An award is not just a trophy. It means recognition of innovations, an inspiration that will make some local businesses confident to compete with global giants. So said the winners of Bangladesh Business Awards 2009, given by The Daily Star and DHL Express.

Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd. the leading and the largest pharmaceutical company in Bangladesh has won the crown of 'best enterprise of the year 2009'. The award recognises the $164 million-a-year-turnover company for its successful entry to overseas markets.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman, who gave away the awards, saluted the private sector, saying that they are driving the economy towards global standards. Mr. Anjan Chowdhury, Director, Square Pharmaceuticals Limited received the award on behalf of Square on 17th April 2010.

By winning this highly prestigious award Square Pharma has proved once again to be a business enterprise with good corporate governance, manufacturing excellence and business ethics.

Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA) on Tuesday gave away awards to 111 sports personalities for the last seven years— 'Kool BSJA Awards 2002-2008'— at a colorful function at the NSC Tower.

It turned into a get-together for the sports personalities at the NSC Tower on occasion of the Kool BSJA Awards. Star sportsmen, coaches, organizers, sponsors are among others were present to attend this colorful function.

Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad graced the function as chief guest while State Minister for Youth and Sports Ahad Ali Sarker and Managing Director of Square Toiletries Anjan Chowdhury were also present as special guests.

The chief guest, Minister of Information and Cultural Affairs Abul Kalam Azad remarked that the award will motivate players, coaches, organizers and sponsors to give more to the development of sports in the country.

"I hope you will take this recognition as a motivation to raise our flag high in the international sports arena," Azad urged the awardees.

Besides, State Minister for Youth and Sports Ahad Ali Sarkar said, "The players should give all their efforts according to the capabilities." He said that the government will give all out support to the players.

As special guest, Anjan Chowdhury said his organization has been sponsoring sports at different levels for a long time and sponsoring of this function was a continuation of our efforts in the field of sports. For patronizing sports at the national level Square Group won the "Kool- BSJA Sponsor Award-2003" and Mr. Anjan Chowdhury, MD, Square Toiletries Limited was also awarded for "Kool- BSJA Organizer award-2004". Mr. Anjan Chowdhury, on behalf of Square Group received the award.

A minute's silence was observed prior to the start of the prize giving ceremony in memory of players, sports organizers and those who were killed in the sad BDR Headquarters incident on February 25. The function also marked the 21st birthday of national all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, who was nominated for the sportsman of the year 2008.

One of the leading Men's grooming brands of the country - Kool, a popular brand of Square Toiletries Ltd, was the title sponsor of the award giving program.

A Six member team of Board of Directors of Asian Development Bank visited Square Pharmaceutical's State of the Art manufacturing facilities at Kaliakoir on June 19 last. ADB Country Director Ms. Hua Du also accompanied the team.

The sprawling site currently houses three manufacturing facilities which are Solid Dosage, Cephalosporins and SVPO (Small Volume Parenteral and Ophthalmic). Square Pharmaceuticals received UK MHRA (United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) certification of its solid dosage facilities in February 2007 which was the first for a Bangladeshi company. First shipment of products from the facility to UK was made in September 2007.

The visiting Board Members of ADB were from Germany , Korea , United States , Australia , Netherlands and India . The visitors were briefed on the Square pharmaceutical's Domestic and International business followed by a tour of the manufacturing facilities. The Board of Directors was impressed by the progress Bangladesh achieved in Pharmaceuticals. Square's use of state of the art manufacturing facilities for pharmaceutical production and it's on going works to enter into the pharmaceutical markets of Europe and North America received admiration from the visiting ADB Board of Directors.

Photograph: Visiting ADB Board of Directors, ADB Country Director Hua Du and Square Pharma officials.

SAFA (South Asian Federation of Accountants) – an apex body of SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation) awarded Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd. the "Merit Certificate" for the year 2006 in the Manufacturing Sector of "SAFA Best Presented Accounts Awards Competition 2006". The SAFA committee honored Square based on its evaluation of published annual report of the company on improvement, transparency, accountability and governance. SAFA as a forum of professional accountancy bodies is committed to positioning, maintaining and developing the accountancy profession in SAARC Region and ensuring its continued eminence in the world of accountancy; in the public interest and towards broad economic development of the region.

Mr. Kabir Reza, Director (Accounts & Finance) of the company received the award on behalf of Square from Mr. Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka in a presentation ceremony at New Delhi on 12 January, 2008.

Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd. the leading and the largest pharmaceutical company in Bangladesh has been accorded Gold Award as an “Achiever of Industrial Excellence”, amongst the SAARC countries for the year 2007 by CNCI.

This award was conferred to SQUARE at a grand presentation ceremony attended by the dignitaries both from the SAARC and other foreign countries at the Grand Ballroom of Colombo Hilton Hotel on the 6th of July, 2007 in Sri Lanka.

The “CNCI Special SAARC Regional Country Award”, is accorded to the best business entities in the SAARC countries which have achieved the Highest Industrial Excellence in their home countries and have also gained international prominence in conducting business in the most professional and ethical manner.

By winning this highly prestigious award Square Pharma has proved once again to be a business entity with superior management practices, product excellence and business ethics.