The New Nation - Internet Edition

BUSINESS REPORT

Golam Mainuddin has been appointed as the chairman of British American Tobacco Bangladesh Company Limited (BAT Bangladesh) effective from August 3, 2008. After a successful career spanning 26 years in BAT Bangladesh, Mainuddin will retire from his current position as Deputy Managing Director to become non-executive Chairman of the company.

Mainuddin started his career in BAT Bangladesh as Leaf Operations Manager in 1982 after a 13-year stint in tea plantation. He became Head of Leaf in 1985, and later a member of the Board of Directors in 1986. He assumed the role of Deputy Managing Director in 1997. Mainuddin was instrumental in quality improvement of Bangladeshi tobacco and introducing that to the global market. Today, Bangladesh produces more than Tk 625 crore of tobacco leaf annually, exporting Tk 125 crore to earn valuable foreign exchange. During his tenure with the company, he expanded BAT Bangladesh's afforestation programme. Till date, the company has distributed over 5.5 crores of saplings, making it the largest private sector of forestation programme in Bangladesh.

Mainuddin currently represents BAT Bangladesh in a number of forums including Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bangladesh Employers' Federation and Bangladesh Cigarette Manufacturers Association.