Board of Directors

Mr. Mohammad Obaidul Karim is the Founder Chairman of ORION, one of the largest diversified business conglomerates in Bangladesh. A visionary leader with exceptional business acumen and unparalleled foresight, Mr. Karim has left an indelible mark on the business landscape of Bangladesh over the past four decades.

 

Mr. Karim laid the foundation of ORION in the ‘80s with Orion Pharma PLC. Today, Orion Pharma is a renowned name in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, offering a wide portfolio of world-class generic medicines across diverse dosage forms and therapeutic groups. The company operates in full compliance with cGMP and ISO 9001:2015 standards and houses a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility ‘Orion Pharma Park’ in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, built in accordance with the latest global standards, including USFDA and UKMHRA. Subsequently, Mr. Karim founded Orion Infusion PLC, which has been the market leader in the IV fluid and intravascular saline segment in Bangladesh for more than three decades. Both companies are listed in the Dhaka Stock Exchange PLC and the Chittagong Stock Exchange PLC.

 

Mr. Karim revolutionized private sector participation in Bangladesh’s infrastructure development by pioneering the application of the Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model. Recognizing the immense potential of PPPs in accelerating national infrastructure growth, he introduced this concept through the construction of the 11.8 km Jatrabari–Gulistan Flyover on BOOT (Build, Own, Operate & Transfer) basis. At the time of its completion, it was the longest flyover in Bangladesh and remains one of the most successful PPP ventures undertaken by the Government of Bangladesh to date. Under his visionary guidance, ORION also developed City Center, a landmark 37-storied commercial-cum-parking complex located in Motijheel, the financial hub of Dhaka. The project features 10 floors dedicated to car parking and stands as a benchmark in modern urban infrastructure development.

 

Mr. Karim’s leadership has further positioned ORION as a trusted and prominent name in the power sector. The Group has established five HFO-based power plants with a combined generation capacity exceeding 500 MW, located across Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Khulna districts. In addition, ORION has commissioned the country’s first utility-scale solar power plant with a capacity exceeding 100 MW (134 MWp) in Bagerhat District, contributing significantly to meeting the country’s growing energy demands. Driven by innovation and strategic foresight, ORION has achieved further milestones in the power sector by signing multiple agreements with the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) for Ultra-Supercritical coal-based power plants under the Independent Power Producer (IPP) framework.

 

With a strong emphasis on sustainability and renewable energy, Mr. Karim envisions achieving a landmark target of 1 GW of solar power generation in the future, reinforcing ORION’s commitment to Bangladesh’s energy security and green transition.

 

Through his exceptional business acumen, unwavering dedication, and relentless hard work, Mr. Karim has guided ORION to emerge as a legendary name in core sectors such as Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare, Power Generation and Infrastructure Development. Under his leadership, the Group has successfully navigated challenges and expanded into other vital sectors, including Cosmetics & Toiletries, Energy (LPG, Oil and Shipping), Textiles & Garments, Home Appliances, Footwear & Footcare, and Agro & Consumer Products.

 

As the Chairman of ORION, Mr. Karim oversees all policy matters, strategic decisions, Group’s diversification. As part of ORION’s CSR commitment, he introduced the Orion Pharma Medical Scholarship Program to support aspiring doctors across the country, as well as the Enliven Patients Assistance Program under Orion Pharma, aimed at improving access to healthcare for underprivileged patients.

 

A role-model industrialist, Mr. Karim has received numerous honors and recognitions for his outstanding contributions to the national economy. He was the former President of Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club Ltd., a century-old, legendary, and one of the most successful sporting institutions in Bangladesh.

 

As the eldest front-runner of ORION, Mr. Karim often reflects his leadership philosophy by saying, “I never feel that we are employees or employers; rather, I believe we are all members of the ORION family, and I am the senior-most member of that family.”