M. A. Sattar

Mohammad Abdus Sattar (Bengali: মোহাম্মদ আবদুস সাত্তার, Urdu: محمد عبدالستار; 1 March 1925 – 5 June 2009), known as M. A. Sattar (এম এ সাত্তার), was a prominent Bangladeshi business magnate and politician. He was the founding Chairman and Managing Director of Sattar & Company Ltd., Sattar Jute Mills Ltd., Hasna Shipbuilding & Navigation Ltd., and Rangpur Industries Ltd.[1] In the 1980s, Sattar held several cabinet ministry positions, elected as a Member of Parliament twice, and was Chief Whip in President Ershad's Government from 1988 to 1990.[2] [3] [4]

For other people with the same name, see Abdus Sattar.
The Honourable
M. A. Sattar
MP
এম এ সাত্তার
ایم اے ستار
Chief Whip of the Bangladesh Parliament
In office
1988–1990
PresidentHussain Muhammad Ershad
Prime MinisterKazi Zafar Ahmed
Parliament SpeakerShamsul Huda Chowdhury
Preceded byT.I.M. Fazlay Rabbi Chowdhury
Succeeded byKhandaker Delwar Hossain
Member of Parliament
In office
1986–1990
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded bySirajul Islam
ConstituencyNarayanganj-4
Minister of Labor and Manpower
In office
July 1986 – March 1987
Prime MinisterMizanur Rahman Chowdhury
Minister of Jute and Textiles
In office
July 1985 – April 1986
Prime MinisterAtaur Rahman Khan
Preceded bySultan Ahmad
Succeeded bySultan Mahmud
Advisor to the President of Bangladesh
In office
1983–1985
PresidentHussain Muhammad Ershad
Personal details
Born
Mohammad Abdus Sattar

(1925-03-01)1 March 1925
Durgapur, Rangpur, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Bangladesh)
Died5 June 2009(2009-06-05) (aged 84)
Dhaka Bangladesh
Resting placeMasdair Graveyard
Nationality
Political partyJatiya Party
Other political
affiliations
Occupation
  • Industrialist
  • Politician

Early life and education

Sattar was born on March 1, 1925, to Tofazzal Hossain and Hasna, a Bengali Muslim family in Durgapur, Rangpur, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Bangladesh). After completing his education in Rangpur and Kolkata, he entered the jute trade.[5]

East Pakistan period

Business career

Sattar founded Sattar Jute Mills Ltd.[6] in 1948 on 262 acres of land on the banks of the Shitalakshya River in Narayanganj.[7] Over 10 thousand workers used to work in Sattar Jute Mills.[8]

In 1963-64, he was elected the first Bengali Chairman of the then Pakistan Jute Association (PJA), and he was re-elected in 1965 and 1967. Sattar represented PJA at a number of conferences internationally and advocated for the interests of the Pakistan jute industry. [5]

He also held the positions of Vice-Chairman and Chairman of Pakistan Jute Mills Association (PJMA).[5]

Over the years, he expanded his business to other industries and founded Sattar & Company Ltd., Hasna Shipbuilding & Navigation Ltd., Rangpur Industries Ltd., and Tobacco Industries Ltd.[1]

Sattar was made Director of Australasia Bank Ltd. and Great Eastern Insurance Co.[1]

During this period, Sattar was commonly listed as one of the wealthiest families in East Pakistan, ranked tenth, with five institutions and assets worth 30 million rupees (equivalent to $6.3 million USD in 1970).[9]

Bangladesh Liberation war (1971)
See also: Operation Searchlight

Sattar, as one of the few Bengali industrialists and due to his close association with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was targeted for elimination during Operation Searchlight. On March 27, 1971, Pakistani soldiers entered his home "Rangpur House Massdair" in Narayanganj and immediately shot and killed his eldest son, Taufique Sattar (তৌফিক সাত্তার), and his friend Jalal Ahmed (জালাল আহমেদ). The soldiers ceased their attack when they saw a coveted civil award of Pakistan that had been given to Sattar for his contributions to the economy of Pakistan, thereby sparing his life along with the rest of his family.[10][11]

Post-independence activities

After the Independence of Bangladesh, the Bangladeshi government added socialism to the constitution of Bangladesh and nationalized most industries, which resulted in Sattar losing ownership of his industries, including Sattar Jute Mills. The Jute Mills were placed under the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation.[12][13]

Sattar organized Bangladeshi jute mill owners and formed an association to struggle for the return of the nationalized jute and cotton mills to their former Bengali owners, which was achieved in 1982.[5]

During this nationalization period, most industries suffered devastating losses due to rising costs, the devaluation of the taka, and internal corruption. The Jute industry never recovered and incurred heavy operating losses throughout the coming decades.[13] It was during this time Sattar entered politics.

Political career
See also: 1986 Bangladeshi general election and 1988 Bangladeshi general election

In 1983, he was appointed as an Adviser to President Hussain Muhammad Ershad with the rank and status of a cabinet minister. [14]

From July 1985 to April 1986, he served as the Jute Minister in the cabinet of President Ershad. Sattar introduced several measures to enhance the jute industry in Bangladesh, which included modernization of jute mills, promoting jute-based industries, and diversifying jute products. During his term, he focused on developing new markets for jute goods and increased the country's jute exports. Sattar worked to improve the production and export of jute. He emphasized expanding the jute industry and increasing the use of jute in various sectors. He then went on to serve as the Minister of Labor and Manpower from July 1986 to March 1987.[2]

He was elected twice as a Jatiya Party candidate to represent the Narayanganj-4 constituency in Parliament, first in 1986 and then again in 1988.[15][16] During his second term, he held the position of Chief Whip for the Jatiya Party in the 4th Jatiya Sangsad from 1988 to 1990. As Chief Whip, Sattar was responsible for ensuring discipline among members of the ruling party and their attendance in parliamentary sessions. He played a significant part in maintaining the party's discipline and attendance in the Parliament, particularly during crucial voting sessions. He worked to enhance the Bangladesh Jatiya Party's influence in Parliament and strengthen its alliances with other political parties.[3][4]

In the 1991 Bangladeshi general election, Sattar ran for office once more but did not succeed, receiving 11.7% of the votes.[17]

Personal life

M.A. Sattar was involved in social and cultural activities in his local community, and engaged in philanthropic activities. He was a patron of several educational institutions and social organizations in his constituency. In 1967, Sattar was elected as the first Bengali president of Narayanganj Club.[18]

In 1980, Sattar established a secondary school named Sattar Jute Mills Model High School in Rupganj, Narayanganj. In the beginning it was established for the children of officials and workers working in the jute mills, but over time the children of local residents also got the opportunity to read in this school. The school has been developed further with a 4-storey modern building and a vast playground by the new landlords. He also established a mosque for prayer near the school.[7]

To pay off the debts of the jute mills, he had to sell most of his assets throughout the years. In 2005, he sold Sattar Jute Mills, including the full-fledged factory buildings, warehouses, and remaining 55 acres with a riverfront to industrialist Anisur Rahman Sinha, the owner of the Sinha Group.[19]

M.A Sattar passed away on June 5th, 2009, at the age of 84.

References
  1. Biographical Encyclopedia of Pakistan. Pakistan: Biographical Research Institute, Pakistan. 1955. p. 350.
  2. Rahman, Syedur, ed. (1989). Historical dictionary of Bangladesh. United Kingdom: Scarecrow Press. pp. 222–223. ISBN 9780810848634.
  3. ""Chief Whips of All Parliaments"".
  4. "নারায়ণগঞ্জ-৪ আসনে চোখ". jugerchinta (in Bengali). Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  5. Near East/South Asia Report, Issue 84116. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1984. p. 64. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  6. ""Sattar Jute Mill Ltd"".
  7. আলম প্রিয়, মাহবুব. "বহুতল ভবনে বদলে গেছে রূপগঞ্জের ছাত্তার জুট মিলস মডেল হাই স্কুল". গ্রামবাংলা. আহসান হাবীব. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  8. Sikder, Khalil. "The jute mills of Rupganj have been closed for a century and a half". The Daily Inqilab. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  9. মওলা, গোলাম. "হারিয়ে যাওয়া ২২ ধনী পরিবার". Bangla Tribune. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  10. রাবি্ব, রাফিউর. "২৭ মার্চ নারায়ণগঞ্জে প্রথম প্রতিরোধ". সমকাল. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  11. হোসেন মমি, মনির (29 July 2018). "আমার জন্মভুমি "সিদ্ধিরগঞ্জ"০৫পর্ব-(মুক্তিযুদ্ধ) ১ম খন্ড". সোনেলা দরজা (in Bengali). Retrieved 17 March 2023. তারা এমএ ছাত্তারের (পরে এরশাদ সরকারের উপদেষ্টা) জ্যেষ্ঠ পুত্র তৌফিক সাত্তার ও তৌফিক সাত্তারের বন্ধু জালালকে হত্যা করে
  12. Sobhan, Rehman (1974). "Nationalisation of Industries in Bangladesh: Background and Problems" (PDF). The Economic Development of Bangladesh within a Socialist Framework. pp. 181–200. doi:10.1007/978-1-349-02363-9_7. ISBN 978-1-349-02365-3.
  13. Islam, Mufakharul. "Jute Industry". en.banglapedia.org. Banglapedia. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  14. Quarterly Economic Review of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan. Economist Intelligence Unit Limited. 1983. p. 20. Retrieved 18 March 2023. President Ershad has reshuffled the cabinet and made several other political appointments. MA Sattar has been appointed adviser to the president; he will have the rank and status of a cabinet minister.
  15. ""List of 3rd Parliament Members"" (PDF). parliament.gov.bd. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  16. ""List of 4th Parliament Members"" (PDF). Bangladesh Parliament (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  17. ""Parliament Election Result of 1991"". Archived from the original on 2008-12-29.
  18. ""CLUB HISTORY"".
  19. "Anisur Rahman Sinha".
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