Samson H. Chowdhury

Biography | Timeline

25 September 1925	Eldest son of Eakub Hussain Chowdhury and Latika Chowdhury, Samson H Chowdhury, was born at Aruakandi in Gopalganj.
1930	Began his schooling in a mission school in Chandpur as his father was posted as a medical officer at the Chandpur Mission Hospital.
1932	EH Chowdhury got transferred to Ataikula in Pabna. Samson moved to Pabna with his father and got admitted to a village school in Ataikula.
1933	Father sent Samson to Mymensingh for better education. He got admitted to Victoria Mission School in Mymensingh in class IV.
1935	Went to West Bengal and got admitted to Siksha Sangha High School in Bishnupur.
1942	Returned to Pabna as the World War II broke out.
1943	Passed matriculation exam from Ataikula School in Pabna.
1943	Joined Royal Indian Navy without the knowledge of his parents.
1946	Joined a Naval mutiny against British Colonial rulers, and eventually got arrested. After five days in jail Samson H Chowdhury was sent to a concentration camp for a month. He was later released and also given a clean certificate of discharge and a recommendation for a government job in any administrative position, or in the law and order agency.
1947	Joined postal department as a government employee.
6 Aug 1947	Got married with a 15-year-old-girl, Anita Biswas. Samson was 22 then.
1952	Left his post office job and returned home. On advice of his father, Samson started running his father's medicine shop 'Hossain Pharmacy'.
1956	Samson borrowed money from his father and opened a small pharmaceutical company named 'Esons' in Ataikula, Pabna. 'Esons' referred to Eakub and sons
1958	Formed a business partnership with three other friends, namely Dr Kazi Harunur Rashid, Dr PK Shaha and Radha Binod Roy. The four friends launched a pharmaceutical company named 'Square' with an initial investment of Rs17,000.
1962	Opened a branch office at Hatkhola road in Dhaka.
1964	Square was converted into a private limited company with an authorized capital of Rs 500,000 and a paid up capital of Rs 400,000.
1974	Became a licensee of Janssen Pharmaceutica, Belgium, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson International, USA.
1985	Square achieved market-leadership among all national and multinational pharmaceuticals companies.
1987	Square became the first Bangladeshi pharmaceutical company to export products abroad.
1988	Square Toiletries started its operation as a separate division of Square Pharmaceuticals.
1991	Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd converted into a public limited company.
1995	Chemical Division of Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd started production of Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients (API).
1996	Became President of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) for two years.
1997	Square Pharmaceuticals won the National Export trophy. Mediacom Ltd was established.
1998	Square Pharmaceuticals gained ISO 9001 Certification. Received 'Business Executive of the Year' award given by American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham). Agro-chemicals and Veterinary Products Division started operation.
2001	Square Consumer Products Ltd. started its operation. Received 'Best Entrepreneur of the Country' award 2000–2001 given by the Daily Star and DHL Worldwide Express. US FDA/UK MCA-standard new pharmaceutical factory went into operation. The factory was built under the supervision of Bovis Lend Lease, UK. Square Consumer Products Ltd. started its operation. Received 'Best Entrepreneur of the Country' award 2000-2001 given by the Daily Star and DHL Worldwide Express.
2002	SQUARE InformatiX Ltd started its operation.
2003	Received 'Mercantile Bank Award-2003' for "special contributions to industrial and commercial sectors". Elected as chairman of the Central Depository Bangladesh Limited. Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd obtained ISO 9001:2000 Certification.
2004	Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd. was enlisted as UNICEF's global supplier.
2004	Became Chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh, held the position till 2007.
2005	New State-of- the-Art Square Cephalosporins Ltd went into operation. It was built under the supervision of TELSTAR S.A. of Spain as per the US FDA/ UK MHRA requirements. SQUARE Herbal & Nutraceuticals Ltd. got the license in Bangladesh, in this particular field. SQUARE Herbal & Nutraceuticals Ltd. got the license. Sabazpur Tea Company Ltd. was establised.
2006	SQUARE Hospitals Ltd. started its operation. Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd received 'Bankers' Forum Award-2005' for 'ethical and socially-responsible business practices and smooth operations with bankers'
2007	Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Dhaka Unit got the UK MHRA approval. Square Pharmaceuticals received 'ICAB National Award' for Best Published Accounts and Reports 2006 in Non-Financial Sector (Manufacturing Category)
2008	NBR Award for being the longest tax payer in Rajshahi Division.
2009	Square Pharmaceuticals started manufacturing of insulin, hormone and steroid products maintaining quality standards of US FDA, MHRA in dedicated manufacturing facility complying with the cGMP of WHO. Declared as 'Commercially Important Person, CIP (Export)' for 2009-10 by the Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh
2010	Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd received 'Best Enterprise' award by The Daily Star and DHL Worldwide Express Received 'Lifetime Achievement Award' given by the British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce
2011	Maasranga, first HD TV channel in Bangladesh, went on air.
2012	Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Dhaka Unit and Cephalosporins Ltd get 'Therapeutic Goods Administration' (TGA) of Australia approval.
5 January 2012	Samson H Chowdhury died at the age of 86 at a hospital in Singapore.