Confidence Group

Confidence Group, formally referred to as Confidence Group of Companies Limited, is a Bangladeshi industrial conglomerate whose activities include cement manufacturing, power generation, infrastructure materials, batteries, telecommunications, steel-related exports, and other engineering-linked businesses. The group traces its beginning to 1991, when Confidence Cement Limited was established by Kazi Shahidul Islam, Khurshid Anwar, Rezaul Karim, and Rupam Kishore Barua. Cement was the group's initial operating base, and Confidence Cement later became a company listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange. The group expanded beyond cement during the 2000s. Confidence Power was established in 2000, marking the development of an electricity-generation business. In 2002, Confidence Group entered into a partnership with Asian Paints to establish Asian Paints Bangladesh Limited, extending its activities into the coatings market. The group subsequently participated in power-sector development projects involving Bangladesh Power Development Board and other partners. In 2011, it signed an agreement to develop an oil-based power plant in Chittagong in partnership with Rurelec PLC Limited and Energypac Power Generation Limited. The company's reported business portfolio has included Confidence Cement, ready-mix concrete, infrastructure products, steel exports, batteries, power-generation companies, oil and shipping, telecommunications, and the Asian Paints Bangladesh joint venture. Its infrastructure activities include the production of spun prestressed concrete poles and, later, geotextile products. Confidence Infrastructure Limited established a geotextile plant in Narayanganj District in June 2022. The group has also been associated with several power-generation entities, including businesses connected with projects in Bogura, Rangpur, and Chittagong. Confidence Group has maintained a visible role in Bangladesh's industrial and utility sectors, particularly in construction materials and electricity generation. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh, the group participated in relief and public-health support through the Bangladesh Independent Power Producers Association. This assistance included distributing protective clothing to Bangladesh Police, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital, and Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence. The group also donated testing kits valued at 2 million Bangladeshi taka in partnership with the Shakib Al Hasan Foundation. The group received permission to build a 660-megawatt natural-gas-fired power plant in Chittagong. In February 2023, it entered into a banking agreement with BRAC Bank, while Confidence Cement issued preference shares valued at 1.5 billion Bangladeshi taka. These developments illustrate the group's continued activity in industrial expansion and corporate financing, although the available reference material does not provide a complete current ownership structure, consolidated financial profile, or definitive account of all operating subsidiaries. Rezaul Karim is identified as chairman and Imran Karim as vice-chairman. Shamsul Alam, a former chairman, died in December 2022.

Confidence Group originated in Bangladesh's cement industry. In 1991, Kazi Shahidul Islam, Khurshid Anwar, Rezaul Karim, and Rupam Kishore Barua established Confidence Cement Limited. The cement company became the foundation of the wider group and is listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange. The group began diversifying in 2000 with the establishment of Confidence Power. This expansion brought electricity generation into the company's portfolio and helped position the group in Bangladesh's infrastructure and utility sectors. In 2002, Confidence Group formed a partnership with Asian Paints that resulted in Asian Paints Bangladesh Limited, adding paints and coatings to its business interests. Confidence Group later participated in power-sector development with public and private partners. In 2011, it signed an agreement with the Bangladesh Power Development Board to build an oil-based power plant in Chittagong in partnership with Rurelec PLC Limited and Energypac Power Generation Limited. The group also received permission to develop a 660-megawatt natural-gas power plant in Chittagong. Its reported power-related companies have included Confidence Power Holdings, Confidence Power Bogura, Confidence Power Bogura Unit 2, Confidence Power Rangpur, and Zodiac Power Chittagong. The group's industrial portfolio expanded into construction and infrastructure materials. Alongside cement and ready-mix concrete, its businesses have included spun prestressed concrete poles, steel exports, batteries, oil and shipping, and telecommunications. Confidence Infrastructure Limited established a geotextile plant in Narayanganj District in June 2022. Other reported group entities include Confidence Steel Export Limited, Confidence Batteries Limited, Confidence Oil and Shipping Limited, Digicon Telecommunication Limited, Kirtonkhola Tower Bangladesh Limited, and MIME. The available reference describes the group as comprising eight operational business entities in 2017, although the listed subsidiary and affiliate portfolio is broader and may have changed over time. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Confidence Group participated in relief efforts with the Bangladesh Independent Power Producers Association. Protective clothing was distributed to Bangladesh Police, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital, and Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence. In partnership with the Shakib Al Hasan Foundation, the group also donated testing kits worth 2 million Bangladeshi taka. Corporate and leadership developments continued in the early 2020s. Former chairman Shamsul Alam died from cancer in December 2022. In February 2023, Confidence Group signed a banking agreement with BRAC Bank Limited, while Confidence Cement issued preference shares valued at 1.5 billion Bangladeshi taka. Rezaul Karim is identified as chairman and Imran Karim as vice-chairman. The available material does not establish a complete current corporate structure, precise headquarters, consolidated financial results, or the current status of every subsidiary.

• 2023

  Banking agreement and preference-share issue

  [1]Confidence Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Confidence Group signs a banking agreement with BRAC Bank, while Confidence Cement issues preference shares valued at 1.5 billion Bangladeshi taka.

• 2022

  Geotextile plant begins development

  [1]Confidence Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Confidence Infrastructure Limited establishes a geotextile plant in Narayanganj District.

• 2011

  Chittagong oil-based power project agreement

  [1]Confidence Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group signs an agreement with the Bangladesh Power Development Board for an oil-based power plant in Chittagong, with Rurelec PLC Limited and Energypac Power Generation Limited.

• 2002

  Asian Paints Bangladesh partnership

  [1]Confidence Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Confidence Group partners with Asian Paints to form Asian Paints Bangladesh Limited.

• 2000

  Entry into power generation

  [1]Confidence Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Confidence Group establishes Confidence Power.

• 1991

  Confidence Cement is established

  [1]Confidence Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Kazi Shahidul Islam, Khurshid Anwar, Rezaul Karim, and Rupam Kishore Barua establish Confidence Cement Limited, the foundation of the later group.

A diversified Bangladeshi industrial group focused on construction materials, power generation, infrastructure products, and adjacent manufacturing and services.

• Cement · 1991

  Confidence Cement

  Confidence Cement is the group's founding business and principal cement brand. Established in 1991, it provides the industrial base from which the wider group developed into power generation, infrastructure materials, and related businesses. Confidence Cement Limited is listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange.

• Ready-mix concrete

  Confidence Ready Mix

  Confidence Ready Mix represents the group's ready-mix concrete activity, complementing its cement and construction-materials operations. The available reference identifies the business as part of the group but does not provide detailed information on its facilities, product specifications, or geographic coverage.

• Infrastructure materials · 2022

  Confidence Infrastructure products

  Confidence Infrastructure Limited is associated with the manufacture of spun prestressed concrete poles and geotextile products. The company established a geotextile plant in Narayanganj District in 2022, broadening the group's construction-materials portfolio beyond cement and ready-mix concrete.

• Power generation · 2000

  Confidence Power

  Confidence Power is the group's power-generation platform, established in 2000. Related entities have been connected with power projects in Bangladesh, including oil-based and natural-gas-fired generation initiatives in and around Chittagong, as well as companies associated with Bogura and Rangpur.

• Paints and coatings · 2002

  Asian Paints Bangladesh

  Asian Paints Bangladesh Limited was formed through a 2002 partnership between Confidence Group and Asian Paints. It extends the group's industrial portfolio into paints and coatings. The reference material does not specify the current ownership percentages or operating arrangement.

• Batteries

  Confidence Batteries

  Confidence Batteries Limited is a reported group company associated with battery manufacturing or distribution. The available reference confirms its inclusion in the group portfolio but does not provide product-level or operational details.

• COVID-19 protective-equipment support

  Bangladesh

  Confidence Group and the Bangladesh Independent Power Producers Association distributed 2,000 protective clothing items to Bangladesh Police, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital, and Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Outcome. The initiative supplied protective equipment to police, healthcare, and emergency-response institutions.

  Source
• COVID-19 testing-kit donation

  Bangladesh

  The group partnered with the Shakib Al Hasan Foundation to support the donation of COVID-19 testing kits valued at 2 million Bangladeshi taka.

  Outcome. The contribution supported testing capacity during the pandemic.

  Source

• 2023

  Banking agreement with BRAC BankOther

  Background

  The group entered a new banking relationship as part of its corporate and operating activities.

  Action taken

  Confidence Group signed a banking agreement with BRAC Bank Limited.

  Aftermath

  The reference material does not specify the agreement's products, duration, or financial impact.

  Source

• 2022

  Geotextile manufacturing expansionProduct launch

  Background

  Confidence Group sought to broaden its infrastructure-materials portfolio beyond cement and concrete products.

  Action taken

  Confidence Infrastructure Limited established a geotextile plant in Narayanganj District.

  Aftermath

  The move added geotextiles to the group's reported manufacturing activities.

  Source

• 2011

  Agreement for an oil-based Chittagong power plantStrategy

  Background

  Confidence Group pursued further diversification into electricity generation and infrastructure through a project involving the Bangladesh Power Development Board.

  Action taken

  The group entered an agreement with the Bangladesh Power Development Board alongside Rurelec PLC Limited and Energypac Power Generation Limited to build an oil-based power plant in Chittagong.

  Aftermath

  The agreement expanded the group's reported presence in Bangladesh's power sector; the available material does not document the project's final operating outcome.

  Source

1. 1Confidence Groupen.wikipedia.org