Freddy K.S. So

Although I am a Canadian National, but I lived in Bangladesh for almost 14 years. I was into garment business having factory units on hired floors and at last in a building that I owned at a place called Gazipura in Gazipur district in Bangladesh.

I left Bangladesh a few years back and before I left Bangladesh sold my factory and thought of retiring and live a relaxed life in Toronto, ONTARIO. Although I still have a factory in Brunei Darussalam. My Brunei factory is the second factory that Brunei has and the other one belongs to the Brunei government. That factory makes clothes for Brunei Military. My factory is the only privately owned factory in Brunei. These days I keep shuttling between Brunei-Toronto quite frequently.

While in Bangladesh and even after I left Bangladesh, I was asked by the people in much talked about Hallmark Group to visit their factory-especially their Industrial Park.

My experience in Bangladesh wasn’t really ‘sweet’ so, once I left Bangladesh, thought I would never again come back. But, luck brought me back already three times ever since I left the country ‘FOR GOOD’

When I came to Bangladesh for the first time, and had the intention of starting my business, I really didn’t   know the procedures with regard especially to the government customs & rules and had to seek refuge with a gentleman working for BOI as director. As a foreign national (not a Bangladeshi citizen) I would have to go through more of struggle in establishing my own company to EXPORT goods from Bangladesh. That man suggested me to ‘join’ his brother’s company and that way ‘FREE’ myself from a lot of hassles.

I didn’t know what I was entering into (?) Yes, that gentleman surely had given me ‘good’ suggestion to begin my export business quicker than expected, but I was simply sick of meeting the demand he made. They were all illogical and absolutely beyond ethics; to be more frank ‘I felt blackmailed’.

Anyway, later with the help of another Bangladeshi lawyer, I went to the Premier’s office of Bangladesh and then I was allowed to have a company with 100% foreign shares. Thank GOD and the lawyer too for freeing me from the ‘slavery’

At least 2 decades back, I had my own factory unit in Singapore. During that time, a lady was working for me. Now, she is one of the largest exporters in Singapore in the garment sector. But, as Singaporean government discourages this sector also as the wage is quite high, so she decided to move her unit out of Singapore and was looking for a place where she would get the required facility. I was contacted by that lady as she knew about my vast experience in Bangladesh. I, along with her and her daughter who’s a director in her company came to Bangladesh. That was my first visit to Bangladesh ever since I left Bangladesh ‘for good’

In fact, she already had communication with a Bangladeshi garment group placed at Chittagong. What she thought was to appoint me as her CEO in Bangladesh to oversee the whole matter. Fine for me, because, the remuneration that she offered, was quite good. I don’t know what happened with the Bangladeshi ‘partner’ that she abandoned the idea of re-directing her unit to Bangladesh rather found a place which according to her is ‘a better place’ and that is Indonesia. She moved with the whole unit and an Export Order of US$ 350 million/year.

Anyway, I thought ‘chapter Bangladesh’ in my life’s history was really over. But, I was contacted in Canada by some Bangladeshi buying houses and factories seeking orders. It may be mentioned that, to get rid of ‘retirement boredom’ I joined a Chain Shop named MEGA based in Toronto. They specialize in children wear. I put some order on behalf of MEGA to Bangladesh that gave me another chance to visit Bangladesh for the second time in 2012. I went there last year to inspect a production before shipment. After that the process is on. I put small orders with Bangladesh.

Whatever might be the volume of orders, but I got the chance to visit Bangladesh. As I already said, when I was leaving Bangladesh with the thought of ‘good-bye-forever’ I really didn’t know something would ‘drag’ me. As I am not a Bangladeshi and despite my long stay in Bangladesh, still cannot afford to take Spicy-Curry or other Bangladeshi dish, but something really grinds me, brings me to Bangladesh again and again. I was in Bangladesh again on April 10, 2013 and stayed until 14^th April.

As I mentioned in the beginning, I was contacted by much talked about Hall-Mark group to visit their factory but never really could make it. This time I thought of seeing their setup as I finished my routine work much earlier than expected. Also I was in Dhaka during ‘Hartal’ period. As I am into this trade for more than 30 years, so, I have/had seen enough of garment factories around the world. I was quite sure nothing unusual I am going to see before I really had seen Hall-Mark structure.

The man who communicated with me from Hall-Mark was Shamim. As I called him from Dhaka, Shamim immediately came to pick me up from my hotel and took me to Hall-Mark Industrial Park at Savar. I saw almost all the units that they have within their Industrial Park.

One thing I forgot to mention, when I was in Bangladesh, during my early days, I tried to bring Walmart, the garment giant to Bangladesh. I repeatedly tried; their answer was NO-a BIG NO. Bangladesh? No way! But I assured them of quality and promised them of ‘personal supervision’. It may be mentioned that I worked for BIG-BRANDS in Singapore. On my personal assurance, they at last put order with Bangladesh. It’s not that I am boasting of my achievement, but now when I am away from Bangladesh, feel I could have done something more for this country where people would really remember me.

Why I am saying so is, when I at last visited Hall-Mark set up, as I arrived there I was given a GRAND WELCOME. I must admit, for me it is something memorable. That gentleman Shamim was almost begging, “Please Sir find a way to save this huge establishment for the sake of our country!” When Shamim was telling me all these I was yet to see their arrangement except for I already knew it is on a big land; a huge land of about 300 acres. They (Hall-Mark people) described me the project and told me about the difficulty they are facing with regard to the LOAN they borrowed from State Owned Sonali Bank.

In reply to my question, what were they doing to soften the problem, they said, they sent various proposition to the government and after scrutinizing the proposal, Bangladeshi Finance Minister on principal agreed to make arrangement to re-open the Hall-Mark. But he was highly criticized by cross section of people including some media people.

I was not only surprised but shocked! Shocked, because, when I was returning to my hotel I just envisioned for a while about the prospect of this Hall-Mark Industrial Park. It has a huge prospect that I can visualize with my really huge experience. I know who can be easily brought to Bangladesh showing the arrangement of Hall-Mark. But what about the Finance Minister; he is not a Textile Man! All I can tell that surely he is a VISIONARY! I wish he continues as the Finance Minister of this beautiful country not only during this tenure but as long as he is capable to work!

God bless Bangladesh!

Freddy K.S. So

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Source: Weekly Blitz :: Writings