Tribute paid to MA Samad

Samad was the founder-managing director and chairman of Bangladesh General Insurance Company (BGIC), the first private insurance company in the country. He passed away on October 18 at the age of 82.

MA Samad Memorial Meeting Parishad organised the meeting at the Dhaka Ladies' Club, with National Professor Kabir Chowdhury in the chair. Singer Tapan Mahmud moderated the programme.

Samad was known for his wit, liveliness and outspokenness, said Prof Kabir Chowdhury.

He had the ability to make people feel friendly within a very short time, said Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Daily Star.

Born in Sylhet on January 1, 1923, MA Samad graduated from the Presidency College in Kolkata. He also worked in All India Radio in New Delhi as a Bengali newscaster.

MA Samad, who was the managing director of Jiban Bima Corporation, is considered as the pioneer in insurance education and training in the country.

Founder of the Bangladesh Insurance Academy, he authored a book titled 'Life Insurance Selling in Action and Successful Agency Building'.

His name is inscribed on the list of insurance experts of the United Nation's Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Prof Serajul Islam Chowdhury, Language Movement veteran Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury, Dr Manjusree Chowdhury, Ramendu Majumder, Fayez Ahmed and wife of MA Samad and President of Dhaka Ladies' Club Fowzia Samad and son Towhid Samad were also present at the memorial meeting.