Hatil

Hatil is a Bangladeshi furniture manufacturer and retail brand headquartered in Dhaka. It produces and sells furniture for homes, offices, kitchens and related interior applications, combining locally based manufacturing with a showroom-led retail network and export activity. The business was established in 1989 by Selim H. Rahman, initially as Hatil Doors, a small door-making operation in Old Dhaka. Its origins reach back to H.A. Timber Industries Ltd., a timber business founded in 1963 by Rahman's father, Al-Haj Habibur Rahman. The company expanded beyond doors during the 1990s. It received early commercial orders from pharmaceutical companies, moved into a larger rented facility in Kuril, and began producing almirahs and beds in 1995. By 1996, its product range had broadened into general household furniture. In its early phase, approximately 100 workers made furniture manually, primarily from locally sourced teak. A 2000 joint venture with a South Korean company supported Hatil's move toward mechanised production. The company subsequently used additional facilities in Shyampur and Farashganj before establishing manufacturing operations at its own facility in Savar in 2006. Hatil adopted Kaizen principles in 2007 and progressively increased the use of automated and computer-controlled manufacturing. Because of declining availability of domestic teak, the company began using imported German beech wood from 2009. Its material base also includes oak, melamine-laminated particle board, medium-density fibreboard, cane, metal, fabrics and other engineered components. Manufacturing processes described for the business include computer-aided design, CNC machining, precision cutting, lacquering, ultraviolet curing, robotic spraying and automated production systems. International expansion began with an overseas showroom in Sydney in 2013, followed by a Toronto showroom in 2014. The same period saw Hatil begin OEM exports to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United States. A 2015 collaboration with Germany's Nolte Group made Hatil-Nolte the authorised licensee of Nolte Kitchen in Bangladesh. Hatil later expanded into Nepal and Bhutan and entered India through franchising, opening its first Indian showroom in Chandigarh in 2017. It has also developed export and commercial relationships in several Middle Eastern, Asian, North American, European and other markets. The brand has invested in digital retail as well as physical stores. In 2017 it opened a large showroom in Mirpur, described as the largest furniture showroom in Bangladesh at the time. In 2018, it launched an e-commerce website and a virtual store designed to let customers inspect its range through virtual-reality presentation. A reported investment of more than 200 crore taka in 2019 upgraded machinery at the Zirani Bazar factory and was associated with a substantial increase in production capacity. Hatil's manufacturing footprint includes facilities at Zirani Bazar and Savar. One facility produces particle board and engineered wood, while another focuses on finished furniture. The company has been described as having capacity for approximately 48,000 furniture items per month and employing more than 3,000 people. Its retail network has included dozens of showrooms in Bangladesh, India and Bhutan, alongside business in other export markets. Sustainability initiatives include the use of Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood, recycling sawdust and offcuts into particle board, converting wood dust into fuel briquettes, recovering fabric and foam remnants for rebounded mattresses, and operating a rooftop solar installation at its factory. Hatil also runs a school for employees' children as part of its social initiatives.

Hatil developed from a family timber-business background. H.A. Timber Industries Ltd. was established in 1963 by Al-Haj Habibur Rahman. His son, Selim H. Rahman, joined the business in the late 1980s and identified a commercial opportunity in manufacturing doors. In 1989 he established Hatil Doors, a small operation in Old Dhaka. The company gained early institutional business in 1990 when pharmaceutical companies began ordering doors. It moved into a rented 5,000-square-foot facility in Kuril in 1993 and broadened its product range to almirahs and beds in 1995. By the following year, Hatil was producing a wider range of household furniture. At this stage production was largely manual, with around 100 workers using locally sourced teak. A joint venture with a South Korean company in 2000 marked a transition toward mechanised manufacturing. To accommodate growth, Hatil rented further factories in Shyampur and Farashganj, then established production at its own Savar facility in 2006. The company introduced Kaizen operating principles in 2007, reflecting a stronger focus on continuous improvement and manufacturing efficiency. From 2009 onward, it increasingly used beech imported from Germany because of limited teak availability in Bangladesh. The business began building an international presence in the 2010s. It opened its first overseas showroom in Sydney in 2013 and began OEM exports to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United States. A Toronto showroom followed in 2014. In 2015, Hatil entered a collaboration with the German Nolte Group and became the authorised Bangladesh licensee for Nolte Kitchen products. It also received Forest Stewardship Council sustainability certification for its furniture that year. Expansion into Nepal and Bhutan took place during 2016–2017, while India was entered through a franchise model in 2017. Domestic retail expansion continued alongside exports. Hatil opened a large Mirpur showroom in 2017 and introduced an e-commerce platform and virtual-reality store in 2018. In 2019, the company invested more than 200 crore taka in machinery upgrades at its Zirani Bazar factory, with the reported result of doubling production capacity. Hatil's current business model combines furniture design, manufacturing, retail showrooms and exports. Its products use solid and engineered woods, particle board, MDF, cane, metal, fabrics and associated hardware. The company operates factories in the Zirani Bazar and Savar areas, uses lean manufacturing and automated processes, and has been reported to employ more than 3,000 people. Its international business extends beyond South Asia to North America, Australia, the Middle East and other markets. Environmental programmes have become an important part of its manufacturing profile. Hatil uses FSC-certified wood, recycles wood residues into particle board, turns collected dust into briquette fuel and reuses fabric and foam remnants in rebounded mattresses. A rooftop solar project at its factory has been reported at 2.67 MW. The company also operates a school for employees' children. Recognition reported for Hatil includes a 2013 HSBC–The Daily Star Climate Award, National Board of Revenue awards for high VAT contribution in 2018–2020, a 2021 Bangladesh Retail Award, a 2022 HSBC Business Excellence Award, a 2023–24 Superbrands Bangladesh Award and several 2024 industry and sustainability distinctions.

1. 2019Zirani Bazar machinery investment

   Hatil invests in machinery upgrades at its Zirani Bazar factory, reportedly doubling production capacity.

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2. 2018Digital retail launch

   The company launches an e-commerce website and a virtual store using virtual-reality presentation.

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3. 2017India entry and major Mirpur showroom

   Hatil enters India through franchising and opens a large showroom in Mirpur, Bangladesh.

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4. 2015Nolte Kitchen collaboration and FSC certification

   Hatil collaborates with Nolte Group and receives FSC sustainability certification for its furniture.

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5. 2013First overseas showroom and OEM exports

   Hatil opens a Sydney showroom and begins OEM exports to several foreign markets.

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6. 2007Kaizen principles adopted

   The company applies continuous-improvement principles to its operations.

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7. 2006Own Savar facility opens

   Hatil begins production at its own facility in Savar.

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8. 2000Mechanised production begins

   A joint venture with a South Korean company supports the shift from manual to mechanised operations.

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9. 1995Expansion into furniture

   Hatil begins producing almirahs and beds.

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10. 1989Hatil Doors is founded

    Selim H. Rahman establishes a door-manufacturing business in Old Dhaka.

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11. 1963H.A. Timber Industries is established

    Al-Haj Habibur Rahman establishes the timber business from which Hatil later develops.

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A vertically integrated, design-oriented Bangladeshi furniture brand positioned around broad product coverage, modern manufacturing, showroom retail, export capability and increasingly visible environmental practices.

• Home furnitureResidential furniture1996

  Hatil's residential range covers furniture for living rooms, bedrooms, dining areas and other domestic spaces. Products are made from a mix of solid wood, engineered wood, melamine-laminated particle board, MDF, cane, metal, fabric and related materials. The range reflects the brand's evolution from door production into a broad household-furniture portfolio.

• Office furnitureCommercial furniture

  The office line serves workplaces with desks, seating, storage and other furnishings for commercial interiors. It extends Hatil's manufacturing and retail capabilities beyond residential use and is produced within the company's broader furniture-production system.

• DoorsArchitectural wood products1989

  Doors were Hatil's original commercial product. The business began as Hatil Doors in 1989 and initially supplied doors to institutional customers, including pharmaceutical companies. Door production remains part of the company's wider wood-products heritage.

• Hatil-Nolte kitchensKitchen furniture2015

  Hatil-Nolte represents the company's collaboration with German manufacturer Nolte Group. Through the arrangement, Hatil became the authorised licensee of Nolte Kitchen in Bangladesh, adding an internationally associated kitchen-furniture proposition to its local portfolio.

• MattressesBedroom products

  Mattresses form part of Hatil's bedroom-related offering. The company has also reported reusing fabric and foam leftovers to produce rebounded mattresses, linking this product area with its materials-recovery programme.

• 2022Grameenphone GPStar privilege programme

  Bangladesh

  Hatil partnered with Grameenphone to launch a privilege programme for GPStar customers, using a telecommunications loyalty ecosystem to support customer engagement.

  Outcome. The available reference material confirms the launch but does not provide measured commercial results.

  Source

• 2019Zirani Bazar production upgradeStrategy

  Growing demand required additional manufacturing capacity and more advanced equipment.

  What changed. Hatil invested more than 200 crore taka in machinery upgrades at its Zirani Bazar factory.

  Aftermath. The investment was reported to have doubled the factory's production capacity.

  Machinery investment. More than BDT 200 crore invested (2019)

  Source
• 2018Launch of e-commerce and virtual storeProduct launch

  Hatil was expanding its showroom network and needed digital ways to present a broad furniture catalogue.

  What changed. The company launched an e-commerce website and a virtual store featuring its range through virtual-reality presentation.

  Aftermath. The launch added digital and immersive presentation channels to Hatil's showroom-led retail model.

  Source
• 2015Collaboration with Nolte GroupM&A

  Hatil sought to broaden its kitchen-furniture offering through an international manufacturing relationship.

  What changed. It established a collaboration with German furniture manufacturer Nolte Group and became the authorised Bangladesh licensee of Nolte Kitchen.

  Aftermath. The partnership created the Hatil-Nolte proposition in Bangladesh.

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• 2000Move toward mechanised manufacturingStrategy

  Hatil's early furniture was made manually, while demand and product breadth were increasing.

  What changed. The company entered a joint venture with a South Korean company and began transitioning to mechanised operations.

  Aftermath. The move established the basis for later factory expansion, lean manufacturing and automated production.

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• 2022Hatil participates in the INDEX Trade Fair in Delhi

  Hatil presented its furniture business at the INDEX trade fair in Delhi as part of its international market development.

  Other
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• 2022Hatil signs financing agreement for a factory rooftop solar project

  The company entered a concessional loan agreement with Infrastructure Development Company to establish a rooftop solar installation at its Gazipur-area factory.

  Other
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• 2022Hatil launches a privilege programme with Grameenphone

  Hatil partnered with Grameenphone on a benefits programme for GPStar customers.

  Campaign
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• 2022Hatil takes part in the National Furniture Fair

  The company participated in Bangladesh's five-day National Furniture Fair.

  Campaign
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1. Hatil