Ispahani family: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia


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{{Short description|Perso-Bengali business family}}

{{Infobox Family|name=Ispahani family|crest=|image=|imagecaption=|region=[[Bangladesh]], [[United Kingdom]], [[United States]]|early_forms=Isfahani (original [[Farsi|Persian]])|origin=[[Isfahan]]|members=[[Mirza Ahmad Ispahani]]<br /> [[Mirza Mehdy Ispahani]]<br /> [[Mirza Ali Behrouze Ispahani]] <br> [[Mirza Abol Hassan Ispahani]] <br> [[Farahnaz Ispahani]]|otherfamilies=|distinctions=|traditions=[[Shia Islam]]|heirlooms={{bulleted list|[[M. M. Ispahani Limited]] (Bangladesh)| Ispahani Advisory (UK)}}|estate=Ispahani Colony ([[Dhaka]])|meaning=''of Isfahan''|footnotes=}}

{{Promotional tone|date=June 2023}}

{{Infobox Family

| name = Ispahani family

| crest =

| image =

| imagecaption =

| region = [[Bangladesh]], [[United Kingdom]],

| early_forms = Isfahani (original [[Farsi|Persian]])

| origin = [[Isfahan]]

| members = [[Mirza Ahmad Ispahani]]<br /> [[Mirza Mehdy Ispahani]]<br /> [[Mirza Ali Behrouze Ispahani]]

Mirza Salman Ispahani <br> [[Mirza Abol Hassan Ispahani]] <br>

| otherfamilies =

| distinctions =

| traditions = [[Shia Islam]]

| heirlooms = [[M. M. Ispahani Limited]]

| estate = Ispahani Colony ([[Dhaka]])

| meaning = ''of Isfahan''

| footnotes =

}}

The '''Ispahani family''', also known as the '''House of Ispahani''', are a [[Persian people|Perso]]-[[Bengali people|Bengali]] [[family business|business family]]. In [[Bangladesh]], they own and manage [[M. M. Ispahani Limited]], one of the country's leading conglomerates and Ispahani Advisory in the [[United Kingdom|UK]]. Originally hailing from [[Isfahan]], [[Iran]], the family have been settled in the [[Indian subcontinent]] for more than two centuries. The family is historically Shia Muslim.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PWKCmtu-RT4C&dq=ispahani+family+shia&pg=PA120|title=Historical Dictionary of Bangladesh|isbn=9780810848634|last1=Baxter|first1=Craig|first2=Syedur |last2=Rahman|year=2003}}</ref>

==History==

Mirza Abu Talib Ispahani visited England in 1799, and the family have maintained a presence and properties in [[Richmond, London]]. In 1820, Mohammed Hashim (1789–1850) moved from [[Isfahan]] in [[Qajar]], [[Iran]] to [[Bombay]] and established the Ispahani Group business. In the 1830s, the business extended to [[Calcutta]] in [[Bengal]]. Hashim was notable as the first Muslim of the Assam Tea Company's ''Calcutta Committee''. The family business also expanded from [[Madras]] in the south and [[Burma]] in the east. Many of their descendants were educated at English private schools and top universities in UK.<ref name=bpedia>{{cite book|title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh|first=Ashfaque|last=Hossain|chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Ispahani_Family|chapter=Ispahani Family|publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref>

Hashim's grandson, Mirza Mehdy (1841–1913) made [[Madras]] as the business's headquarters. He spent twelve years in [[Cairo]], [[Egypt]] trading Indian produce such as leather, tea, turmeric, tamarind and peanuts amongst others. In 1888, he established a branch in [[Dacca]].<ref name=bpedia/>

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Mirza Ahmad Ispahani's son, [[Mirza Mehdy Ispahani]] (1923–2004) was made chairman of M.M. Ispahani Limited in 1949 and remained in that post until he died,<ref>{{cite news |title=Mirza Mehdy Ispahani passes away |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/01/21/d40121011717.htm |work=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |date=2004-01-21 |access-date=2008-02-10 }}</ref> when his son Mirza Ali Behrouze Ispahani was elected chairperson of M.M. Ispahani Limited.<ref name=bpedia/>

The company now has corporate offices in [[Chittagong]], [[Dhaka]] and [[Khulna]] where it employs over 20,000 people in many sectors such as tea, textile, real estate, crisps, poultry, shipping and internet services.<ref name=star1/>

== Family members ==

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* '''Mirza Mehdy Ispahani (1841–1913):''' Mehdy Ispahani was the grandson of Haji Muhammad Hashem (the patriarch of the House of Ispahani), who moved from [[Isfahan]], [[Iran]] to [[Mumbai]] in 1820. Mehdy Ispahani established the company's corporate headquarters in Madras from Mumbai. Prior to that he spent twelve years in Cairo trading in leather, tea, turmeric, tamarind, peanuts and other Indian products. He also established a branch in Dhaka in 1888.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=Behrouze Ispahani: A wonderful person with versatile qualities|url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/behrouze-ispahani-a-wonderful-person-with-versatile-qualities|work=The Financial Express|location=Dhaka|language=en|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref>

**'''Mirza Mohammad Ispahani (1871–1925):''' In 1900, Mohammad Ispahani established M.M Ispahani & Sons in [[Calcutta]] and also opened a branch office in [[London]]. His three sons [[Mirza Ahmad Ispahani]], [[Abul Hassan Isphani|Mirza Abul Hassan Isphani]], and Mirza Mahmood Ispahani established the private limited company [[M. M. Ispahani Limited]] in the year 1934.<ref name=":0" />

***[[Mirza Ahmad Ispahani]] '''(1898–1986):''' Mirza Ahmad was born in [[Rangoon]], [[Burma]] in 1898 and was made a junior partner after joining the family firm. After his father's death in 1925, he became the senior partner. He established [[M. M. Ispahani Limited]] with his two younger brothers. Ahmad Ispahani was a close associate of [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]], [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]], the [[Mohammad Amir Ahmed Khan|Raja of Mahmoodabad]], and [[Ziaur Rahman]]. He was one of the earliest supporters of the [[All-India Muslim League]] and one of the most prominent leaders of the [[Pakistan Movement]]. In October 1946, Ispahani established [[Orient Airways]] (the predecessor of [[Pakistan International Airlines|PIA)]] along with [[Adamjee Haji Dawood]] in [[Calcutta]]. At the personal request of [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah|Jinnah]], the two industrialists also established the [[Muslim Commercial Bank]] and [[EFU Life|Eastern Federal Insurance Company]]. He shifted the corporate headquarters of [[M.M. Ispahani]] to [[Chittagong]] in 1947. He retired in 1948 and decided to join in public service. After the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]], his properties were nationalized under the [[Vested Property Act (Bangladesh)|Enemy Property Act]]. Ahmad Ispahani personally went to meet [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]] and requested that his properties be denationalized. [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman|Mujib]] had the law specially changed for Ahmad Ispahani and handed all his properties back to him. When [[Ziaur Rahman]] became the president, he requested that Ahmad Ispahani become the chairman of [[Biman Bangladesh Airlines|Biman]], because of his expertise in the aviation industry. However, he politely turned down the offer. Ahmad Ispahani died in [[Dhaka]] in 1986.<ref>{{Cite news|title=The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 998|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/2007/03/22/d703221503117.htm|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2020-05-22|archive-date=2018-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226152033/http://archive.thedailystar.net/2007/03/22/d703221503117.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Afsheen|first=S.|title=Under Five Flags: Life Like a Turbulent River Flows|publisher=Xlibris Corporation|year=2011|isbn=978-1462891795|pages=63–64}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ispahani Family |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Ispahani_Family|website=Banglapedia|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref>

**** [[Mirza Mehdy Ispahani|Mirza Mehdy (Sadri) Ispahani]] '''(1923–2004):''' Sadri was made the chairman of [[M. M. Ispahani Limited]] in 1949 and remained in that post until his death. He served as the chairman of the [[Pakistan Jute Mills Association]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Chapter 7. Summer Holidays and Football in Calcutta|url=https://sayeedsjournal.wordpress.com/chapter-7-summer-holidays-and-football-in-calcutta/|date=2012-02-14|website="Lest I Forget" an autobiography by Khwaja Sayeed Shahabuddin|language=en|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Pakistan Affairs, Volume 4|publisher=Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan., 1950|year=1950|pages=7}}</ref> He co-founded with his father many institutions such as the [[Islamia Eye Hospital]], M.A Ispahani Institute of Ophthalmology, Ispahani Public School and College, Mirza Ahmed Smrity Biddalaya, CJM High School, Waisia Darassuna Dakhil Madrassah, Mirza Ahmed High School, Victory High School, Comilla Public School and College, Ispahani Girls School and College (Dhaka), Siddeshwari (University) College. Sadri resided in the Ispahani Colony in Dhaka,<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 4 Num 248|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/2004/02/07/d402071503110.htm|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> but died in [[Bangkok]] in 2004 at the age of 81. He left behind his wife, Razia Ispahani, 5 sons, and 3 daughters.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 4 Num 234|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/2004/01/21/d40121011717.htm|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2020-05-23|archive-date=2016-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307042452/http://archive.thedailystar.net/2004/01/21/d40121011717.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Razia (Sultani) Ispahani died in [[London]] in 2017 at the age of 93.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Razia Ispahani passes away|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/razia-ispahani-passes-away-1393060|date=2017-04-19|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref>

***** [[Mirza Ali Behrouze Ispahani]] '''(1950–2017):''' Behrouze Ispahani completed his education in [[Dhaka]] from [[St Joseph Higher Secondary School, Dhaka|St Joseph Higher Secondary School]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Behrouze Ispahani: A gentleman of high measure - Op-Ed |url=https://www.observerbd.com/details.php?id=56703|work=The Daily Observer|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> Behrouze served as the chairman of [[M. M. Ispahani Limited]] from 2004 until his death. He was also the managing director of International Publications Limited (the holding company of [[The Financial Express (Bangladesh)|The Financial Express]]), and a trustee of the [[Independent University, Bangladesh]]. He died in [[Dhaka]] in 2017 from a heart-attack and diabetic complications. His death was condoled by Prime Minister [[Sheikh Hasina]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ispahani chairman passes away|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/country/ispahani-chairman-passes-away-1349623|date=2017-01-23|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Behrouze Ispahani — a man with a difference|url=https://www.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/behrouze-ispahani-%E2%80%94-a-man-with-a-difference|work=The Financial Express|location=Dhaka|language=en|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> He was married to Zahida Ispahani.<ref>{{cite web|title=ABOUT US|url=https://www.ayurvedabdb.com/about_us|website=ayurveda|language=en|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref>

***** '''Mirza Salman Ispahani''': Salman Ispahani became the chairman of [[M. M. Ispahani Limited]] after the demise of his elder brother, [[Mirza Ali Behrouze Ispahani|Behrouze]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mirza Salman Ispahani, younger brother of Mirza Ali Behrouze Ispahani - Health & Nutrition |url=https://www.observerbd.com/details.php?id=60240|work=The Daily Observer|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> Salman was elected the chairman of the [[International Cotton Association]] for 2017–18. He was the first [[Bangladeshis|Bangladeshi]] and first cotton spinner/buyer to be elected the president of this association.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Salman Ispahani, new chief of global cotton assoc|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/salman-ispahani-new-chief-global-cotton-assoc-1480864|date=2017-10-24|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> Salman was elected to the ICA Board of Directors in 2013. He is the former Chairman of the Tea Traders Association of Bangladesh, former chairman of the Chittagong Stock Exchange and was a member of the Bangladesh Cricket Board.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historic Presidential Appointment and Board Members 2017-18|date=26 October 2017|url=https://www.ica-ltd.org/historic-presidential-appointment-board-members-2017-18/}}</ref> He is also the honorary consul of [[Italy]] in [[Chittagong]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Italy Consulate in Chittagong|url=https://www.consulate-info.com/consulate/7034/Italy-in-Chittagong|website=www.consulate-info.com|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> Salman is also an avid golf player, playing in many national tournaments and hosts the annual Ispahani Cup golf tournament.<ref>{{cite web|title=The 9th BSRM Golf Tournament 2020|url=https://bsrm.com/the-9th-bsrm-golf-tournament-2020/|date=2020-02-14|website=BSRM|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref>

***** '''Mirza Shakir Ispahani:''' Shakir Ispahani completed his education in [[England]], where he obtained a law degree from the [[University of Kent]], and completed an [[Master of Laws|LLM]] from the [[University of Cambridge]]. He was called to the [[Bar of England and Wales]] ([[Lincoln's Inn]]) in 1984. Shakir is currently managing director of [[M. M. Ispahani Limited]]. He also serves as the [[honorary consul]] of [[Germany]] in [[Chittagong]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 1134|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/2007/08/07/d708071001104.htm|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref>

***** '''Mirza Sajid Ispahani:''' Sajid Ispahani is a Chartered Accountant. He retired in 2019 but remains Chairman of Ispahani Foods Limited as well as a Director of [[M. M. Ispahani Limited]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Managing Director of Ispahani Group Mirza Sajid Ispahani and Chairman of ABC Real Estate Limited Subhash Chandra Ghosh, sign an agreement for building a residential complex of over 450 apartments named "The oasis at Ispahani colony" at ABC house in Dhaka recently.|url=http://m.thedailynewnation.com/news/141347/managing-director-of-ispahani-group-mirza-sajid-ispahani-and-chairman-of-abc-real-estate-limited-subhash-chandra-ghosh-sign-an-agreement-for-building-a-residential-complex-of-over-450-apartments-named-the-oasis-at-ispahani-colony-at-abc-house-in-dhaka-recently|work=The New Nation|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> Sajid is also a [[Contract bridge|bridge]] player, who served as the captain of the national bridge team representing [[Bangladesh]] in international tournaments.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Bridge team leaving for Lyon tomorrow|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/bridge-team-leaving-lyon-tomorrow-1445692|date=2017-08-09|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> He also has 2 sons, Ali and Hasan, who have both worked for [[M. M. Ispahani Limited]].

***** '''Mirza Imran Ispahani:''' Imran Ispahani is a son of [[Mirza Mehdy Ispahani|Sadri Ispahani]] and Sultani Ispahani. He is primarily based in the UK.<ref>{{Cite news |title=A legacy worth remembering|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/tribute/legacy-worth-remembering-1356382|date=2017-02-06|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> He is involved in the I.T industry and lives in Richmond.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/4854445.council-suspends-fines-on-400k-bus-lane-in-clapham-over-bad-signage/|title=Council suspends fines on £400K bus lane over bad signage}}</ref>

***** '''Farah Khanum Ispahani:''' One of the daughters of [[Mirza Mehdy Ispahani|Sadri Ispahani]] and Sultani Ispahani. She, like her elder brothers was educated in London where she went to London University's School of African & Oriental Studies to study law. Subsequent to obtaining her degree, joined Freshfields in 1983, a leading firm of solicitors in London. In 1996 she was promoted to partner based in the UK, and now heads the corporate mergers and acquisitions team of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.<ref>{{cite web|title= bloomberg companies & people|website=[[Bloomberg News]]|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/18710623}}</ref>

*** [[Abul Hassan Isphani|Mirza Abul Hassan Ispahani]] '''(1902–1981)''': Mirza Abul Hassan (MAH) Ispahani was a son of Mirza Mohammad Ispahani. He completed his education from the [[St John's College, Cambridge]], where obtained a Bar-at-Law in 1924. MAH was one of the closest associates of [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]] (he is popularly known as the Quaid's Lieutenant). He met [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah|Jinnah]] at [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] in 1920 and developed a friendship with him. In 1937, at the request of [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah|Jinnah]], MAH joined the [[Bengal Provincial Muslim League]] and became its joint secretary. He was elected to the [[Bengal Legislative Assembly]] from the party that same year. MAH was present in the 1941 [[All-India Muslim League]] session held in [[Madras]], where the [[Lahore Resolution]] was incorporated into the party's charter. He served as the Deputy Mayor for [[Calcutta]] from 1941 to 1942 and the President of Muslim Chamber of Commerce, Calcutta from 1945 to 1947. In 1946, he was elected as a member of the Indian Constituent Assembly. After the [[independence of Pakistan]] he served as the first Pakistani ambassador to the [[United States]]. His residence in [[Washington, D.C.]] was donated to the [[Pakistani embassy in Washington, D.C.|Pakistani embassy]], and is still used as the official residence of the Pakistani ambassador to the [[United States|USA]]. MAH also served as the high commissioner to the [[UK]] from 1952 to 1954. From 1954 to 1955 he served as the [[Ministry of Industries and Production (Pakistan)|Federal Minister for Industries and Commerce]]. He served in his final diplomatic position from 1973 to 1974 as the Pakistani ambassador to [[Afghanistan]], after which he retired from public work and became a writer.<ref name="wp16May2008">{{Cite news|last=Wright|first=Robin|date=2008-05-16|title=Haqqani Back in D.C., Where Everybody Knows His Name|language=en-US|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/15/AR2008051503401.html|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |title=Ispahani –– putting her best foot forward|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/96099-ispahani-––-putting-her-best-foot-forward|work=The News International|language=en|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ispahani, Mirza Abol Hasan |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Ispahani,_Mirza_Abol_Hasan|website=Banglapedia|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=The Quaid's lieutenants |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/12/22/the-quaids-lieutenants/|website=Pakistan Today|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite web|title=My Grandfather Abol Hassan Ispahani|url=https://farahnazispahani.com/my-grandfather-abol-hassan-ispahani/|date=2011-06-04|website=FARAHNAZ ISPAHANI|language=en|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> MAH was married to Ameneh Sultan<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |title=Mirza Mohamed 'Isky' Ispahani passes away|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/469065-mirza-mohamed-’isky’'isky'-ispahani-passes-away|work=The News International|language=en|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> and also to Begum Ghamar Ispahani, an Iranian citizen. She was the daughter of an Iranian diplomat. Ghamar Ispahani was a social worker who was a recipient of Pakistan's [[Nishan-e-Imtiaz]] and Italy's Cavalleri award. They were married during MAH's tenure as the Pakistani High Commissioner to the [[United Kingdom]]. As a result of this marriage, MAH had to resign from his diplomatic post because according to diplomatic law, a running diplomat couldn't be married to a foreigner. Ghamar Ispahani also served as a director of the [[EFU Life|EFU Life Insurance Company]] alongside her step-son Isky Ispahani, until 1989.<ref name=":8">{{cite book|last=Karnowski|first=Wolfram W.|title=The EFU Safa: The Making of an Institution Within the Context of the Creation of Pakistan|publisher=M. Yunus, D&Y Printers|year=2001|location=Karachi, Pakistan|pages=226–227}}</ref> She also established a girl's orphanage in [[Karachi]]. She died in 2007 at the age of 90.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Begum Ispahani passes away|url=http://beta.dawn.com/news/246852/begum-ispahani-passes-away|date=2007-05-14|work=Dawn|language=en|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref>

****'''Mirza Mohammad (Isky) Ispahani (1930-2013):''' Isky Ispahani was born in [[Calcutta]] in 1930 and completed his education from the [[University of Cambridge]]. Isky Ispahani was initially based in [[East Pakistan]], where he had successfully established his business. However, after the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]], his assets were nationalized.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":8" /> After he lost his assets in [[East Pakistan]], the [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Shah of Iran]] personally requested him to establish a jute mill in [[Iran]]. Isky Ispahani successfully established and administered the mill until that was also lost during the aftermath of the [[Islamic Revolution]].<ref name=":8" /> After that he permanently resettled in [[Karachi]], where he was the head of the Pakistani branch of the Ispahani family business. He served as a director of the [[EFU Life|EFU Life Insurance Company]] alongside his step-mother, Begum Ghamar Ispahani, until 1989. Isky Ispahani was married to Akhtar Ispahani (a journalist), with whom he had four children (Iraj, [[Farahnaz Ispahani|Farahnaz]], Mahnaz, and Lalehnaz). In his later years, after his divorce with Akhtar Ispahani, he married Shobha Ispahani. He died in [[Karachi]] in 2013.<ref name=":3" /> His ex-wife, Akhtar, died in June 2020 in her early 80's. She died alone in her house at [[Karachi]] as all four of her children were abroad and unable to return to [[Pakistan]] due to international travel restrictions because of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hasan|first=Shazia|date=2020-06-11|title=Akhtar Ispahani — an icon of versatile talents|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1562652|access-date=2020-10-23|work=Dawn|language=en}}</ref>

*****'''Mirza Iraj Ispahani (b. 1960):''' Iraj Ispahani is the chief executive of Ispahani Advisory,[https://www.ispahaniadvisory.com/] a London-based firm which specialized in advising company leaders on strategic management. He graduated from the [[University of London]] in politics and history and then earned an [[MPhil]] in international relations from the [[University of Cambridge]]. He joined [[JP Morgan]] as a trainee in New York but returned to [[London]] a year later and served as a vice-president in [[Jp morgan|JP Morgan]]. Iraj replaced his father, Isky Ispahani, in the board of [[M.M. Ispahani]] in 2011. He is married to Eva-Kristiina Lindholm (who was also a [[JP Morgan]] banker) since 1994, with whom he has two children. They all reside in [[London]]. Iraj is also the deputy chairman of [[Shakespeare's globe theatre|Shakespeare's Globe Theatre]] in [[London]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Why the 200-year-old Ispahani Group is writing its own constitution |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d0863442-24ed-11e7-a34a-538b4cb30025 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211/https://www.ft.com/content/d0863442-24ed-11e7-a34a-538b4cb30025 |archive-date=2022-12-11 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=Financial Times|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=1994-04-10|title=WEDDINGS; Eva Lindholm, Iraj Ispahani|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/10/style/weddings-eva-lindholm-iraj-ispahani.html|access-date=2020-05-23|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

***** [[Farahnaz Ispahani]] '''(b. 1963):''' Farahnaz Ispahani is a Pakistani politician, author, and human rights lawyer. She lived in [[London]] and completed her education from [[Wellesley College]] in 1985.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pakistani Political Pros|url=https://washdiplomat.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6288:-pakistani-political-pros-&catid=975:march-2009&Itemid=258|website=washdiplomat.com|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> She served as a member of the [[National Assembly of Pakistan]] from 2008 to 2012 from the [[Pakistan Peoples Party|PPP]]. She also served as the media advisor to President [[Asif Ali Zardari]] before her seat was terminated due to her holding dual nationality.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Only 300 votes polled in house of 342|url=https://www.dawn.com/2012/06/22/only-300-votes-polled-in-house-of-342/|last=Ghumman|first=Khawar|date=2012-06-22|work=Dawn|language=en|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> Farahnaz is also a journalist and writer. She has worked with [[CNN]], [[MSNBC]], [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]], and also authored a book called Purifying the Land of the Pure: Pakistan's Religious Minorities, which focused on the persecution of minorities in [[Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Interview: Farahnaz Ispahani|url=https://thediplomat.com/2016/03/interview-farahnaz-ispahani/|last=Notezai|first=Muhammad Akbar|website=thediplomat.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> She is married to [[Husain Haqqani]], the former Pakistani ambassador to the [[United States]] and [[Sri Lanka]].<ref name="wp16May2008" />

***** '''Mahnaz Ispahani:''' Mahnaz is a daughter of Isky Ispahani and Akhtar Ispahani. She was raised in [[Bangladesh]] but studied [[English literature]] and political science in [[Massachusetts]]. She is an author, jewelry collector, and independent scholar specializing in South Asian affairs. She was a senior fellow for South and West Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations. She has authored several books on international relations. Mahnaz spent 25 years working as a global foreign policy expert, which included a 10-year tenure at the [[Ford Foundation]]. She launched a jewelry gallery in [[Midtown Manhattan]] in 2012 called Mahnaz Collection.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Mahnaz Ispahani |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/author/mahnaz-ispahani/|magazine=Foreign Policy|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Royce-Greensill|first=Sarah|date=2018-04-30|title=In My Jewellery Box: Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/jewellery/jewellery-box-mahnaz-ispahani-bartos/|access-date=2020-05-23|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

***** '''Lalehnaz Ispahani:''' Lalehnaz Ispahani is a lawyer and advocate for democracy and human rights issues. She obtained her bachelor's degree from [[Harvard College]] and her law degree from the [[Georgetown University Law Center]]. Lalehnaz served as a senior policy counsel at the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] working on racial justice and human rights for 6 years. She is currently the co-director of the Open Society Foundations-U.S.<ref>{{cite web|title=Laleh Ispahani|url=https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/who-we-are/staff/laleh-ispahani|website=www.opensocietyfoundations.org|language=en|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> She married Tapio Vaskio in 2005, the co-founder and managing director of Enterprise Research Group. He graduated from the [[University of Helsinki]] and obtained a [[master's degree]] in international relations from [[Columbia University]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2006-01-01|title=Laleh Ispahani, Tapio Vaskio|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/01/fashion/weddings/laleh-ispahani-tapio-vaskio.html|access-date=2020-05-23|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Laleh and Tapio have a 15 -year -old daughter named Ameneh.

**** '''Mirza Zia Ispahani:''' Zia Ispahani is the youngest son of [[Abul Hassan Isphani|Mirza A.H Ispahani]]. He is a former diplomat who served as the Pakistani ambassador to [[Switzerland]] and [[Italy]] in the 1990s.<ref name=":2" /> He also served as a special envoy for the Pakistani government during the presidency of [[Asif Ali Zardari]], during which time he visited [[Bangladesh]] and spoke on [[Bangladesh–Pakistan relations|bilateral relations]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Pakistan hails anti-terror taskforce, opposes war crimes trial|url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2009/02/16/pakistan-hails-anti-terror-taskforce-opposes-war-crimes-trial|website=bdnews24.com|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref>

**** '''Iran Ispahani Rahim:''' Iran Ispahani is a daughter of [[Abul Hassan Isphani|Mirza A.H Ispahani]] and Ameneh Sultan. She lives in [[Karachi]].<ref name=":3" />

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***** '''Mariam Ispahani:''' Mariam Ispahani is a private pilot and entrepreneur based in the [[San Francisco Bay Area]] and serves as the CEO for the renewable energy company Saaze Corporation. She is also the head of a USA-Bangladesh bioplastics startup Sonali Bioplastics.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mariam Ispahani|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/zensufi|last=Ispahani|first=Mariam|website=Linkedin|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref>

**** '''Mirza Mohammad Khaleel Ispahani (1933–2001):''' Khaleel Ispahani was a son of Mirza Mahmood Ispahani and Bibi Kuchik Kazerooni.<ref name=":7">{{cite web|title=Mirza Mohammed Khaleel Ispahani|url=https://www.geni.com/people/Mirza-Mohammed-Khaleel-Ispahani/6000000006973075452|website=geni_family_tree|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref> He initially moved to [[East Pakistan]] after the [[Partition of India]] and lived in [[Dhanmondi Thana|Dhanmondi]], [[Dhaka]] along with his brother Alijoon.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sobhan|first=Rehman|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1062173551|title=Untranquil recollections : the years of fulfillment|date=14 December 2015|isbn=978-93-5150-321-7|location=Los Angeles|publisher=Sage|oclc=1062173551}}</ref> After the [[Bangladesh Liberation War|independence of Bangladesh]], he moved to [[Karachi]] where he lived and eventually died in 2001.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":5" />

**'''Mirza Hashem Ispahani (1866-1943):''' Hashem Ispahani was a son of Mehdy Ispahani. He was born in [[Bombay]] in 1866 and died in 1943 in [[Tehran]]. He had four wives: Begum Soghra Ispahani, Bibi Fatimah Ispahani, Ismat Ispahani, and Maryam Khanum Ispahani. He had five children, the most notable being Justice M.A Ispahani.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mirza Hashem Ispahani|url=https://www.geni.com/people/Mirza-Hashem-Ispahani/6000000143088962821|access-date=2021-12-07|website=geni_family_tree|date=14 January 1866 |language=en-US}}</ref>

***'''[[Mirza Ali Ispahani]] (1900-1982):''' Ali Ispahani was born in 1900 in [[Calcutta]] to Hashem Ispahani and Fatimah Ispahani. In 1947, he moved to [[Dhaka]], [[East Pakistan]] after the [[Partition of India]] along with his cousin Ahmad Ispahani. He served as a secretary in the Ministry of Law and later as the Chief Justice of [[East Pakistan]] from 1959 to 1962. M.A Ispahani used to live in Dhaka's Ispahani Colony, his family estate. He was married to Monirea Rashti Ispahani and had a son with her, Mirza Shahab Ispahani. He died in 1982 and was buried in [[Dhaka]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Justice Mirza Ali Ispahani|url=https://www.geni.com/people/Justice-Mirza-Ali-Ispahani/6000000143034703731|access-date=2021-12-07|website=geni_family_tree|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Government of Bangladesh Vs. Mirza Shahab Ispahani, 40 DLR (AD) (1988) 116 - The Lawyers and Jurists|url=https://www.lawyersnjurists.com/lawyer_ci/case/government-of-bangladesh-vs-mirza-shahab-ispahani-40-dlr-ad-1988-116|access-date=2021-12-07|website=www.lawyersnjurists.com}}</ref>

****'''Mirza Shahab Ispahani:''' Shahab Ispahani was a son of Justice M.A Ispahani and Monirea Rashti Ispahani. He was born in [[Calcutta]] on 17 September 1941 but moved to [[Dhaka]], [[East Pakistan]] after the [[Partition of India]]. He moved to [[England]] in 1952 for his studies and qualified as a chartered accountant there. In 1962, he was allotted a piece of land in Road 75, [[Gulshan Thana|Gulshan]], where he constructed a two-storey house and named it Lismore Court. The house was rented to the British Deputy High Commissioner to Bangladesh while Shahab continued to live in the Ispahani Colony. In 1972, the [[Government of Bangladesh]] seized Lismore Court under the controversial [[Vested Property Act (Bangladesh)|Enemy Property Act]]. The Ispahani family negotiated with the government to release the property and Monirea Rashti Ispahani even visited the president in 1984. However, the negotiations failed and Shahab filed a case against the government and won back the property in 1985. The [[Government of Bangladesh]] appealed against the decision but the appeal was turned down. Shahab was represented by the prominent lawyer [[Rafique Ul Huq|Barrister Rafique Ul Huq]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Government of Bangladesh Vs. Mirza Shahab Ispahani, 40 DLR (AD) (1988) 116 - The Lawyers and Jurists|url=https://www.lawyersnjurists.com/lawyer_ci/case/government-of-bangladesh-vs-mirza-shahab-ispahani-40-dlr-ad-1988-116|access-date=2021-12-07|website=www.lawyersnjurists.com}}</ref>

==References==