Sena Kalyan Sangstha | |
Native Name: | সেনা কল্যাণ সংস্থা |
Abbreviation: | SKS |
Native Name Lang: | bn |
Predecessor: | Fauji Foundation |
Type: | State-owned enterprise |
Status: | Welfare trust |
Headquarters: | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
Leader Title: | Chairman |
Leader Name: | Major General Md Habib Ullah |
Parent Organization: | Bangladesh Armed Forces |
Sena Kalyan Sangstha (bn|সেনা কল্যাণ সংস্থা|lit=Army Welfare Foundation) is a trust owned and operated by the Bangladesh Armed Forces. It owns a number of businesses including a travel agency, an electronics and cement factory and ice cream. Major General Md Habib Ullah is the present chairman of Sena Kalyan Sangstha.[1]
The organization started in 1953 as the Fauji Foundation when Bangladesh was a province of Pakistan.[2] After the independence of Bangladesh, it was renamed to Sena Kalyan Sangstha in 1972. Before shifting the head office to Mohakhali, it was headquartered in Motijheel in a 23-storey building named Sena Kalyan Bhaban. It started a rice mill and a flower mill during the pre-independence era. It also owns companies that includes Savoy Ice cream, Energy Savings Lamp, Habib fan, Citizen Fridge, Elephant cement, television and transformer factory.[3]
In 2016, the trust signed a MOU with Bawani group of Saudi Arabia to export manpower.[4] In 2013, the trust was appointed to construct a ৳3 billion convention center in the southern city Chittagong.[5] In 2015, the trust launched Sena Kalyan Travels and Tours, a travel agency.[6] The trust also owns a Liquefied petroleum gas plant.[7]
In 2015, 7 workers were killed and 50 injured while constructing a warehouse for the trust in Mongla.[8] [9] The trust built Mongla cement plant with a loan from Pakistan that was secured in 1988.[10] Sena Hotel Developments Limited, which operates Radisson Blu in Bangladesh, is owned by Sena Kalyan Sangstha and Bangladesh Army Welfare Trust.[11]
On 29 August 2021, Bank Asia donated ৳5 million to Sena Kalyan Sangstha.[12] The trust owns KB Petrochemicals Limited jointly with a Middle Eastern company and recently signed an agreement with Eastern Lubricants Blenders Limited, a state owned company.[13]