IN MEMORY

OF
ABDUL KHALEQUE KHAN
(1905-1998)

The name Abdul Khaleque Khan stands as a legacy of vision, dedication, and unwavering
commitment. As one of the nation's foremost industrialists, he founded Opsonin, a
pharmaceutical giant that has transformed the healthcare panorama of Bangladesh and garnered
international acclaim. Feeling that the people of Bangladesh needed to depend on foreign
medicine for better treatment, he entered the pharmaceutical industry with a commitment to the
country and its people and founded Opsonin. Through the years, his perseverance resulted in the
formation of the Opsonin Group, a conglomerate comprising seven sister concerns.
Opsonin Pharma Limited (OPL) manufactures internationally standardized, quality life-saving
drugs. Opsonin’s image as the premier manufacturer of quality medicine is appreciated both in
Bangladesh and over 20 countries across the world. Opsonin's present-day Chairman, Capt.
(Retd.) Abdus Sabur Khan, Managing Director Abdur Rauf Khan, and Deputy Managing
Director Abdur Rakib Khan play pivotal roles in continuing the legacy of Abdul Khaleque Khan
by taking the company to new heights.
Abdul Khaleque Khan’s indomitable aspirations to build a company to benefit the people and
economy of this nation birthed Opsonin, developing within himself and instilling in his
colleagues and successors the values of leadership, teamwork, mutual respect, customer focus,
performance, and integrity along the way. These principles are foundational to the success of
Opsonin in producing medicine and treatments of the highest quality.
Founded through a partnership in 1956 as Opsonin Chemical Industries Limited, the company
was renamed Opsonin Pharma Limited in 2005 to better reflect its ever-expanding portfolio of
treatments and medications. Abdul Khaleque Khan formed a strong operational foundation for
making the highest quality medicine possible over the course of 20 years through patience,
perseverance, and the aspiration to be a source of benefit to society. In 1976, with the goal of
delivering medicine to as many people as possible on a global scale, Abdul Khaleque Khan
established Opsonin as a limited company and took the initiative of marketing and distributing
medicine across the country.
His honesty and work ethic garnered the trust of the people and solidified Opsonin’s credibility
and reputation as a dependable, consistent producer of quality medicine. Under his leadership
and vision, Opsonin marketed the first ranitidine formulation under the brand name “Ranitid” in
1985, the first omeprazole under “Ometid” in 1993, the first third-generation antibiotic under the
brand name “Traxon” in 1994, the first suppository formulation in 1996, and the first soft gelatin
capsules in 1997. All of these products were received with great popularity by patients and
physicians alike. Opsonin Chemical Industries Limited was certified ISO-9001 in 2000 to better
reflect the ever-growing portfolio of medications, treatments, and dosage forms.
Opsonin Pharma Limited now produces almost every available dosage form, from solids (tablets
and capsules), semi-solids (creams, ointments, and suppositories), and liquids (injections,
infusions, oral liquids) to powder-for-suspensions, inhalers, drops, and sprays. The company
operates a colossal pharmaceutical production facility on an expansive 500 acres of land at
Rupatali, Barishal. With the company manufacturing pharmaceutical raw materials and Active
Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), it has become one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in
Asia.
Always a pioneer and visionary, Abdul Khaleque Khan entered the RMG (ready-made garments)
industry in 1982 by establishing Jokky Garments Limited, a prominent apparel manufacturer
with clients in nearly every continent. His ambitions of societal benefit materialized as Opso
Saline Limited in 1986, manufacturing I.V fluids and ophthalmic, otic, and nasal drops and
ointments along with a plethora of medical devices including but not limited to disposable
syringes, infusion sets, and scalp vein sets, to name a few. Opso Saline Limited, after expanding
its portfolio of products further was renamed OSL Pharma Limited in 2023. With prescience and
insight bolstered by the abundance of wisdom and experience gained over the numerous decades
of his life, Abdul Khaleque Khan established Global Capsules Limited in 1990, which stands to
this day as the only manufacturer of gelatin and gelatin capsules in the country and one of the
largest in South and Southeast Asia. Abdul Khaleque Khan's guiding principle throughout his
entrepreneurial journey, spanning from the inception of a pharmaceutical company to the
establishment of a prominent conglomerate across multiple industries, can be encapsulated by his
words: “There is no other honest companion like work. This companion will help you to achieve
great success in life.”
A brief snapshot of this industrial empire’s infancy is reflected in the words of Chairman Capt.
(Retd.) Abdus Sabur Khan when speaking about his father, Abdul Khaleque Khan. He said, “The
main entrepreneurial spirit and vitality of Opsonin Group is our late father, who not only
established it but also provided instructions on how to operate it. This all began with my father’s
acquaintance with Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy, the founder of Bengal Chemical and
Pharmaceutical Works when my father was a student at Calcutta Islamia College. Acharya
Prafulla Chandra Roy was a pioneer in the pharmaceutical industry of the subcontinent.” He
added, “This meeting culminated in the establishment of Opsonin Chemical Industries Limited
on March 3rd, 1956.” The Opsonin brand has become a trusted symbol of quality and
trustworthiness for millions of people across multiple continents. More than 12,000 employees
work at Opsonin Group and both the companies and their founder, Abdul Khaleque Khan are
renowned and considered synonymous with each other. “This achievement belongs to my father,
who never compromised on quality, no matter the industry,” said Capt. (Retd.) Abdus Sabur
Khan. Though industrialist Abdul Khaleque Khan is no longer with us, his legacy, principles,
spirit of perseverance, and honesty live on in the people of Opsonin Group.