Money is not a barrier to achieving greatness; one can attain significant success legitimately by becoming an entrepreneur.”- says Dr. Ali Afzal —Managing Director of Krishibid Group and Chairman of REHAB
Dr. Ali Afzal, Managing Director of Krishibid Group and Chairman of REHAB, stated that a lack of funds is not a barrier to achieving great success; rather, effort and integrity are paramount—one can attain significant success through legitimate means as an entrepreneur. Becoming an entrepreneur allows one to create employment opportunities for others alongside oneself, and to contribute meaningfully to both oneself and the country. While there are opportunities in this field, there are challenges as well.
He further added that, driven by integrity, innovation, and ambition, the Krishibid Group—which began with an initial capital of 30,000 Taka—has evolved into a steadfast pillar of innovation and progress worth 12,000 crore Taka, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of Bangladesh’s agricultural and industrial sectors. Through its diverse range of products and far-reaching initiatives, the group has fostered growth and created new opportunities, thereby improving the quality of life for countless people.
He made these remarks while attending as the chief guest at the 17th session of the “DIU Industry-Academia Lecture Series on “ Post Harvest Technology: In the field of good food for All”—organized by the Industrial Innovation Centre (IIC)—held today, Tuesday (July 21), at the International Conference Hall of Daffodil International University.
Presided over by Professor Dr. Md. Masum Iqbal, Acting Vice-Chancellor of Daffodil International University, the event was also addressed by Professor Dr. Md. Belal Hossain, Director of the Industrial Innovation Center, and Md. Kamruzzaman, Head of the Department of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, among others.
Recounting the story of his long struggle on the path to entrepreneurship, Dr. Ali Afzal states that ‘Krishibid Group Bangladesh’ (KGB) began its journey in 2001 on a modest scale, driven by a bold vision and dream to integrate all facets of the agricultural sector. Today, KGB stands established as a leading industrial conglomerate, with 36 successful subsidiaries working tirelessly towards innovation and excellence. he Research and Development (R&D) team of ‘Krishibid Group Bangladesh’ has developed 66 state-of-the-art crop varieties, thereby accelerating the pace of sustainable development and progress. The path to this success was by no means smooth; it required immense hard work. Consequently, this successful entrepreneur has urged young students to harness their willpower, intellect, and diligence.
Addressing towards the students, Dr. Ali Afzal said, “In this era of information technology, everything is within easy reach. You can read books from Oxford, Harvard, and Cambridge right from the comfort of your home. In contrast, good books were scarce during our time; we had to borrow them from seniors to read. Technology has now placed a wealth of opportunities at your fingertips. Make the most of these opportunities, and you will be able to succeed.”
Emphasizing that the will to work is paramount, this renowned entrepreneur further stated that becoming an entrepreneur requires immense willpower. One must take risks courageously, driven by that determination; shying away from action out of a fear of failure ensures one will never succeed. You must be your own teacher and guide yourself. At this time, he offered three pieces of advice to students interested in becoming entrepreneurs, stating that success comes naturally if one keeps one’s word, maintains integrity, and knows how to respect others. Dr. Ali Afzal believes that these three qualities are what made him successful as a businessman.
In his presidential address, Prof. Dr. Md. Masum Iqbal, Acting Vice Chancellor of Daffodil International University, said that Bangladesh is a country of immense potential. He believes that if this potential is harnessed effectively, Bangladesh will rapidly evolve into a nation more developed than Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan.
He further noted that developed nations actively involve successful domestic entrepreneurs in their universities in various ways, a culture that has not yet taken root here. Daffodil University is striving to cultivate this culture, as Dr. Md. Sabur Khan believes it is our responsibility to introduce the younger generation to the country’s successful entrepreneurs.
There is much to learn from them. Young people will be inspired by hearing the stories of how they became entrepreneurs. It is with this objective that Daffodil University has been organizing the Industry-Academia Lecture Series.
Professor Dr. Mohammad Masum Iqbal further stated that the universities in our country are unable to supply the type of workforce the industry requires, primarily because there is no connection between the two. Daffodil University is working to establish this connection.
Daffodil University hopes that this lecture series will inspire the new generation of honest, educated, and talented entrepreneurs to move forward with courage, dedication, and competence. It is anticipated that this series will go a long way in helping to overcome the prevailing perception that Bangladesh is failing to progress in entrepreneurship development at a pace commensurate with its potential.
During the event, three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Krishibid Group Bangladesh and the departments of Real Estate, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology, and Nutrition & Food Engineering at Daffodil International University. These agreements will pave the way for a long-term collaborative partnership, joint research, experiential learning, student internships, industry-linked projects, and employment opportunities for graduates.
