Dhaka, March 12 -- Syed Manzur Elahi, chairman of Apex Group and former adviser to a caretaker government, passed away on Wednesday morning. He was 79.

He breathed his last at 9:31am (Bangladesh time) in Singapore while undergoing treatment at a hospital, said family members.

The businessman had been suffering from various age-related ailments.

Elahi was one of the pioneers of Bangladesh's leather export industry and played a key role in introducing locally produced leather footwear to the global market. His company, Apex, holds a significant position in both local and international footwear markets.

Elahi completed his B.A. from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, and later earned a master's degree in Economics from the University of Dhak...