date=17 June 2010|title=Beximco invests Tk 160cr in Westin|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-143067|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}} In April 2010, Noor Ali was elected Chairperson of Eastern Bank Limited.{{Cite news |date=5 April 2010|title=New chairman for EBL|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-132988|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}
Unique Group received permission from Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority to establish a private economic zone in Narayanganj District on 25 August 2016.{{Cite news |date=25 June 2016|title=Unique gets primary licence to set up economic zone|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/unique-gets-primary-licence-set-economic-zone-1274941|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}} Unique Group allegedly filled up agricultural land with sand in an effort to develop the site for the economic zone affecting 12 thousand farmers in the area and in violation of a 2004 order from Bangladesh High Court.{{Cite news |date=1 March 2018|title=Sonargaon Economic Zone: Injunction there, so is violation|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/sonargaon-economic-zone-injunction-there-so-violation-1541686|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}{{Cite news |date=16 January 2017|title=Dumping sand on farmland|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/dumping-sand-farmland-1345942|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}
Unique Group is a member of Star Infrastructure Development Consortium which signed Kunming Iron and Steel Holding Company of China to build a US$3.5 billion steel plant in Moheshkhali on 16 August 2018.{{Cite news |date=16 August 2018|title=Mega steel plant in the works|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/business/mega-steel-plant-the-works-1621420|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}
On 25 July 2019, Unique Meghnaghat Power, a subsidiary of Unique group, signed agreements with Bangladesh Power Development Board, Power Grid Company of Bangladesh, and Titas Gas to establish a 584 megawatts power plant at Meghnaghat, Sonargaon Upazila, Narayanganj District. The plant would be powered by natural gas and would be the largest combined cycle power plant built in Bangladesh.{{Cite news |date=25 July 2019|title=Unique Meghnaghat to build 584MW plant|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/unique-meghnaghat-build-584mw-plant-1776601|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}} General Electric had joined as an equity investor in July 2018 for the powerplant in Narayanganj.{{Cite news |date=5 July 2018|title=GE flying high in Bangladesh|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/ge-flying-high-bangladesh-1600342|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}} Bangladesh Supreme Court, Appellate Division issued a ruling against Unique Group and ordered it to stop filling land in Sonargaon Upazila with sand on 16 August 2018.{{Cite news |date=16 August 2018|title=Sonargaon Farmland: SC rules against earth filling|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/backpage/sonargaon-farmland-sc-rules-against-earth-filling-1621504|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}
Bangladesh High Court observed on 3 December 2020 that two subsidiaries of Unique Group, Unique Property Development Limited and Sonargaon Economic Zone, were illegally filling up wetland and water bodies near the banks of Meghna River in Sonargaon upazila, Narayanganj District.{{Cite news |date=3 December 2020|title=Sonargaon Resort, Economic Zone: HC raps 2 firms for grabbing wetlands|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/sonargaon-resort-economic-zone-earth-filling-2-companies-illegal-2004805|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}
On 30 November 2020, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka, Asaduzzaman Noor, issued arrest warrants against Unique Group Chairperson Salina Ali and her husband and managing director of Unique Group Mohammad Noor Ali. The warrants were issued on a case filed by Selim Ahmed who is the chairperson of Jalal Ahmed Spinning Mill and Shah Fateullah Textile Mills on 24 February 2019 following a dispute over the registration of an apartment in Unique Heights building in Paribag, Dhaka. The building was built by Borak Real Estate, a subsidiary of Unique Group. The case was investigated by Police Bureau of Investigation who filed charges against the two.{{Cite news |title=Court issues arrest order for Unique Group boss Noor Ali, wife|url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2020/11/30/court-issues-arrest-order-for-unique-group-boss-noor-ali-wife|access-date=9 May 2021|work=bdnews24.com}} They two were granted bail by magistrate Asaduzzaman Noor on 1 December 2020.{{Cite news |date=1 December 2020|title=Unique Group MD, wife get bail in fraud case|url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/court/2020/12/01/unique-group-md-wife-get-bail-in-fraud-case|access-date=9 May 2021|work=Dhaka Tribune}}{{Cite news |script-title=bn:ইউনিক গ্রুপের এমডি নূর আলী ও তার স্ত্রীর জামিন|url=https://www.banglatribune.com/655271/%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%82%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8|access-date=9 May 2021|work=Bangla Tribune|language=bn}}
In December 2020, the group suffered from decreased cash flow due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh decreasing business in the hospitality industry. There were also legal complications over its Sheraton Dhaka project which was being constructed on top of Banani DNCC-Unique Complex owned by Dhaka North City Corporation.
In April 2021, Unique Group Divested from Dubai-based Nebras Power Investment Management B.V. and sold its stake for US$24.06 million.{{Cite news |date=19 April 2021|title=Unique Power selling stakes to Qatari company|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/unique-power-selling-stakes-qatari-company-2079889|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}
Businesses
- Unique Hotel and Resorts Limited (The Westin Dhaka, Westin Serviced Apartments, St. Regis, Sheraton Dhaka, and Hyatt Centric.)
- Borak Real Estate{{Cite web|title=Real Estate|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/RealEstate.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Unique Group}}
- Unique Meghnaghat Power Limited{{Cite web|title=Power Plant|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/PowerPlant.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Unique Group}}
- Unique Eastern (Pvt.) Limited{{Cite web|title=Unique Eastern|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/UniqueEastern.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Unique Group}}
- Unique Vocational Training Center Limited
- Tribeni International Limited{{Cite web|title=Tribeni International|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/TribeniInternational.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Unique Group}}
- Sonargaon Economic Zone Limited{{Cite web|title=Economic Zone|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/EconomicZone.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Unique Group}}
- Update Institute, Hotel Management Institute.{{Cite web|title=Unique Group|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/Education.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Unique Group}}
- HANSA Management Limited{{Cite web|title=Facility Management|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/FacilityManagement.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Unique Group}}
- Unique Share Management Limited{{Cite web|title=Share Management|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/ShareManagement.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Unique Group}}
- Unique Ceramic Industries Limited
- Borak Travels (Pvt) Limited
- Challenger Travels & Tours Limited
- Unique Tours and Travels
- Freight Management Limited
- Amader Shomoy{{Cite web|title=Newspaper Media|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/NewspaperMedia.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Unique Group}}
- Gulshan Clinic Limited{{Cite web|title=Gulshan Clinic|url=http://www.uniquegroupbd.com/GulshanClinic.html|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Unique Group}}
- Daily Adhinayok{{Cite news |date=22 August 2010|title=Rejoinder, our reply|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-151730|access-date=9 May 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}