The Bangladeshi insurance sector is in mourning following the death of Sheikh Kabir Hossain, the long-standing former President of the Bangladesh Insurance Association (BIA). Mr Hossain breathed his last at approximately 10:30 am on Saturday, 14 February, while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka. He was 83.
Sources within the industry confirmed that Mr Hossain had been battling various physical ailments for several years. His passing marks the end of an era for the nation’s financial services landscape, where he remained a dominant and often formidable figure for over a decade.
A Legacy of Leadership
Born in 1942 in Gopalganj, Sheikh Kabir Hossain was a cousin of the late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was an alumnus of the University of Dhaka, where he earned his Master’s degree before embarking on a diverse career that spanned the civil service, banking, and the private sector.
Though he began his professional journey in the public sector—serving in the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, the Parjatan Corporation, and Sonali Bank—he resigned from government service in 1975 to pivot toward private enterprise and social leadership.
In 2011, he was elected President of the BIA, a position he held with an iron grip for 13 consecutive years. It was only in the wake of the July mass uprising and shifting political tides that he eventually stepped down on 28 October 2024.
Diverse Portfolio and Contributions
Beyond the insurance realm, Mr Hossain held a staggering array of chairmanships and advisory roles, influencing everything from tea production to higher education.
| Organisation | Role Held |
| Bangladesh Insurance Association (BIA) | Former President (2011–2024) |
| Sonar Bangla Insurance | Chairman |
| Fareast Islami Life Insurance | Chairman |
| Association of Private Universities | Chairman |
| National Tea Company | Chairman |
| Central Depository Bangladesh Ltd | Chairman |
| Fareast International University | Chairman, Board of Trustees |
| Islamia Eye Institute & Hospital | Vice Chairman |
| Lions Clubs International | International Director |
Final Rites
The BIA has announced that his first funeral prayer (Janaza) will be held at the Kalabagan Staff Quarter Jame Mosque. Following the prayers in the capital, his body will be transported to his ancestral home in Gopalganj. He is scheduled to be laid to rest in the family graveyard tomorrow.
In addition to his corporate achievements, he was a noted philanthropist, founding several educational institutions, including the Khan Saheb Sheikh Mosharraf Hossain School and College.