Square Group
Square Group is a Bangladeshi diversified conglomerate whose businesses span pharmaceuticals, textiles, consumer products, healthcare, media, information services, aviation and other sectors.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Square Group is a diversified Bangladeshi conglomerate headquartered in Dhaka. Its origins lie in pharmaceuticals: Samson H. Chowdhury and three partners established Square Pharmaceuticals in Pabna in 1958, building on Chowdhury's earlier experience operating a village pharmacy in Ataikula. From that base, the organization developed into a group with activities across pharmaceuticals, toiletries, textiles, apparel, food and beverage, hospitals, media, information technology, tea, advertising and aviation services. Pharmaceuticals remain the group's foundational and most internationally oriented business. Square Pharmaceuticals began exporting from Bangladesh in 1987 and later expanded its international relationships and manufacturing ambitions. In 1974, it entered into a collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceutica, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary. The group subsequently pursued export approvals and overseas production, including a planned pharmaceutical facility in Nairobi through Square Pharmaceuticals Kenya EPZ Ltd. Construction began in 2018, although production was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the pharmaceutical business received permission to export to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Square also expanded into consumer and personal-care categories. Square Toiletries introduced Senora in 1989, described as Bangladesh's first locally manufactured sanitary napkin, and became a private limited company in 1994. It entered diaper manufacturing in 2015. Square Consumer Products developed food exports, including shipments to Japan beginning in 2008. The broader consumer portfolio is complemented by Square Food & Beverage and other group companies. The textiles platform grew through the creation of Square Textiles in 1997, its listing on the Dhaka Stock Exchange in 2002, later production expansion, and the launch of Square Denim operations in Habiganj in 2016. Related businesses include Square Apparels and Square Fashions. This vertical diversification gives the group a presence in manufacturing and export industries that are important to Bangladesh's economy. Healthcare became another visible pillar with the establishment of Square Hospital in Dhaka on 16 December 2006. The hospital was planned as a 250-bed facility and represented a major investment in private healthcare infrastructure. Other group interests include Maasranga Television, Mediacom, Square Informatix, Sabazpur Tea Company and Square Air. Square Air, launched in 2019, operates a helicopter service serving government ministers, senior officials and other clients traveling to locations outside Dhaka. Leadership has remained closely associated with the Chowdhury family. Samuel S. Chowdhury was appointed chairperson of the group in March 2012, while Tapan Chowdhury serves as managing director. The group has been described as employing approximately 80,000 people, although the applicable date and methodology for that figure are not specified in the available reference material. During the COVID-19 crisis, Square contributed 10,000 personal protective equipment sets to Bangladesh's Directorate General of Drug Administration and announced additional pharmaceutical-capacity investment. Square Group's overall positioning is that of a diversified, locally rooted Bangladeshi business house combining industrial scale, export capability and a broad portfolio of consumer and essential services.
History
Square Group emerged from a pharmaceutical enterprise founded in 1958 in Pabna by Samson H. Chowdhury and three partners. Chowdhury had earlier operated a pharmacy in Ataikula village, providing the practical foundation for the company's entry into medicine manufacturing. The founding business became Square Pharmaceuticals, which later developed into the group's core operating company. A major early international step came in 1974, when Square Pharmaceuticals worked with Janssen Pharmaceutica, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. The company began exporting pharmaceutical products from Bangladesh in 1987, establishing an international dimension that later became central to the group's growth strategy. The group continued to pursue export relationships and regulatory approvals in overseas markets, including an agreement connected with Belarus in 2012 and authorization to export to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2020. Diversification began with consumer and personal-care products. In 1989, Square launched Senora, identified in the available reference material as the first sanitary napkin manufactured in Bangladesh. Square Toiletries became a private limited company in 1994. The group later added diapers to the toiletries manufacturing portfolio in 2015. Through Square Consumer Products, it started exporting food products to Japan in 2008, reinforcing the group's interest in branded consumer goods alongside pharmaceuticals. Textiles became another important area of expansion. Square Textiles was established in 1997 and was listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange in 2002. The business later announced a production-facility expansion plan in 2015 involving 1.13 billion taka. Square Denim began operations in Habiganj District in 2016, while Square Apparels and Square Fashions broadened the group's involvement in garment manufacturing and related textile activities. The group's healthcare presence expanded with the founding of Square Hospital in Dhaka on 16 December 2006. The hospital was designed as a 250-bed facility, with a reported construction budget of 3.5 billion taka, and Joe Davis-Fleming was appointed its first chief executive. The hospital represented a move from manufacturing healthcare products into direct medical services. Square continued investing in pharmaceutical infrastructure during the 2010s. In January 2018, Square Pharmaceuticals Kenya EPZ Ltd. began construction of a factory in Nairobi. The facility's production schedule was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, the group received permission to export pharmaceuticals to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During the same month, Square donated 10,000 personal protective equipment sets to Bangladesh's Directorate General of Drug Administration. In October 2020, it announced plans for a further 2.5 billion taka investment in pharmaceutical production expansion. The group also developed businesses outside its original industrial base. Its subsidiaries and affiliated businesses include Maasranga Television, Mediacom, Square Informatix, Sabazpur Tea Company, Square Food & Beverage and Square Air. Square Air was launched in 2019 and operates three helicopters, serving clients such as government ministers and high-ranking officials traveling to projects beyond Dhaka. Leadership has remained associated with the Chowdhury family. Samuel S. Chowdhury became chairperson following a board decision on 9 March 2012, and Tapan Chowdhury is identified as managing director. The available reference material describes Square Group as having approximately 80,000 employees, but does not provide a clear reporting date. The group is therefore best understood as a Bangladesh-based diversified conglomerate whose principal historical capabilities are pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, export operations and branded consumer products, supplemented by healthcare, media, technology and transport services.
- 2020
Export approval, pandemic support and capacity investment
[1]Square Pharmaceuticals receives approval for exports to the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Square donates protective equipment in Bangladesh and announces a 2.5 billion taka pharmaceutical expansion plan.
- 2019
Square Air launches
[1]The group enters helicopter services through Square Air Limited.
- 2018
Kenyan pharmaceutical plant construction begins
[1]Square Pharmaceuticals Kenya EPZ Ltd. starts building a pharmaceutical facility in Nairobi.
- 2016
Square Denim starts operations
[1]Square Denim begins manufacturing operations in Habiganj District.
- 2015
Textile expansion and diaper manufacturing
[1]Square Textiles announces a 1.13 billion taka production expansion, while Square Toiletries enters diaper manufacturing.
- 2012
Samuel S. Chowdhury becomes group chairperson
[1]The board appoints Samuel S. Chowdhury as chairperson of Square Group.
- 2008
Food exports to Japan begin
[1]Square Consumer Products starts exporting food products to Japan.
- 2006
Square Hospital is founded
[1]Square Group establishes a 250-bed hospital in Dhaka.
- 2002
Square Textiles is listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange
[1]Square Textiles becomes a publicly traded company on the Dhaka Stock Exchange.
- 1997
Square Textiles is established
[1]The group creates its textile manufacturing company.
Products and positioning
A diversified Bangladeshi industrial and services group built around pharmaceuticals, with additional strength in consumer goods, textiles, healthcare and export-oriented manufacturing.
Pharmaceuticals · 1958
Square Pharmaceuticals
The founding and central business of Square Group, producing pharmaceutical medicines and healthcare products for Bangladesh and export markets. The company developed international relationships, began exports in 1987 and pursued overseas manufacturing through a Kenyan subsidiary.
Personal care · 1989
Senora
A sanitary-napkin brand launched by Square in 1989. It is associated with the group's early expansion from pharmaceuticals into locally manufactured personal-care products and is described in the reference material as Bangladesh's first domestically manufactured sanitary napkin.
Toiletries and personal care · 1994
Square Toiletries
Square's toiletries and personal-care business, formalized as a private limited company in 1994. Its activities include sanitary products and diaper manufacturing, which began in 2015.
Textiles · 1997
Square Textiles
The group's textile manufacturing platform, established in 1997 and listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange in 2002. It has pursued production expansion and operates alongside the group's apparel and denim businesses.
Denim manufacturing · 2016
Square Denim
A denim manufacturing business that began operations in Habiganj District in 2016, extending Square Group's textile manufacturing capabilities into denim production.
Food and consumer products
Square Consumer Products
The consumer-products platform through which Square developed food exports, including shipments to Japan beginning in 2008. It forms part of the group's diversification beyond pharmaceuticals and personal care.
Healthcare services · 2006
Square Hospital
A private hospital in Dhaka founded in 2006. The facility was established as a 250-bed hospital and represents Square Group's expansion into direct healthcare delivery.
Aviation services · 2019
Square Air
A helicopter service launched in 2019. The business operates three helicopters and serves clients traveling to projects and destinations outside Dhaka, including government ministers and senior officials.
Brand decisions
2020
Pharmaceutical production expansionStrategyBackground
Square announced additional pharmaceutical investment during the COVID-19 period.
Action taken
The group announced plans to invest 2.5 billion taka to expand pharmaceutical production.
Aftermath
The available reference material does not provide the project's completion status or resulting capacity.
Planned investment. 2.5 billion taka planned (2020 announcement)
2018
Kenyan pharmaceutical manufacturing projectStrategyBackground
Square Pharmaceuticals pursued overseas production to support its international pharmaceutical business.
Action taken
Square Pharmaceuticals Kenya EPZ Ltd. began construction of a pharmaceutical factory in Nairobi.
Aftermath
Production was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the available reference material does not confirm a subsequent operating date.
2015
Square Textiles production expansionStrategyBackground
Square Textiles sought to increase manufacturing capacity within the group's export-oriented textile business.
Action taken
The company announced a plan to invest 1.13 billion taka in production-facility expansion.
Aftermath
The available reference material does not state the final capacity or completion outcome.
Planned investment. 1.13 billion taka planned (2015 announcement)
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