Abdul Hai Sarker
Abdul Hai Sarker | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 15, 1946 Sirajganj District, East Bengal |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, Businessman |
| Known for | Chairman and CEO of Purbani Group; Founder Chairman of Dhaka Bank Limited; Former President of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association; Chairperson of Independent University, Bangladesh Trustee Board |
Abdul Hai Sarker () is a prominent Bangladeshi entrepreneur, holding the positions of Chairman and CEO at Purbani Group, a leading and longstanding textile conglomerate in Bangladesh. He is the original chairman behind the establishment of Dhaka Bank Limited and has previously served as president of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association. Furthermore, Sarker leads the trustee board of Independent University, Bangladesh, and participates as an executive committee member within the Bangladesh Association of Banks.
Early life
Sarker was born on 15 December 1946 in Sirajganj District, East Bengal. He completed his master's degree in management from the University of Dhaka in 1970. In 1973, he launched Purbani Traders, marking the beginning of his career in international commerce and trade.
Career
During his tenure as head of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Sarker facilitated a visit by Pakistani textile mill owners in 2005, highlighting efforts to promote industrial cooperation across borders.
He served as an associate director at the International Cotton Association (ICA), headquartered in Liverpool, for six consecutive years, underscoring his significant role in the global cotton industry. Within Dhaka Bank, he has held influential roles including director on the Board of Trustees since 2008 and chairman, a position he has been reappointed to multiple times starting from 2014.
Between 2007 and 2010, Sarker completed two terms as BTMA president, representing manufacturers of yarn and fabric. He was re-elected without opposition in 2009 and engaged directly with Bangladesh’s Finance Minister concerning issues facing the textile sector. Additionally, he served as a director at the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI).
As chairperson of the board of trustees at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), Sarker oversees academic operations across campuses located in Dhaka and Chittagong. He holds membership in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh and was honored by the Bangladeshi government as a Commercially Important Person (CIP) in 2010, receiving various associated benefits.
His executive leadership extends to Karim Spinning Mills Limited as chairman and managing director roles at Karim Textile Limited, Purbani Fabrics Limited, and Shohagpur Textiles Mills. Additionally, he is a founding trustee and board member of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute.
From 2017 to 2018, Sarker chaired IUB’s Education, Science, Technology and Cultural Development Trust (ESTCDT). Since August 2020, he has been serving as founder chairman of Dhaka Bank Limited with multiple subsequent re-elections affirming his strategic influence in banking. On 7 December 2021, he was appointed chairperson of IUB’s Trustee Board.