Life Story of Square Group’s Founder
Samson H. Chowdhury is one of Bangladesh’s most respected business leaders. Born on 25 September 1925, he founded the Square Group and built it into a major diversified conglomerate. His story is one of perseverance, vision, ethics, and a commitment to quality that continues to inspire entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. In this article, we explore his early life, how he built multiple successful businesses and companies, and the lasting impact he left behind.
Early Life and Education
Samson H. Chowdhury was born in Aruakandi village, Gopalganj, to Eakub Hossain Chowdhury, a medical officer, and Latika Chowdhury. Because his father’s job required frequent relocations, young Samson experienced several parts of the country while growing up.
He started his schooling in mission school in Chandpur, and then moved to Ataikula village in Pabna. Later he studied at Victoria Mission School in Mymensingh and then at Siksha Sangha High School in Bishnupur, West Bengal. He passed his matriculation examination from Ataikula High School in 1943.
Following his studies, he briefly joined the postal department in 1947. During this period, he also married Anita Biswas at age 22. His early jobs and experiences—including his involvement in the postal department, and exposure to different places—shaped his understanding of people, business, and social responsibility.
First Ventures: Hossain Pharmacy, Esons & Setting Up Square
After leaving the postal service in 1952, Samson H. Chowdhury returned to Pabna and took over his father’s pharmacy business, Hossain Pharmacy in Ataikula. He used this base to understand pharmaceutical demands and community needs.
In 1956, with just Tk 5,000 borrowed from his father, he began a small manufacturing venture called Esons (short for Eakub Hossain & Sons), producing syrups at home. His wife Anita assisted in distribution and other tasks.
Two years later, in 1958, Samson co-founded Square Pharmaceuticals with three friends—Dr. Kazi Harunar Rashid, Dr. P.K. Saha, and Radha Binod Roy. They pooled together roughly Tk 17,000 in capital and rented a small tin-shed factory in Pabna, hiring just 12 workers. Their first product was a blood-purifier called Easton Syrup.
Those early years were not immediately profitable. Square did not see profit until around its fourth year. The small scale, lean operation, persistence, and focus on quality laid the foundation for future growth.
Growth, Diversification & Key Companies
Over time, Samson H. Chowdhury expanded Square Group into many sectors beyond pharmaceuticals. Today it spans companies in pharmaceuticals, textiles, toiletries, foods & beverages, consumer products, health services, media, IT, and more.
Some of the major companies and brands under his leadership include:
- Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd. — the root business, leader in local medicine production and quality.
- Square Toiletries — in toiletries and personal care products.
- Square Textiles Ltd. — part of Group’s expansion into garments and textile manufacturing.
- Square Hospitals Limited — offering healthcare services.
- Other companies include Square Food & Beverage Limited, Square Agro, Square Informatix, etc. The group also ventured into media (e.g. television) and service sectors.
Under Samson’s leadership, Square became the first local pharmaceutical company to export medicines. He positioned Square to benefit from national policies (like drug policy 1982) that encouraged local pharma producers. Square became market leader among both local and multinational companies by mid-1980s.
Principles, Ethics, and Leadership
What made Samson H. Chowdhury stand out was not just business acumen but ethical leadership. He held firmly the belief that business must serve people. He often said, “Business must serve people: this was the principle Samson H Chowdhury lived by.”
He refused shortcuts, avoided evasion of taxes, focused on quality rather than mere profit, and treated employees with respect.
His approach fostered trust, built a strong corporate culture, and made Square a company people believed in—not just for its products but for the values behind them. Even projects with long payback like hospitals or cancer treatment centers were pursued when he believed they served larger social good.
Awards and Recognition
Throughout his remarkable career, Samson H. Chowdhury received numerous awards that recognized both his entrepreneurial success and his contributions to society. He was known not only as a visionary businessman but also as a socially responsible leader who set ethical standards in Bangladesh’s corporate world.
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He was honored with the Ekushey Padak, one of Bangladesh’s highest civilian awards, for his contribution to society and nation-building.
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The Bangladesh Business Awards recognized him multiple times for his outstanding leadership and pioneering role in building Square Group into a global standard company.
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He received the MCCI Businessman of the Year Award, reflecting his long-term service to industry and trade.
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International organizations, including church and interfaith groups, also acknowledged his leadership and humanitarian contributions.
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He was regularly listed among Bangladesh’s top taxpayers, which further underlined his reputation for honesty and integrity in business.
These awards and recognitions reflect not only his entrepreneurial achievements but also the respect he earned as a man of values, ethics, and service.
Legacy & Impact
By the time Samson H. Chowdhury passed away on 5 January 2012, he had created an empire employing tens of thousands of people. Square Group’s turnover had reached hundreds of millions of dollars.
Samson also held leadership roles in industry bodies: president of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI), chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh, founding president of the Bangladesh Association of Publicly Listed Companies, and others.
Even after his death, his philosophy continues—Square’s projects for affordable healthcare, mobile clinics, transparent operations, are in harmony with his vision. On his birth centenary in 2025, the country remembers his values: honesty, quality, social responsibility.
The life of Samson H. Chowdhury shows how far a person can go with vision, integrity, and modest beginnings. From a small pharmacy in Pabna, he built multiple successful businesses and companies under the Square Group, spanning pharmaceuticals to media, health services to consumer goods. His legacy is not just economic growth, but ethical business practices, social contributions, and an example to future generations.