A tribute to a pioneer in the real estate sector

He helped everyone indiscriminately - young, old, rich, poor, connected or not, family or not - if you asked him and you had honest means - he would help

‘Respect’--- A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.

My uncle, Nazim Nowaz Chowdhury, passed away unexpectedly 20th February this year . If I could use one word that defined his life it would be this – ‘Respect’. As I visit Bangladesh for a fleeting few days, I can't help but feel that this one word, defined so easily above, has so much more influence and importance to us as human beings than we realise. His life explains why.
Boro Mamu, as I will always know him, worked for the same company his entire life - Eastern Housing Limited (part of Islam Group) - where for most of his career he ran the Land and Real Estate Division. He was one of the most powerful people in this industry and this came with requisite opportunities on numerous occasions to move to competitor firms or even start his own firm in partnership with others. Why did he not take these opportunities, which would almost certainly have made him wealthier financially? Answer is ‘Respect’
You see, his original boss, the late Jahurul Islam (one of the founding fathers of the real estate business in Bangladesh and leading businessman of his generation) had given him his first chance in life and by the time he died, Nowaz had become a close aide and trusted advisor.  Islam asked him to look after the company's well-being and help his son in succession to the helm of the company. And that's exactly what Nowaz did without question. Until the day he passed away. In today's modern world, where efficiency reigns and employees change jobs for a 20 per cent bump in salary, this example of unyielding loyalty at the expense of personal gain, surely deserves the utmost appreciation.
These past few days as I spent time with grieving family members and friends, I was shocked to see hundreds of well-wishers most of whom nobody in the family knew, coming to pay their respects. I was curious to understand, how had he touched so many peoples' lives? - After all, he was not a public official or anything of that nature. As I spoke to some of them, I realised the same theme over and over again "Nowaz Bhai helped me with....". The stories revealed how he had helped each one of them with something - a job, a pay-rise, acquiring a plot of land, starting a business, funding mosques, donating to orphanages, etc - the list was endless.
Three things stuck out. First, that he helped everyone indiscriminately - young, old, rich, poor, connected or not, family or not - if you asked him and you had honest means - he would help. Second, he did this entirely selflessly. His help was not transactional in nature, as is so often the case in our society (I help you, you help me). Third, he did all of it quietly without any fanfare - most of his friends and family had never met or heard of the hundreds of peoples' lives he had impacted; even his family did not know about the mosques that he had funded. He only wanted one thing from all the people that he helped - Respect.
And this is exactly what he got. Not only in his passing, but whilst he was alive. I will never forget the time he walked into a company AGM I was attending - the MD was speaking in a hall to an audience of hundreds in attendance - he strode in with his huge 6ft frame towering above the crowd, surrounded by 20 people in his entourage (he always travelled with one). The entire audience turned to see who it was, the speaker paused. He walked over to me, gave me a big hug and sat down next to me. For the next 10 full minutes, ignoring the speaker, various members of the crowd came to shake his hand with some even touching his feet...they wanted to show their respect. I was the proudest man in the room.
I will cherish my personal memories of him forever - he loved me very much as his "one and only bhagna", which is exactly how he would introduce me to everyone.
From the late night rickshaw rides with him to the long chats in newly opened Dhaka restaurants and the frequent visits to his office where I was in awe of his presence and power, he played a huge role in creating those positive experiences.
Now that he has passed away, I look back not only at these memories, but also learn lessons from his life. In the modern era where the pursuit of wealth often dominates our lives, where social media dictates so much of our  interactions and efficiency gives rise to informality, I am truly in awe of a man who lived his life for Respect.
Giving it and receiving it. Not only for friends and family, but everyone who is deserving.

The writer is  a Managing Director with Goldman Sachs in London.

A tribute to a pioneer in the real estate sector

He helped everyone indiscriminately - young, old, rich, poor, connected or not, family or not - if you asked him and you had honest means - he would help

Respect--- A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. My uncle, Nazim Nowaz Chowdhury, passed away unexpectedly 20th February this year . If I could use one word that defined his life it would be this Respect. As I visit Bangladesh for a fleeting few days, I cant help but feel that this one word, defined so easily above, has so much more influence and importance to us as human beings than we realise. His life explains why. Boro Mamu, as I will always know him, worked for the same company his entire life - Eastern Housing Limited (part of Islam Group) - where for most of his career he ran the Land and Real Estate Division. He was one of the most powerful people in this industry and this came with requisite opportunities on numerous occasions to move to competitor firms or even start his own firm in partnership with others. Why did he not take these opportunities, which would almost certainly have made him wealthier financially? Answer is Respect You see, his original boss, the late Jahurul Islam (one of the founding fathers of the real estate business in Bangladesh and leading businessman of his generation) had given him his first chance in life and by the time he died, Nowaz had become a close aide and trusted advisor. Islam asked him to look after the companys well-being and help his son in succession to the helm of the company. And thats exactly what Nowaz did without question. Until the day he passed away. In todays modern world, where efficiency reigns and employees change jobs for a 20 per cent bump in salary, this example of unyielding loyalty at the expense of personal gain, surely deserves the utmost appreciation. These past few days as I spent time with grieving family members and friends, I was shocked to see hundreds of well-wishers most of whom nobody in the family knew, coming to pay their respects. I was curious to understand, how had he touched so many peoples lives? - After all, he was not a public official or anything of that nature. As I spoke to some of them, I realised the same theme over and over again Nowaz Bhai helped me with..... The stories revealed how he had helped each one of them with something - a job, a pay-rise, acquiring a plot of land, starting a business, funding mosques, donating to orphanages, etc - the list was endless. Three things stuck out. First, that he helped everyone indiscriminately - young, old, rich, poor, connected or not, family or not - if you asked him and you had honest means - he would help. Second, he did this entirely selflessly. His help was not transactional in nature, as is so often the case in our society (I help you, you help me). Third, he did all of it quietly without any fanfare - most of his friends and family had never met or heard of the hundreds of peoples lives he had impacted; even his family did not know about the mosques that he had funded. He only wanted one thing from all the people that he helped - Respect. And this is exactly what he got. Not only in his passing, but whilst he was alive. I will never forget the time he walked into a company AGM I was attending - the MD was speaking in a hall to an audience of hundreds in attendance - he strode in with his huge 6ft frame towering above the crowd, surrounded by 20 people in his entourage (he always travelled with one). The entire audience turned to see who it was, the speaker paused. He walked over to me, gave me a big hug and sat down next to me. For the next 10 full minutes, ignoring the speaker, various members of the crowd came to shake his hand with some even touching his feet...they wanted to show their respect. I was the proudest man in the room. I will cherish my personal memories of him forever - he loved me very much as his one and only bhagna, which is exactly how he would introduce me to everyone. From the late night rickshaw rides with him to the long chats in newly opened Dhaka restaurants and the frequent visits to his office where I was in awe of his presence and power, he played a huge role in creating those positive experiences. Now that he has passed away, I look back not only at these memories, but also learn lessons from his life. In the modern era where the pursuit of wealth often dominates our lives, where social media dictates so much of our interactions and efficiency gives rise to informality, I am truly in awe of a man who lived his life for Respect. Giving it and receiving it. Not only for friends and family, but everyone who is deserving. The writer is a Managing Director with Goldman Sachs in London.