Silvia

Mohammed Mujibur Rahman Milon is distributing Iftar (breakfast) for fasting Peoples Nawabganj

Under the initiative of expatriate successful businessman and gentleman Mohammed Mujibur Rahman Milon, Iftar distribution program “Cholti Pothe Iftar” was held among the pilgrims during the holy month of Ramadan at Nawabganj Bus Stand and Bagmara Bazar in Nawabganj, Dhaka.

Volunteers of VoiceAsian and local businessmen handed over iftar items to the pilgrims. Bus passengers, rickshaw passengers, rickshaw drivers, pedestrians were not left out of Iftar. The team delivered gift bags of Iftar goods to everyone.

Under this initiative of Mujibur Rahman Milan, an expatriate gentleman, 105 pilgrims are given dates, water, cake, samucha and peazo every day. Many of the passers-by who took this iftar at that time said that this initiative must be a great and great initiative. This is also a blessing for those of us who cannot reach our destination in time for Iftar.

Under this program, iftar items will be distributed among 3000 plus pedestrian fasting people at a total of 30 points outside Dhaka, Munshiganj and Dhaka during the holy month of Ramadan.

A group of volunteers of VoiceAsian.news, the only mouthpiece of Asia’s Bengali community, is working to implement this great initiative of Mujibur Rahman Milan. They reach the designated spot every day and hand over the Iftar items to the pilgrims.

When asked why this initiative, Mujibur Rahman Milon said, “This is my small effort for the sake of Allah’s pleasure and for the convenience of pedestrians fasting.” I hope to continue this great work throughout Ramadan with the support of all of you.

VoiceAsian.news, the only mouthpiece of the Bengali community in Asia, is currently managing the Iftar program.

Expatriate successful businessman Mohammed Mujibur Rahman Milon is giving Iftar to 105 pedestrian fasting people every day during the holy month of Ramadan. Around Dhaka including the capital Dhaka and in Munshiganj every day of Ramadan, just before Iftar, a group of volunters hand over goody bags of Iftar items to the busy fasting people.

It should be noted that the initiative of expatriate successful businessman Mohammed Mujibur Rahman Milon is delivering Iftar goody bags to the hands of 105 fasting peoples on the way just before Iftar at different points of Dhaka and 30 places outside Dhaka during Ramadan. These include dates, water, juice and cakes. Mohammed Mujibur Rahman Milon said this small effort of mine is for the hope of Allah’s satisfaction and for the well-being of pilgrims. Iftar on the way will be next to pedestrian fasting throughout Ramadan.

He thanked the VoiceAsian team for their special support in this great event.

Mohammed Mujibur Rahman Milon is distributing Iftar (breakfast) for fasting peoples everyday 18th Ramadan in Banani, Kakoli & 19th Ramadan in Newmarket

Expatriate successful businessman Mohammed Mujibur Rahman Milon is giving Iftar to 100 pedestrian fasting people every day during the holy month of Ramadan. Around Dhaka including the capital Dhaka and in Munshiganj every day of Ramadan, just before Iftar, a group of volunters hand over goody bags of Iftar items to the busy fasting people.

A group of VoiceAsian staff wearing red and green caps and wearing white t-shirts are reaching their designated places before iftar to hand over iftar to the fasting people and handing over the iftar goody bags to the fasting people. In continuation of which, yesterday this team works to hand over iftar bags to the fasting people at Banani, Kakoli area & today at Newmarket area.

On the way, eager passers-by gather around the Iftar program workers. Volunteers hand over Iftar products to the passers-by. After receiving these iftar items, many people say that Allah blesses those who have taken such a special initiative. After receiving this iftar bag, the faces of the fasting people are happy.

It should be noted that the initiative of expatriate successful businessman Mohammed Mujibur Rahman Milon is delivering Iftar goody bags to the hands of 100 fasting peoples on the way just before Iftar at different points of Dhaka and 30 places outside Dhaka during Ramadan. These include dates, water, juice and cakes. Mohammed Mujibur Rahman Milon said this small effort of mine is for the hope of Allah’s satisfaction and for the well-being of pilgrims. Iftar on the way will be next to pedestrian fasting throughout Ramadan.

He thanked the VoiceAsian team for their special support in this great event.

Ramadan is the month of mercy and blessings. In this month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world fast and engage in worship in the hope of attaining the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and freedom from hell. This image is also of our country.

In the busy streets of Dhaka, it is not possible to explain the situation of people who are at home just before Iftar in this special month of Ramadan. Due to the traffic jam, many of the fasting people have to eat their Iftar on the road. Just when the busy streets of Dhaka were busy, a group of young volunteers were seen on the busy streets taking Iftar next to the pedestrians. Wearing red and green colored caps and white and red t-shirts, they are handing out goody bags of Iftar products to the fasting people who are returning home just before Iftar on the busy streets of Dhaka & outside of City.

Today, April 5, their activities were observed at Tikarpur Bus Stand at Nawabganj, a very busy road entering Dhaka. Right before Iftar, passers-by handed out goody bags of Iftar items to the fasting people. Iftar goody bag on the way to Iftar came to hand with a shadow of relief at the moment when the look of tiredness and depression appeared on the faces of fasting people in the traffic jam before Iftar. After receiving this cholti pothe iftar bag, happy smiles appeared on the faces of the fasting people.

Under the initiative of expatriate successful businessman Mujibur Rahman Milon, goody bags for iftar are being delivered to the hands of 100 fasting peoples on the way just before iftar at different points in Dhaka and 30 places outside Dhaka during Ramadan. These include dates, water, juice and cake. Mujibur Rahman Milon said this small effort of mine is for the hope of Allah satisfaction and for the well-being of fasting peoples. Cholti Pothe Iftar will be next to pedestrian fasting throughout Ramadan.

In the initiative of expatriate businessman and successful gentleman Mujibur Rahman Milon, the Iftar distribution program “Cholti Pothe Iftar” among the pilgrims during the holy month of Ramadan was inaugurated today. VoiceAsian.news, the only mouthpiece of the Bengali community in Asia, is currently managing the Iftar program.

This program was inaugurated today (24th March) at Gulisthan Zero Point by VoiceAsian.news Special Correspondent and Bangladesh Representative Md. Shajadul Haque Duke. The presence of enthusiastic fasting people in this special event was overwhelming. Pedestrians started coming like water breaking the dam as soon as the iftar material reached in front of the Zero Point Mosque in Gulisthan. Our team is really struggling to handle this crowd. When the situation goes out of control at one point, it comes under control with the intervention of the present administration. Disregarding continuity, they fight each other over who will take the lead. Our photographer had no choice but to stand as a silent spectator.

Under this program, iftar items will be distributed among 3000 pedestrian fasting people at a total of 30 points outside Dhaka, Munshiganj and Dhaka during the holy month of Ramadan. Those among the passersby who need iftar can take iftar from us. Iftar is given to rickshaw pullers, security guards of various nearby buildings and beggars.

Dates, water, juice and cakes are provided to 100 pedestrians fasting daily under this initiative of expatriate gentleman Mujibur Rahman Milon. Many of the passers-by who took this iftar at that time said that this initiative must be a great and great initiative. This is also a blessing for those of us who cannot reach our destination in time for Iftar.

This Iftar program will continue continuously throughout Ramadan at 30 spots in and outside Dhaka City. A group of volunteers of VoiceAsian.news, the only mouthpiece of Asia’s Bengali community, is working to implement this great initiative of Mujibur Rahman Milon. They reach their designated spot after Asar prayer every day and hand over iftar items to passerby fasting people.

When asked why this initiative, Mujibur Rahman Milon said that even though many people want it, due to lack of manpower and proper management system, it is not possible to offer Iftar to the fasting people every day, it becomes a difficult thing for many people. So this is my small effort for the pleasure of Allah and for the convenience of pilgrims. I hope to continue this great work throughout Ramadan with the support of all of you. Of course, VoiceAsian.news deserves the most credit for this program. Without their management, I would not have been able to implement this plan.

Opinions differ over the consequences of market upheaval.

Opinions are split over the direction of demolition prices given the ongoing scrapping hiatus in Bangladesh and ethnic tensions in Pakistan.

Anil Sharma of Global Marketing Systems (GMS) and Tahir Lakhani of Dubai Trading Agency put contrasting spins on what the market may expect.

Sharma sees a potential short term spike in prices to around $500 per ldt if the price of steel holds or strengthens and Bangladesh reopens for business in the next few weeks. Bangladesh has been absent for the past six months after the imposition of stricter environmental regulations.

“It will not last long but I can see it happening,” said Sharma of a possible uplift in prices, which have recently seen bulkers and tankers securing around $440 per ldt, although some have gone for much more.

Lakhani, however, says he doubts $500 per ldt can be achieved in the foreseeable future given examples of India paying as low as $425 per ldt. He questions market chatter of Bangladeshi breakers rushing to replenish stocks. It may be open initially for 10 or so ships but recyclers are unlikely to act like fools, he says.

Demolition men:

Cash buyers attending a private luncheon to mark the launch of tradeWinds Ship Recycling Forum scheduled for 1-2 march 2011 in Dubai.

From left, Ali Lakhani, Dubai trading Agency, Steve Wansell, Mideast Shipping & Trading, Anil Sharma, Global marketing Systems (GmS), mujibur Rahman milon, Silvia Shiptrade (S) Pte Ltd, Tahir Lakhani, Dubai Trading Agency, and Briac Beilvert, eckhardt marineUnconfirmed reports say the environmental authorities in Bangladesh may have authorised as many as 12 breakers to resume activities but with a long list of conditions attached.

Lakhani says that until a ship is beached again in Bangladesh, that market should be seen as closed. The market has also been knocked by scores of deaths due to the ethnic violence in Pakistan. Lakhani points to reports of 350,000 tonnes of material lying at Gadani because buyers are not coming forward following the troubles and collections have halted.

GMS talks in its last report of activity in Pakistan drawing to a standstill, with most vessel buyers lying low and many uncontactable. Despite positive sentiment in India, the market earlier this week was said to be falling, despite the approaching Diwali holidays, prior to which prices normally rise. Money, it is claimed by one source, is being sucked out of Alang by big share issues in India that offer investors better returns.

Meanwhile, some cash buyers are said to have been selling at a loss, including one vessel bought for $448 per ldt “as is” in Fujairah but sold this week on a delivered basis at $440 per ldt. Examples involving other cash buyers have also surfaced.

“The market is very bad at the moment and I feel it will remain bad,” claimed one cash buyer. Others are less worried. India is said to have picked up various tankers originally bound for Bangladesh and that have been gas freed for hotwork to comply with the new regulations in India.

The extra cost is being borne, it is said, by either owners or cash buyers.

Meanwhile, Sharma says 2010 has turned out to be a much slower year for demolition than 2009 when, he says, around 1,000 vessels went to the torch. Last year saw a lot of containerships recycled, whereas this year it has been tankers.

The more muted supply in 2010, especially in the dry market, is because of charter rates remaining relatively firm, says Sharma. Also, owners who bought older tonnage at high prices have been reluctant to sell.

Sharma believes some owners have held on to ships, especially tankers, in anticipation of Bangladesh reopening.

He estimates that this year between 700 and 800 vessels will be recycled.

Lakhani says the yearend total could be as low as 600 if Bangladesh does not reopen. He puts 2009’s total at closer to 700 to 800 vessels.

Sharma and Lakhani joined various other cash buyers, brokers, lawyers and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)’s Nikos Mikelis at a luncheon at London’s Lanesborough Hotel to mark the launch of TradeWinds’s Ship Recycling Forum to be held in Dubai on 12 March 2011.

Source: Trade Winds. By Geoff Garfield. 29 October 2010

In the upcoming Holy Ramadan, the expatriate businessman, Mujibur Rahman Milon is going to take the great initiative of providing generous Iftar to the Fasting peoples with dates, water, juice and other bakery items. This will be provided more than 100 Fasting peoples daily under this great initiative. This Iftar ceremony is exceptional for those who cannot reach their destination timely before Iftar time.

This Iftar program will be continued in 30 spots of Dhaka City throughout month of Ramadan. A group of volunteers from VoiceAsian.news, the only mouthpiece of the Bengali community in Asia, will work to implement this great initiative of Mujibur Rahman Milon. They will be at their designated spot after Asar prayer every day and hand over the Iftar items on time.

When asked why this initiative, Mujibur Rahman Milon said that although there is a desire of many people, due to lack of manpower/ lack of proper management, it is not possible to offer Iftar to the fasting people every day, So this is my small initiative for the satisfaction of Allah and I hope to continue this great work throughout this upcoming Holy Ramadan . Breaking the fast is a special act of the believer and in exchange for this special deed, Almighty Allah forgives all his servants during this auspicious month of Holy Ramadan.

Another sunnah of iftar to be noted is to break iftar with dates. Hazrat Salman Ibn Amer (RA) said, The Prophet (SAW) said, when one of you breaks his fast, he should break his fast with dates first & if he does not get dates, then let him break his fast with water. Because water is pure. (Musnad Ibn Abi Shaiba-Musnad Ahmad-Sahih Ibn Khuzaima).

Another hadith of the Messenger of Allah , Hazrat Zayd Ibn Juhani (R.A.) narrates, the Messenger (S.A.W.) said, ‘Whoever breaks the fast for a fasting person, he will be rewarded like the fasting person; However, the reward or goodness of the fasting person will not be reduced at all. (Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Nasa’i).

Mujibur Rahman Milon’s Silvia Group, a long established and reputable shipping group based in Singapore, continued to stand by the cold-hit poor people across Bangladesh. The group arranged for the distribution of blankets among the cold victims in Nawabganj, Dohar, Savar, Rangpur and Pabna on 21st January.

Around 1,000 distressed people received the blankets at a programme held on the premises of Nawabganj Amtola Bus Stand. Amiron Begum, 70, from Kalacopa village of Nawabganj expressed her deep gratitude to Silvia Group after receiving a blanket. “I urged many people to give me a blanket but they turned a deaf ear. So, my happiness after getting the blanket beggars description,” she said with tearful eyes.

On Saturday 21 Jan, 2023, the Silvia Group sponsored warm blankets to 1000 poor families in Bangladesh. The distribution was well organized by VoiceAsian.news at Nawabganj, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The villagers were very thankful for the blankets which will greatly help them to combat the bitter cold during the winter season. It was a difficult period for many poor families in the rural area that have been severely affected by both the effects of the pandemic and the cold weather.

In Jhenaidah, the industrial conglomerate distributed blankets among more than 500 people at Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman Stadium in Sadar Upazila.

In Chatmohar of Pabna, 500 insolvent and vulnerable people got blankets from the Silvia Group. The blanket distribution took place at Chatmohar Govt Degree College ground.

Silvia Group stood by the cold-hit poor people in the capital and Magura district on 28 January.

Silvia Shiptrade might seem an incongruous name for a company involved in the dirty and dangerous world of ship-breaking but for managing director Mujibur Rahman Milon it has a special meaning.

When Milon decided to set up his Singapore-based operation to buy ships for resale to Bangladeshi breakers he submitted a list of possible names to the local Trade Development Board. All the names he suggested had been taken so he named the company after his seven-year-old daughter Silvia instead.

The company has now been up and running for around 18 months and so far Milon has been concentrating only on the Bangladesh market, with around 25 ships totaling 300,000 ldt bought and sold on to breakers. Most vessels have been bulkers or tween deckers but Milon is hopeful of securing a VLCC in the near future.

Milon says Silvia’s trade comprises around 30%-40% of all scrap tonnage sold into Bangladesh. He acknowledges that the company faces tough competition from established players such as Germany’s Eckhardt and Middle East buyer Five Star However, he declares: “Our intention is that we will lead the Bangladeshi market.”

Although still a relatively small shop on the international scrap-buying circuit, Silvia is regarded as on the way up and a friendly organization. At the official opening of the company’s new office in April a large group of Bangladeshi breakers flew in for the occasion and the party also drew representation from Braemar in London, the Singapore office of RS Platou and various Taiwanese brokers.

Milon, originally born in Karachi but now a Bangladeshi citizen, believes his strong ties with local scrap buyers will give Silvia an advantage. He deals with around 35-40 different breakers and so far he says all sales have gone smoothly with- out any vanishing buyers so of ten associated with scrap deals.

An unusual feature of Milon’s business is that he owns two breaking plots in Chittagong where he has recently placed the 3.400-ldt car carrier Puppis (built 1977) and the 13.289-ldt US-flagged tanker Seminole (built 1961) Milon says it provides a useful buffer zone for taking in ships other clients cannot manage. “Once owners sell to us they can sleep easy in their beds,” he says.

Milon comments that the Bangladesh budget last week heralded nothing new for the breaking community and adds that the market is dead at the moment. He goes on to admit the Bangladeshi scrap market follows India on pricing and that Bangladeshi scrap buyers can still break even despite the depressed prevailing prices around $115-$120 per idt for bulk tonnage and $125-$130 per ldt for tankers.

Silvia currently buys around two to three ships per month but Milon says the company could easily boost this to five or six. His main reason for setting up in Singapore is to access better financing and the world- wide broking community so he can develop the business. By the end of 1998 he hopes to ex- tend sales into Pakistan before branching into the Indian market next year.

Milon’s ‘luck opened’ with first deal

WOULD-BE cash buyers for Bangladeshi shipbreakers must serve a very long apprentice ship. Milon remembers working on his first sale for three years while different breakers tested him out as the “new boy” on the block.

He has not forgotten that first ship. “It was the Alesia Bay, a 5.000 idt tweendecker” he says beaming, “and I struck a very good deal. From that vessel my luck opened.”

That was in 1984. With the sale proceeds Milon established Ocean Trade & Brokers in Chittagong, which since it was established has handled over 500 vessel sales to Bangladeshi scrap buyers. Today Ocean trade acts as an agent for Singapore based Silvia Shiptrade Milon now makes monthly shuttles between the modest offices in Singapore and his- larger Chittagong operation where he employs around 25 people.

A soft-spoken man with a ready smile, Milon is described by friends as exceptionally hardworking and a devout Muslim. He undertakes a considerable amount of charity work at home in Bangladesh. His staff say he can be impossible to reach on the phone and breaking associates pull his leg charging him with organizing early-morning keep-fit swims at the Chittagong Club and then failing to turn up himself.

“Poor Market” with the slogan “Buy as much as you need”.

Two more months left for the start of Ramadan. But now the price of every product is abnormally high. The price of every commodity including rice, dal, oil, fish, meat, vegetables has gone beyond the purchasing power of the lower and middle class.

There has been volatility in the consumer goods market for several months. The prices of the essential products have increased gradually. In the midst of this, the sudden decision to increase the price of fuel oil and gas has caught fire in the market.

In recent times, the market for unsustainable products has taken a big place in various media. Various media have published reports on this throughout the month, from which the helplessness of common people can be felt. The current unbridled rise in the prices of daily commodities has affected all sections of the people but has reached unbearable levels for the people with limited income. The poor are in crisis, and the middle class is disoriented.

Just when such a far-fetched situation is right for the market of daily commodities, Mujibur Rahman Milon himself is running a special market called Garib Bazar thinking of the underprivileged and low income people of the country through a project called Garib Bazar.

Whether it is rural or urban, the exorbitant prices of daily necessities have made the lives of low-income people miserable. All in all, life has become difficult these days. Various products are available at half the market price for the benefit of low-income buyers. Suppose the normal market price of 16 products of your choice is 1600 taka, you can buy it from this market for only 800 taka. An exceptional product market has been launched with the slogan “Buy as much as you need”. This exceptionally timely “poor market” in Nawabganj, on the outskirts of Dhaka. Expatriate Mujibur Rahman Milon took this initiative. Today initially this market started in Nawabganj but gradually it will be spread all over the country. In the next Ramadan, we want to continue this trend, said the main entrepreneur, Mujibur Rahman Milan. He also said that I have always been by the side of helpless and poor people in the difficult times of the country and will continue to be so in the future, inshallah.

Editor and CEO of Voice Asian, ICT Program Planner of Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Freelance Journalist Eng Mosharraf Jewel and Sub Inspector of Nawabganj Thana Ajit Kumar Roy inaugurated this special poor bazaar program organized by Mujibur Rahman Milan. Also present at the opening ceremony were Voice Asian special representative Md. Sajedul Haque Duke, former civil surgeon of Nawabganj Thana Health Complex Dr. Mohammad Hossain, banker Safiul Islam, prominent businessmen of Nawabganj market and various wards members and dignitaries of Kalakopa Union.

Poor people are happy to be able to buy daily necessities including rice, dal, oil, flour, salt, eggs from this market at half the market price. About 50 families availed this facility on the opening day of the market. Every family has the opportunity to buy rice, dal, oil, potato, onion, flour, egg, noodles and other daily necessities from this market at half the market price.

The buyers of the market are mainly low income. Some are rickshaw pullers, some are shop workers, some are local factory workers. Hence the market is locally known as poor man’s market.

Voice Asian volunteers do house-to-house surveys and distribute tokens; By showing this, the poor are given the opportunity to buy products in the market. Its main promoter Mujibur Rahman Milon said that this market will continue throughout the month of Ramadan. He also said that initially this market will be conducted in Dhaka and Chittagong, but in the future it will be expanded throughout the country.

According to the entrepreneurial authority, this market is organized in different parts of the country once a month to support the needy.

It should be noted here that Mujibur Rahman Milan is an honest, always smiling and philanthropic person. He is involved in various social activities in the country as well as abroad. He is the founder and co-president of Bangladesh Business Chamber of Singapore (BDCHAM). Many business activities are conducted by him with BDCHAM and Bangladesh. Apart from this, he is also known as a successful business leader to the Bengali community of that country. At the moment of any calamity in the country, he always comes forward by extending his hand of service to the helpless.

Singapore Office

Location: 4 Shenton Way, #10-03/06, SGX Centre II, Singapore 068807

Phone: +65 62244454

Email: silvia@silviaships.com

London Office

Location: Salisbury House, 29 Finsbury Circus EC2M 5SQ London, UK

Phone: +44 20 3876 5523

Email: silvia@silviaships.com

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