Now a days it is quite well known to all that Natural   Gas, the indigenous mineral resources plays a significant role for the development of socio-economic condition of Bangladesh as the price of fuel such as diesel, petrol and octane is much more costlier than it. The multi-purpose use of Natural Gas is technically acceptable and well established. Apart from this we import a large quantities of fuel from abroad for the transport sector. As a result a huge amount of foreign currencies are being spent for this. So the use of CNG as an alternative fuel for petrol and diesel in road vehicles saves foreign currency and at the same times it also prevent air pollution. With this end in view a special emphasis has been given to CNG sector and the government of Bangladesh has adopted supportive program for preventing pollution, saving foreign exchange and expansion of multi-use of indigenous resources natural gas.

As natural gas is much cheaper than others almost everybody is converting their vehicles for using natural gas and for this many CNG conversion centers have been setup in Bangladesh. Among them Southern Automobiles Ltd. is a leading one which started its journey around a decade back. About the background of Southern it could be mention here that in the year 2000, the Board of Directors of Southern Automobiles Ltd. conceived the idea for establishing CNG conversion centre and CNG Re-fueling Station. In accordance with the decision of the Board of Directors of Southern Automobiles this company was registered with Registrar of Joint Stock Companies Bangladesh on February 1, 2001. After incorporation with joint stock company Southern started its CNG business since November 12, 2001 as per the approval by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Division. Mr. Manoranjan Bhakta is The Managing Director of Southern Automobiles Ltd. Who has been running this company with efficiency since its inception and has made this organization a leading one in the country.

A very well experienced personality Mr. Manoranjan Bhakta is basically a Chartered Accountant. Born on January 2, 1958 Mr. Manoranjan Bhakta qualified as chartered Accountant in the year of 1984 from the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Bangladesh (ICAB). He is the pioneer of CNG Business in Bangladesh. He has the expertise of running business of Shipping, Trading, Manufacturing, Beverage, Tea Plantation, Tea Export, Distribution foreign representation for about 17 years. He worked with a leading Shipping, Stevedoring, Ship owing etc. He worked 8 years (1985-1992) as Departmental Head of Accounts and Finance Division of MKR Group, Chittagong. The core business of the group was Ship Owning, Shipping Agency, Stevedoring, Re-rolling mills, Trading etc. Later on in 1993 to 1998, he was the Head of Accounts and Finance including overseas representation of HRC group, a leading conglomerate of the country. The main business of this group was Ship Owning, Shipping Agency, GLS Bulb manufacturing, Tea plantation, Foreign Representation, Tannery, Trading, Product distribution etc. He also worked as Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of PEPSI, Bangladesh for three years (1999 to 2001).

During the past nine year since 2001, he has devoted himself in the CNG Business and started the first private owned CNG Conversion Workshop in the country in the name and style of Southern Automobile Ltd. (SAL). In the meantime this company (SAL) converted around 30000 vehicles into CNG system. Southern Automobiles meantime set up CNG Conversion Workshops in Dhaka, Chittagong, Bogra and Manikgonj. About 300 technicians are working in Southern.

Apart from business activities Mr. Manoranjan Bhakta is also involved with many socio-cultural organization. A generous personality Mr. Bhakta has been contributing enormously for the growth of our national economy. As part of his social commitment he has also been doing his best for the well being of the society. In recognition of his contribution to the national economy as well as to the society he has been venerated by many socio-cultural organization and received many awards/crests. Mr. Manoranjan Bhakta has travelled many countries of the world so far in connection with business and personal purposes also. In personal life he is married and a proud father of two sons.