Abdul Awal Mintoo was born in 1949 in Aleyarpur, a small and remote village in Feni district of Bangladesh. He belongs to a family of landowners who initiated his primary education in the village school. He later pursued high school and college education in Feni, Comilla and in the Juldia Marine Academy in the port city of Chittagong. As a merchant marine officer between 1968 to 1971, he traveled along coasts of four continents. During the Bangladesh liberation struggle in 1971, he sought political asylum in the United States where he pursued his higher studies. He received BSc degree in transportation science (1973) and MSc in transportation management (1977) from the Maritime College, State University of New York. Having served a shipping company in the United States for eight years 1973-1981, Mintoo confronted a moment of truth when in 1982 he decided to give up the security of his ongoing successful career in international shipping and returned to work in Bangladesh. Mintoo began his career aspiring to be a ship captain, but has now turned into a businessman and has achieved outstanding success as a leading entrepreneur of Bangladesh. He advocates societal structure that simultaneously embraces both the market and government. A fearless champion of the cause of strengthening the economic infrastructure of Bangladesh, Mintoo's business edifice was built by his capitalizing on the rich and varied experience, steady resolve and an indomitable spirit. He was first elected President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) in 1998 and was re-elected for the present term (2003-2005). Abdul Awal Mintoo has been regularly writing on business and governance in leading business