Shafiat Sobhan
Shafiat Sobhan
Vice Chairman of the Bashundhara Group
Vice Chairman of the Bashundhara Group
Shafiat Sobhan is a significant figure in Bangladesh's business landscape. He has an advanced education from the United Kingdom. He is Vice Chairman and Director at Bashundhara Group, overseeing various sectors, including LP gas, food and beverage, trading, and entertainment. He is also at the helm of the group’s agricultural, horticultural, and numerous industrial projects, managing the Bashundhara and East-West Special Economic Zones and the Sundarbans Industrial Complex.
His career in the Bashundhara Group has been characterized by a rapid rise, driven by his strategic acumen and broad expertise. He was appointed to the Board of Directors and simultaneously took on the role of Vice Chairman, positions that have enabled him to leverage his comprehensive knowledge and skills. His leadership spans critical areas, including HR development, finance, investment management, and strategic business planning and execution.
He has led significant expansions and restructuring efforts across the group's LP gas, maritime, and engineering divisions. Notably, he championed the establishment of Bangladesh’s first automated LP gas cylinder manufacturing plant, significantly boosting the group's industrial capabilities. His foresight and leadership have also facilitated new ventures in the food and beverage, shipping and logistics, and service industries, enhancing the group’s contributions to amusement, recreation, and sports.
Shafiat Sobhan has gained considerable esteem for his contributions to business, both within Bangladesh and internationally. He is a proactive member of the FBCCI's LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh and was a board member of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industries (DCCI) in 2015.
His leadership qualities and successful business strategies have been recognized internationally, including receiving the Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from the United States in 2011 during its 235th anniversary of independence. In 2021, he was named the ‘Most Influential Retail Leader’ by the Business Tabloid in the UK, reflecting his effective leadership during the 2020 to 2021 period, especially noted in the Food and Beverage division of Bashundhara Group.
Shafiat Sobhan's impact is intertwined with the growth of Bashundhara Group, which began as East-West Property Development (Pvt) Ltd in 1987. The company quickly established itself as a reliable real estate venture, which set the foundation for its diversification into manufacturing and trading, particularly entering the cement, paper, pulp, and tissue sectors in the early 1990s.
As the group ventured into LPG bottling and distribution, it began to cater to a broader international market. Over the years, Bashundhara Group has transformed from a startup into a multi-million dollar enterprise, continuously expanding its real estate and land development projects to meet its clients' evolving needs better.
Today, Bashundhara Group’s Meghna Cement Mills Limited is publicly traded on Bangladesh’s major stock exchanges, demonstrating its prominence and stability in the industrial sector.
Led by Shafiat Sobhan, Bashundhara Group is strategically positioned for ongoing growth and innovation. His visionary leadership ensures the group remains a key player in Bangladesh's economic and industrial development, equipped to tackle future challenges and seize new opportunities.