When Al-Hajj Habibur Rahman established H.A. Timbers Industries Limited on the banks of Buriganga in 1963, his vision was rooted in the idea of fostering “collective development” among every businessman in the wood industry. In the steady hands of Habibur Rahman, H.A. Timber Industries Limited took shape and became one of the prominent timber businesses in Farashganj, which was then Dhaka’s biggest timber hub. The resonance of his (Habibur Rahman’s) vision continues to reverberate even today, nearly 60 years later, through the voices of HATIL’s next generation of leaders. The concept of collective development is echoed in the words of Mushfiqur Rahman, Assistant Director at HATIL Complex Ltd. During an interview with UNB, Mushfiqur shared insights into his role within the company and how his journey began with HATIL. Moreover, he shed light on both the company’s vision and his personal aspirations for the country’s leading furniture brand. “We aim to enhance the backward linkage of Bangladesh’s furniture industry. Presently, the backward linkage in Bangladesh’s furniture industry is considerably weak. For instance, a major portion of our raw materials is imported from China. This scenario isn’t unique to HATIL; it’s a prevalent situation across various industry players as well,” he told UNB. Read more: Inside HATIL’s manufacturing philosophy Regarding the founding chairman’s commitment to collective development, HATIL’s company secretary, in a previous interview, had said, “Habibur Rahman was a leader who always thought of everyone, not just about himself. His vision was ‘us’ not ‘me’. He believed in collective development.” PRIMARY FOCUS ON MEETING CUSTOMERS’ NEEDS: MUSHFIQUR RAHMAN Mushfiqur started working at HATIL in October 2020 after graduating from the University of Sydney. Despite diverse job experiences in Australia, notably in marketing and sales roles, he lacked exposure to the furniture industry. His stint at Harvey Norman provided his first encounter with this sector. Upon returning to Bangladesh, he joined HATIL as a management trainee. During this period, he underwent intensive month-long training across all departments and contributed significantly to a joint venture with Nolte Group as an Operations Lead for two years. Transitioning to the HATIL factory in 2023, he initially worked with the plywood section and now focuses on the interior team within the production department, having prior experience with the bentwood team. Read more: Commitment towards sustainability at the heart of HATIL: Company Secretary Md. Rezaul Karim

Introducing robotics and automation to HATIL’s manufacturing process was one of the most significant transformations since the furniture brand’s inception, according to HATIL’s Director Shafiqur Rahman. “There was a time when a carpenter would be responsible for a specific product. If the carpenter was unwell or absent for personal reasons, the operation for that product would come to a halt,” he said. “Now, if someone is unwell or on a personal leave, another person can finish the work with the help of automation at HATIL, making the process smoother and eliminating extra costs and delays,” Shafiqur Rahman told UNB during an exclusive interview. HATIL employs a variety of advanced machines and automation to craft their furniture pieces at the factory. The use of technology ensures consistent design and size for every piece, which can be challenging to achieve with manual labor. HATIL, Bangladesh's top furniture brand, is renowned for its quality and consistency, which has been crucial to the brand's enduring success. Shafiqur Rahman attributes this success to the brand's innovative approach, which incorporated advanced machinery and robotics into its production over the past decade. “Previously, there was no plan in place to ensure an efficient manufacturing process,” Shafiqur said. “Often, it was seen that all parts for production were ready, but an important material was missing, causing the entire production process to come to a halt which, in turn, would add to the manufacturing cost.” “Now, due to our streamlined operations, there is no backlog for any product,” he said. Shafiqur came to be a part of his family’s decade-long wooden furniture business as an “intern.” "Even though I formally joined HATIL's production unit in 2004, my association with the wood industry began well before that," he recalled. Read more: HATIL’s ‘slim is smart’ has global appeal: Marketing Director Moshiur Rahman