About
About

Mr. Annisul Huq, founding chairman of Mohammadi Group, was born in Noakhali, Bangladesh on 27 September in 1952 who was also the first & former Mayor of the Dhaka North City Corporation, after being elected in April 2015.

Mr. Huq was the only Bangladeshi who represented many high-profile local and international trade organizations. He served below mentioned major apex trade bodies in Bangladesh:

Former President: Bangladesh Independent Power Producers Association (BIPPA), 2014 – 2015.
Former President: SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SAARC CCI), 2010 – 2012.
Former President: Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI), 2008 – 2010.
Former President: Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), 2004 – 2005.

Mr. Huq was the Former President of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the apex trade body of South Asia, representing the Federations/National Chambers of commerce of all South Asian countries comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, focusing on trade and investment facilitation at a multilateral level in the region, encouraging employment, economic empowerment of women, developing young entrepreneurs, stressing on poverty reduction, and prioritizing people to people connectivity.

During 2008-2010, he was elected as the President of the Federation of the Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI), the apex trade body of the country. He initiated setting up joint help line comprising FBCCI and NRB for 25% VAT net within one year. He proposed keeping Tax Holiday as a permanent provision in the income tax law. He made Bhutan keen to Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He suggested revenue collection target at Tk 55,000 crore in the budget for fiscal year 2009-10 with an estimated growth rate at six percent. He launched FBCCI Foundation for CSR activities. He created 15000 jobs for the unemployed, initiative taken under FBCCI Foundation.

Mr. Huq also served as the President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) for two consecutive terms in 2004 and 2005. As a President of BGMEA he initiated negotiation for duty free access of Bangladesh apparels and the formation of the 17 members Caucus by the members of the Senate and the Congress of the United States of America. During his presidency the caucus raised a bill in Congress and Senate, titled ‘Tariff Relief Assistance for Developing Economies Act of 2005’ or ‘TRADE Act of 2005’ focusing on duty free entrance of Bangladeshi garments to the US market. As a President, Mr. Huq also worked extensively for changing of European Union’s Rules of Origin favoring Bangladesh’s duty-free access and equally progressed with obtaining duty free facilities under SAARC countries accumulation.

He was also the founding President of Independent Power Producers Association (BIPPA), an organization of all companies that owns power plants in the country and supplies to the national grid. It’s a newly formed association since 2014 which negotiates with Power Development Board and Govt, on behalf of owners, assumed to be very powerful to influence Govt policies.

Apart from business, as a passion Mr. Huq was affiliated with the electronic media scene in Bangladesh during 80s-90s. He was the most popular television host at that time. Together with hosting several TV programs & shows, he hosted many interviews with politically significant personalities, including an interview with the current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina live on national television. Mr. Huq hosted interviews that had influenced national vote in forming Government, such as the interview of four major political parties during election time. Huq often hosted high-level business discussion programs on television in which he interviewed both political and business personalities including Finance and Commerce Ministers.

Mr. Huq obtained his SSC from Dinajpur Zilla School in 1970. He completed graduation majored in Economics from University of Rajshahi and Masters from the University of Chittagong. He was the eldest son of Shariful Huq and Rowshan Ara Huq.

Mr. Huq worked alongside his family, most notably his wife Mrs. Rubana Huq, who is currently the Vice- chancellor of Asian University for Women (AUW) & the chairperson of Mohammadi Group. She is the immediate past President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), and she was also the first female occupant of the post in four decades. She is currently pursuing in achieving fellowship from Harvard University, America. She is currently an associate at the Asia Center at Harvard University and an Executive-in-Residence at Stern, New York University. She achieved a PhD in literature from Jadavpur University in India. In addition to running the day-to-day operations of the group, Mrs. Huq is heavily involved in the literary circle in Bangladesh. She writes weekly sub-editorials for the leading English newspapers in Bangladesh, the “Daily Star” the “Business Standard” as well as contributing to the “Wall Street Journal”, an American international daily newspaper that mostly focuses on business and economic news. Mrs. Huq is heavily influential as she writes on relevant topics related to the garments industry in Bangladesh as well as the current political situation. Mrs. Huq was also the General Secretary for the SAARC Literary Foundation for the Bangladesh chapter. In 2009, she won the SAARC Literary Award for her book of poems “Time of My Life”. In 2013 & 2014, Mrs. Huq was chosen to be the only woman from Bangladesh for BBC’s 100 Women Conference featuring 100 women from around the world. Following the conference, BBC created and telecasted a 22 minutes documentary based on Mrs. Huq and her journey to empower a young underprivileged Cambodian girl. Recently, dated on 25th September,2022, she has been honored with ‘Human Rights Award’ by CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards-2022 at Milan Fashion Week, Italy.

Mr. and Mrs. Huq are the parents of four children. Navidul Huq, the eldest son, is currently the Managing Director of Mohammadi Group. He has obtained a management degree from Bentley University in Boston. After completing studies at New York University and Princeton University, Wamiq Umaira is currently working as a director of Mohammadi Group. She also worked at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland. Completing bachelors in Political Science and Economics form Simmons College in Boston, Tanisha Huq is now leading Mohammadi Group as a director of the company. And Sharaful Huq, who was the youngest of all siblings, passed away on 27th April, 2002. Mr. Huq has enjoyed doing business with his family for over two decades. Together, they have created an influential and respected family in the business, political and societal circles in Bangladesh. This unparalleled business & political leader left us all forever on 30 November in 2017.