The realtor is the first producer of environment-friendly hollow block
Concord is the only Bangladeshi company that has completed a 720-foot tall, iconic and technically challenging structure abroad. The SINGTEL Telecom Tower in Singapore was built by Concord in collaboration with Sumimoto Mitsui Construction Company Japan. Concord is proud for the National Martyrs’ Memorial (Jatiyo Smriti Soudho), the national monument of Bangladesh, set up in the memory of those who laid down their lives in the country’s War of Independence in 1971. The monument is located in Savar, about 35 km northwest of the capital, Dhaka. It was designed by Syed Mainul Hossain and built by Concord in 1982 in only 89 days.
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is the principal international airport serving Bangladesh and its capital city Dhaka. It was constructed by Concord in 1980. The company also built the VVIP Terminal of Shahjalal International Airport. Concord pioneered the use of steel props and fire-resisting ceilings and built the first three high-rise 20-storied buildings in Dhaka’s commercial hub Motijheel: Bangladesh Shilpa Bank Building (with 3 basements), Janata Bank Bhaban and Jiban Bima Tower. It has constructed some of the most impressive and most iconic projects in the country. The projects include World Trade Centre (Chattogram), National Indoor Stadium, Police Plaza Concord, IDB Bhaban, and The British High Commission in Baridhara.
Growing with a Nation
Concord started its journey with the construction of war-damaged bridges after liberation. Since then it has taken part in port reconstruction, construction of essential factory buildings, the international airport, defence installations and notable high-rise structures to name a few. The company has also diversified into new fields such as real estate development, the manufacture of construction materials, tourism and hospitality (theme parks and resort hotels), readymade garment factories and the development of much needed “affordable housing”.
With over 50 years of experience, Concord is Bangladesh’s leading real estate and construction conglomerate. The company began operation in 1973 and has so far completed more than 1,200 buildings and constructed various projects that are technically challenging ones. Concord has handed more than 10,000 residential apartments and commercial units over to the customers, including a satellite township project called ‘Lake City Concord’ in Khilkhet, Dhaka. It used blocks for constructing building in the township project consisting of more than 4,000 apartments. No traditional bricks are used here. LakeCity’s latest addition to add a new dimension to lifestyle is the Concorde Chandrima. Apart from the stunning design, the most attractive aspects of Chandrima are its own gym, elite reception lobby, rooftop garden and children’s play-zone. In addition, this picturesque location has its own school, mosque, supermarket and all the necessary amenities. Concord has set up the country’s only landscaped, gated luxury villa complex in Ashulia.
Shaping Dhaka’s Skyline
Engineer SM Kamaluddin established Concord Engineers and Construction Ltd. as a public limited company in 1973. He is now Chairman and his son Shahriar Kamal is Managing Director of the company. More than 2,500 employees are working in this Group. The industries under this conglomerate include Construction, Real estate, Building products, Land Development, Architectural design, Interior design, Communications, Entertainment, Hospitality and Garments. And its subsidiaries are: Concord Engineers and Construction Ltd., Concord Real Estate and Building Product Ltd., Concord Condominium Ltd., Concord Real Estate and Development Ltd., Concord Entertainment Co. Ltd., Concord Ready-Mix and Concrete products Ltd., Concord Architects and Interior Décor Ltd., Concord Prestressed Concrete and Block Plants Ltd., Concord Lands Ltd., Concord Consortium Ltd., Concord Communication Co. Ltd. and Concord City Development Ltd.
Uniqueness
Concord is known for breaking records and setting standards. It has a long and impressive track record in construction. It is known for the quality of work and for completing projects in record time. It is involved in all sectors of the construction market – Premium High-End Luxury Condominiums, Medium-Range Apartments, High-End Commercial Buildings, Mixed-Use Project (Commercial and Residential), Shopping Malls, Satellite Townships, Luxury Low-Rise Gated Villas, Land Projects and Affordable Housing. For its commitment to the customers and the communities it serves it has earned enormous trust. It has worked with some of the best consultants (local and foreign). Concord has a very strong architectural and engineering design division and an interior design arm. Thanks to a highly talented workforce and a professional approach to business, Concord has set a high standard in the field of construction and engineering. It has a reputation of being the first at many things in Bangladesh, whether it is applying the latest technology, using environmentally safe construction materials or building something which has never been built before in the country. Concord has introduced low-cost “Pucca” (permanent concrete buildings instead of temporary tin housing) economy housing projects. Its uniqueness and strength are that portfolio of properties is quite diverse, encompassing ultra-high-end residential, many categories of commercial housing.
Iconic Projects
It is the first company that introduced and implemented Top-Down construction technology in a project (World Trade Centre) at Chattogram. Concord constructed the country’s first revolving restaurant and tower (Height 71 metre) in Chattogram. It is the first developer to use environment-friendly construction materials in Bangladesh. Concord is the company that introduced Ready-Mix Concrete commercially in Bangladesh. It set up Bangladesh’s first environment-friendly block factory in 1998. Concrete blocks (instead of kiln burnt clay bricks) since 1998 and Aqua Pac sewerage treatment plants since 2002. Concord introduced RCBM (Reinforced Concrete Block Masonry) technology which is a better structural system for earthquake-prone zones. Concord has five ready-mix concrete batching plants, four fully automated high capacity European block plants on the bank of the Meghna river in 1998 that manufacture concrete products (Hollow blocks, Solid blocks, Ornamental blocks, Pavers, Ceiling blocks, Kerb-stones, 30 MPa loading-bearing blocks, Roof tiles, Cladding blocks/bricks etc.), a terrazzo/engraved tiles manufacturing plant and a furniture manufacturing factory. The capacity of each plant is around 7,200,000 blocks per year. The block plant at Anarpura, Gazaria runs a Besser V-3 Vibrapac machine to produce some of the strongest concrete blocks in the world. The capacity of the Besser Plant is 4,320,000 blocks per year. The blocks can easily achieve strengths of over 30 MPa and are used in high-rise load-bearing construction, especially suited for earthquake prone zones. The entire Lake City project is constructed with these products, thus making the buildings more earthquake resistant than conventionally built buildings.
Tourism, Entertainment & Hospitality
The group has recently been involved in the world class theme park and entertainment industry. Concord Group completed Fantasy Kingdom, a multimillion-dollar amusement park, in 2002 at Ashulia. It is the country’s first world-class theme park, water park, go-kart track, theme hotel and full-scale luxury resort. Since then Concord has set up seven such installations (dry park, wet park, Go-kart tracks) and two destination resort hotels in Dhaka and Chattogram. The Fantasy Kingdom Entertainment Complex now consists of Water Kingdom, Heritage Park, Xtreme Racing go-karting and the Resort at Atlantis (resort hotel). Fantasy Kingdom was designated as a “Tourist Spot” by the government of Bangladesh in 2002. In 2004, the government leased the historic Foy’s Lake of Chattogram to Concord Group for 50 years to develop into a resort and amusement park named Foy’s Lake Concord. The Foy’s Lake Entertainment Complex is set over 350 acres of beautiful lakes and hills in the heart of Chattogram city. It consists of Foy’s Lake Amusement World, Sea World and Foy’s Lake Resort (resort hotel). Concord’s parks are visited by over three million guests annually.
Awards
Concord is the only developer to have the Daily Star-DHL Bangladesh Business Award in the category: “Enterprise of the year 2000′ in recognition of “Outstanding Leadership Quality and as Role model in Corporate Business in Bangladesh, AA+ Credit Rating, Bangladesh’s Government’s National Environment Medal-2022 for contribution to environment protection and pollution control, The International Business Initiative Directions (BID) international Quality Summit (IQS) Award 2010 in New York based on “Excellence, Innovation, Customer Satisfaction, Technology, Leadership Strategic Planning and Business Results”.
Concord excited about govt move to phase out clay bricks
“Maintaining trust is more important than ever in today’s business environment. Wherever we operate, strive to conduct our business in a manner that reflects Concord’s commitment to high ethical standards, institutional integrity and sound corporate governance,” said Shahriar Kamal, Managing Director of Concord Group of Companies, to Ceramic Bangladesh in an interview. “Concord’s commitment to business ethics has earned enormous goodwill – a strong foundation on which Concord hopes to grow further by continuing to create high quality products and services for their customers. Its commitment is to improve quality of life of the people through professional excellence in their field. Concord has one aim – to grow by improving the quality of life of the people of Bangladesh.”
The government move to make the use of blocks mandatory in public construction would boost manufacturing of environment-friendly construction materials and encourage private businesses to invest in the sector, said Managing Director Mr. Shahriar Kamal, “It’s very good starting. Concord is a pioneer in environment-friendly building materials manufacturing,” he said. The government is serious about the switch from the environmentally harmful fire-burnt clay bricks. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change directed state-agencies to begin the use of blocks which are made up of sand, cement fly ash or materials other than clay in public construction. Public agencies will have to use blocks to build and repair walls of buildings, surrounding walls, herringbone bond road and rural passages in place of bricks, which use valuable topsoil as raw material. If the use of blocks increase to 15-20 per cent per year it will gradually phase out fire burnt clay bricks by 2030.
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