Photos from the Bangladesh Business Awards

The 23rd edition of the DHL-The Daily Star Bangladesh Business Awards began with speeches from DHL Express Bangladesh Managing Director Md Miarul Haque and The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam.

The event was attended by numerous business luminaries, Tapan Chowdhury, managing director of Square Pharmaceuticals; Simeen Rahman, group CEO of Transcom Group; AK Azad, chairman and CEO of Ha-Meem Group; Naser Ezaz Bijoy, CEO of Standard Chartered Bangladesh; and Syed Mohammad Kamal, country manager of Mastercard.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke, was also present at the event.

Kazi Wahidul Alam, editor of tourism and aviation fortnightly Bangladesh Monitor; executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation; and Fahmida Khatun, executive director of the CPD, were also present.

Global logistics service provider DHL and Bangladesh's most widely circulated English newspaper, The Daily Star, have been honouring the best in the business community every year since 2000 to recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions of business icons.

The theme of this year's award is "Powering the Private Sector."

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed reached the event, who is the chief guest of tonight's programme at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, Dhaka. Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin has also joined the event as special guest.

This year, awards will be given in five categories: Business Person of the Year, Best Financial Institution of the Year, Enterprise of the Year, Outstanding Woman in Business and Lifetime Achievement Award.