The Legacy of Dr. Md. Sabur Khan

 

1. Foundations of Philosophy & Vision

• Guiding belief: “My organisation’s sustainability is my sustainability.”
• Inspired by Prophet Muhammad (SWT) in values of honesty, service, and resilience.
• Committed to donate one-third of all assets to society, making the Bangladeshi people indirect owners of Daffodil institutions.
• Life’s purpose: nation-building through education, skills, and entrepreneurship rather than personal gain.

2. Early Struggles and Entrepreneurial Spark (1990–1996)

• 1990 – Founded Daffodil Computers Ltd. at Green Road, starting with training, publishing, and computer sales.
• 1991 – Began importing computer parts and pioneered clone PC assembling in Bangladesh.
• 1993 – Suffered financial loss but chose resilience over compromise.
• 1995 – Established the first computer superstore in Bangladesh.
• 1996 – Gained national recognition: “Daffodil is the voice of the young generation” (Daily Ittefaq).

Life Lesson: Struggles and criticism are stepping stones, not roadblocks.

3. The Education Revolution (1997–2005)

• 1997 – Founded Daffodil Institute of IT (DIIT) with only 7 students, which outperformed even foreign IT institutions.
• 2001 – Transformed DIIT into Daffodil International University (DIU).
• 2002 – Listed Daffodil Computers Ltd. as the first IT company on DSE & CSE.
• 2002–2003 – Elected President of BCS, advocated for ICT industry, played a pivotal role in forming the ICT Ministry.
• 2005 – Entered global collaboration via Jobstreet.com joint venture.

Life Lesson: Education is the most sustainable form of poverty alleviation.

4. Global Expansion & Institutional Growth (2006–2024)

• Expanded beyond ICT into education, healthcare, investment, and entrepreneurship.
• Established ventures in USA, UK, Malaysia, Dubai.
• 2020 – Instrumental in hosting WCIT 2020 in Bangladesh.
• 2023–24 – As President of AUAP, promoted global collaboration in education.
• Initiated DIU Smart City – a model of sustainable campus development.

Life Lesson: Think globally, act locally, and create ecosystems—not just companies.

5. Governance, Compliance & Integrity

• Served on Prime Minister’s ICT Task Force.
• Founding member of BASIS (1998), contributor to WITSA.
• Declared all foreign earnings legally, with transparent tax compliance.
• Mortgaged personal land for DIU’s survival but never compromised ethics.
• Withstood audits and political barriers without losing credibility.

Life Lesson: Integrity is the foundation of sustainable leadership.

6. Failures, Resilience & Lessons

• Faced losses in Singapore, Malaysia, and Shenzhen due to misplaced trust.
• Sold businesses (Metronet, eTravel, Softcom) to focus on core mission.
• Learned resilience through political, financial, and systemic challenges.
• Always welcomed criticism as a mirror of self-improvement.

Life Lesson: Failures are tuition fees for long-term success.

7. Social Impact & Future-Oriented Vision

• Created thousands of entrepreneurs and millions of indirect jobs.
• Initiated One Student, One Laptop to bridge the digital divide.
• Built Skill.jobs, Capstone projects, Microcredentials, and TVET programs.
• Advocated inclusive education: from rural boys to underprivileged girls, all should be leaders of tomorrow.
• Committed to turning DIU into a global hub of research and innovation.

8. Strategic Note for the Future

• Legacy is a blend of entrepreneurship, ethics, and nation-building.
• DIU Smart City stands as a model for sustainability, innovation, and poverty alleviation.
• Dream: to create a generation of leaders who will serve not only Bangladesh but the world.
• Plan: Document and teach this journey as a case study across universities.

Closing Reflection

"I see myself not as a businessman, but as a lifelong learner and nation-builder. My greatest legacy is not the companies I built, but the people I empowered. If one student, one entrepreneur, or one institution changes the world tomorrow, it will mean my journey was worth it."

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