Jamuna Group Chairman Babul dies of Covid-19

Nurul Islam Babul, chairman of the business conglomerate Jamuna Group, has died of the novel coronavirus.

The 74-year-old business magnate breathed his last on Monday afternoon at the Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, according to a press release issued by the Jamuna Group.

Babul left behind his wife, a son, three daughters and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.

Babul tested positive for the virus on June 14, and was undergoing treatment in the hospital since then.

A 10-member medical board headed by Brigadier General (retd) Dr Mahbub was in charge of his treatment there.

Besides the doctors at Evercare, four medical experts from China and two specialists from Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital were providing constant consultation in the prominent industrialist's treatment.

Babul suffered significant damage to his kidneys due to the coronavirus infection in his body.

His death has cast a shadow over the industrial sector of the country.

Businessmen said Babul has left at an unfortunate time. An entrepreneur like him was very much needed for the post pandemic economic development of the country in order to build a modern Bangladesh. The country has suffered a tremendous loss by his passing, the release added.

Nurul Islam Babul was a courageous entrepreneur who played a big part in the country's economic development and in the creation of employment for the people.

He established the Jamuna Group in 1974. Currently,the group has 38 sister concerns in different sectors where more than 50,000 people are employed. 

Including Asia's largest shopping mall Jamuna Future Park and the under-construction Marriot Hotel, Jamuna Group holds a top tier position in the service sector of the country.

Nurul Islam Babul was also the owner of the Bengali daily Jugantor and Jamuna Television.

He had also taken up an initiative to built an international standard coronavirus treatment facility near the 300 ft road in the Kuril area of the city, and had completed the preliminary discussions for it, the press release said.

Babul also donated Tk10 crore to the prime minister's coronavirus relief fund to help the people of this country fight this deadly virus. 

Jamuna group – under the leadership of Babul – has provided the people with hand sanitisers at an affordable price, and the front liners with good quality personal protective equipment (PPE) to fight the pandemic.