Toufiq M Seraj was the founder and managing director of real estate company Sheltech and played a pioneering role in the country's real estate and housing industry.
Toufiq passed away on a Qatar-bound flight from Dhaka in the early hours on Friday. The 63 years old engineer was on his way to Barcelona, Spain while Sheltech Chairman Kutubuddin Ahmed was accompanying him.
In his demise, the country has lost a visionary, a leader and an author. Toufiq obtained his PhD in civic design from the University of Liverpool, UK as a Commonwealth scholar.
He completed his Master’s and Bachelor’s from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Toufiq taught at BUET before starting his career in the real estate sector.
He had extensive professional experience in real estate development, construction management and planning consultancy.
Toufiq made significant contributions to real estate through his innovative ideas and leadership, since the emergence of the real estate sector in Bangladesh.
Besides real estate, he was also involved in other businesses including consultancy, hospitality industry, construction of industrial buildings, manufacturing of concrete products and ceramic tiles.
Toufiq was the founder president of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) and held the position for three consecutive terms.
He was also president of Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP).
He formerly held leadership positions in several professional and social organizations and also was actively involved in different research and non-profit organizations.
The late Sheltech MD had a wide range of publications including several books on town planning, housing, and real estate which made him one of the most prestigious personalities in the sector.
His books include Real Estate Development: Theoretical and Practical Issues in the Context of Bangladesh, Selective Article on Planning and Housing and the Role of Small Town in Rural Development.
Through his informative writing, he presented the challenges and prospects of the country’s rapid growth in the real estate sector.
His research and books helped to eliminate the gap in real estate course work and research, and contained in-depth analysis of various real estate topics from primary and secondary sources.
Toufiq founded Sheltech with Kutubuddin Ahmed and Tapan Chowdhury in 1988 and developed over 3,500 flats with a capacity of over 17,500 residents. The company also has 160 ongoing projects.