Anwar Group of Industries

Anwar Group of Industries is a diversified Bangladeshi business group based in Dhaka. Its recorded origins reach back to 1834, when Lakku Mia established a hides and skins business in British India. Over time, the enterprise developed from that commercial foundation into a multi-sector group with activities in manufacturing, industrial materials, consumer products, financial services, real estate, and automotive distribution. The group’s industrial portfolio includes galvanized iron fittings, steel products, cement and cement sheets, jute and textile products, furniture and home décor, and related manufacturing operations. Anwar Galvanizing Limited began production in 1985 and is described in the group’s reference material as the first Bangladeshi company to manufacture galvanized iron fittings. Other industrial subsidiaries include Anwar Ispat, Anwar Cement, Anwar Cement Sheet, Anwar Textile, Anwar Silk Mills, Mahmud Industries, Hossain Dyeing & Printing Mills, A1 Polymer, and the Anwar Jute Division. The group also maintains a financial-services presence through businesses associated with insurance, investment, securities, and capital-market activities. Its listed group companies and affiliates include Bangladesh Finance and Investment Company, BD Finance Capital Holdings, BD Securities, City Insurance Company, and City General Insurance. Real-estate and infrastructure activities are represented by Anwar Landmark and Anwar Infrastructure. Automotive distribution became a visible part of the group’s portfolio in the late 2000s. In June 2009, AG Automobiles became an official Ford partner in Bangladesh and opened a Ford showroom in Uttara. In December 2021, Toledo Motors became an authorized Jeep partner in Bangladesh and launched a showroom in the same area. These arrangements positioned the group in vehicle sales and brand representation in addition to its manufacturing businesses. The group is described as comprising 18 subsidiaries, although the available article material does not provide a complete corporate chart or sufficiently detailed information about ownership, financial scale, revenue, employee numbers, or the legal relationships among all listed entities. Its management history includes Hossain Akhtar as the group’s first chairman and Anwar Hossain as a later chairman. Following Anwar Hossain’s death on 17 August 2021, his son Manwar Hossain, who had previously served as managing director, became chairman on 14 September 2021. Publicly documented strategic activity includes plans announced by Anwar Cement in 2015 to increase cement-sheet sales from BDT 1 billion to BDT 2.5 billion, as well as a 2021 agreement involving BD Finance and Sovereign Infrastructure Group. Anwar Galvanizing also announced a production-expansion project in 2021. The available sources do not establish whether all announced targets were achieved. Accordingly, Anwar Group is best characterized as a long-established Bangladeshi family-linked conglomerate whose identity rests on broad domestic diversification rather than on a single consumer-facing product brand.

Anwar Group of Industries traces its recorded origins to 1834, when Lakku Mia founded a hides and skins business in British India. The enterprise later developed into a Bangladeshi family-linked business group, although the available reference does not provide a continuous account of ownership, legal restructuring, or subsidiary formation across the intervening period. Hossain Akhtar is identified as the group’s first chairman. The group’s documented industrial expansion includes the establishment of Anwar Galvanizing Limited’s production operations in 1985. The company manufactured galvanized iron fittings and is described by the reference as the first Bangladeshi producer of those products. This activity became part of a broader manufacturing portfolio involving steel, cement, cement sheets, polymer products, jute, textiles, silk, dyeing and printing, furniture, and home décor. By the period covered by the article, Anwar Group had become a conglomerate with 18 subsidiaries or affiliated operating companies. Its sectors included consumer goods, steel, cement, textiles, finance, real estate, infrastructure, and automotive distribution. The financial-services side included Bangladesh Finance and Investment Company, BD Finance Capital Holdings, BD Securities, City Insurance Company, and City General Insurance. Anwar Landmark and Anwar Infrastructure represented the property and infrastructure businesses. Automotive distribution added an international-brand partnership to the group’s industrial base. In June 2009, AG Automobiles became Ford’s official partner in Bangladesh and launched a Ford showroom in Uttara. In December 2021, Toledo Motors became an official Jeep partner and opened a Jeep showroom, also in Uttara. The sources identify these dealership arrangements but do not provide reliable data on sales, market share, showroom networks, or the continuing status of the partnerships. The group announced several development plans. In 2015, Anwar Cement stated that it intended to more than double cement-sheet sales, from BDT 1 billion to BDT 2.5 billion. In April 2021, BD Finance signed an agreement with Sovereign Infrastructure Group, while Anwar Galvanizing announced a plan to double production through a stated investment project. The available material does not establish the final value of the investment or whether the announced operating targets were completed, so these events are recorded as plans rather than verified outcomes. Leadership changed in 2021. Anwar Hossain, who had served as chairman, died on 17 August. His son Manwar Hossain, previously the managing director, became chairman on 14 September. The group therefore retained a family-business leadership pattern in the documented succession. Beyond these events, the accessible references do not reliably establish a detailed chronology of acquisitions, divestments, financial performance, international expansion, or current governance. The group’s historical profile is consequently that of a long-established Bangladeshi enterprise that expanded from hides and skins into a broad domestic conglomerate.

1. 2021Financial agreement and production-expansion plans

   BD Finance signed an agreement with Sovereign Infrastructure Group, while Anwar Galvanizing announced a plan to double production.

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2. 2021Chairmanship succession

   Manwar Hossain succeeded his late father, Anwar Hossain, as chairman.

   Source
3. 2021Jeep partnership

   Toledo Motors became an official Jeep partner in Bangladesh and launched a showroom in Uttara.

   Source
4. 2015Cement-sheet sales expansion plan

   Anwar Cement announced a plan to increase cement-sheet sales from BDT 1 billion to BDT 2.5 billion.

   Source
5. 2009Ford partnership and showroom launch

   AG Automobiles became Ford’s official partner in Bangladesh and launched a showroom in Uttara.

   Source
6. 1985Anwar Galvanizing began production

   Anwar Galvanizing Limited started manufacturing galvanized iron fittings in Bangladesh.

   Source
7. 1834Hides and skins business founded

   Lakku Mia founded the hides and skins business that is identified as the origin of Anwar Group of Industries.

   Source

A long-established Bangladeshi diversified industrial and commercial group with a family-business heritage and operations across manufacturing, finance, property, and automotive distribution.

• Anwar GalvanizingIndustrial metals1985

  Anwar Galvanizing manufactures galvanized iron fittings. Its production began in 1985, and the reference material characterizes it as the first Bangladeshi company to make galvanized iron fittings. The company is part of the group’s industrial-materials portfolio and later announced a plan to expand production.

• Anwar IspatSteel

  Anwar Ispat is the group’s steel-focused operating company. The available reference identifies it as part of the conglomerate’s steel business but does not provide a detailed product catalogue, production capacity, brands, or distribution footprint.

• Anwar Cement and Anwar Cement SheetConstruction materials

  These businesses represent the group’s cement and cement-sheet activities. Anwar Cement announced a plan in 2015 to increase cement-sheet sales substantially. The source does not specify the full range of products, manufacturing locations, or the eventual outcome of that plan.

• Anwar Textile and related textile businessesTextiles

  The textile portfolio includes Anwar Textile, Anwar Silk Mills, Mahmud Industries, and Hossain Dyeing & Printing Mills. Together, the listed companies indicate activities in textile manufacturing, silk production, dyeing, and printing, although the available source does not provide detailed product specifications or brand-level positioning.

• AG AutomobilesAutomotive distribution2009

  AG Automobiles is the group’s automotive business associated with Ford distribution in Bangladesh. It became Ford’s official partner in June 2009 and launched a Ford showroom in Uttara. The available source does not establish the current scope of the partnership or the number of dealerships operated.

• Toledo MotorsAutomotive distribution2021

  Toledo Motors is an automotive company associated with the group and became an official Jeep partner in Bangladesh in December 2021. It launched a Jeep showroom in Uttara. Further information about its model range, service network, and current commercial arrangements is not established by the supplied reference.

• A1 PolymerConsumer and industrial goods

  A1 Polymer is listed among Anwar Group’s consumer-goods businesses. The supplied material confirms its inclusion in the group but does not describe its specific polymer products, manufacturing processes, brands, or markets.

• Athena’s Furniture & Home DécorFurniture and home décor

  Athena’s Furniture & Home Décor represents the group’s consumer-facing furniture and household-decoration activity. The reference provides the business name and category but not a detailed account of its product ranges, stores, design approach, or distribution channels.

• Financial-services businessesFinance and insurance

  The group’s financial-services interests include Bangladesh Finance and Investment Company, BD Finance Capital Holdings, BD Securities, City Insurance Company, and City General Insurance. These entities indicate involvement in investment, securities, capital-market, and insurance services, but the supplied source does not define their ownership structure or individual operating results.

• 2021BD Finance infrastructure agreementStrategy

  BD Finance pursued an agreement with Sovereign Infrastructure Group.

  What changed. The parties signed an agreement at the Bangladesh Embassy in the United States.

  Aftermath. No further implementation details or commercial results are established in the supplied material.

  Source
• 2021Anwar Galvanizing production-expansion planStrategy

  Anwar Galvanizing announced an expansion project intended to increase manufacturing output.

  What changed. The company announced plans to double production through investment in the project.

  Aftermath. The available source does not reliably establish the final investment amount or whether the production target was achieved.

  Source
• 2021Jeep dealership launchProduct launch

  Toledo Motors entered an official Jeep partnership in Bangladesh.

  What changed. Toledo Motors launched a Jeep showroom in Uttara.

  Aftermath. The source confirms the partnership and showroom launch but provides no verified information about later operations.

  Source
• 2015Cement-sheet sales expansion targetStrategy

  Anwar Cement identified cement sheets as an area for substantial sales growth.

  What changed. The company announced a plan to raise sales from BDT 1 billion to BDT 2.5 billion.

  Aftermath. The supplied reference does not verify whether the announced sales target was reached.

  Cement-sheet sales target. BDT 1 billion → BDT 2.5 billion (2015 announcement; outcome not established)

  Source
• 2009Ford dealership launch in BangladeshProduct launch

  AG Automobiles entered an official partnership with Ford Motor Company in Bangladesh.

  What changed. AG Automobiles launched a Ford showroom in Uttara.

  Aftermath. The source records the partnership and showroom opening but does not provide verified information on subsequent sales or network expansion.

  Source

• 2021BD Finance signed an agreement with Sovereign Infrastructure Group

  BD Finance of Anwar Group signed an agreement with Sovereign Infrastructure Group at the Bangladesh Embassy in the United States.

  M&A
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• 2021Anwar Hossain died and Manwar Hossain became chairman

  After Anwar Hossain died on 17 August, his son Manwar Hossain succeeded him as chairman on 14 September. Manwar had previously been the group’s managing director.

  Leadership change
  Source
• 2021Toledo Motors became a Jeep partner in Bangladesh

  Toledo Motors Limited became an official Jeep partner in Bangladesh and opened a Jeep showroom in Uttara.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2015Anwar Cement announced a cement-sheet sales expansion plan

  Anwar Cement announced plans to increase cement-sheet sales from BDT 1 billion to BDT 2.5 billion. The available source does not confirm whether the target was achieved.

  Pricing
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• 2009AG Automobiles became a Ford partner in Bangladesh

  AG Automobiles became an official partner of Ford Motor Company in Bangladesh and opened the first Ford showroom in Uttara.

  M&AProduct launch
  Source
• 1985Anwar Galvanizing began production of galvanized iron fittings

  Anwar Galvanizing Limited started production of galvanized iron fittings and was identified in the reference material as the first company in Bangladesh to manufacture them.

  Product launchOther
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1. Anwar Group of Industries