HATIL shows how smart manufacturing can empower people and protect the planet

On a quiet morning in Savar, as sunlight filters through the large windows of HATIL's massive factory, 38-year-old Razia Begum makes her rounds across the production floor.

Once a line worker working in the upholstery section, she now walks with the quiet confidence of a supervisor — checking machines, guiding her team, and ensuring safety protocols are followed in her department. Her children are in school now, and her family depends on her steady income. "I never thought I'd reach this position," she says with a shy smile. "Here, I've learned everything — from how to handle machines safely to how to lead a team."

Razia's story is just one among hundreds inside HATIL's state-of-the-art manufacturing complex — a symbol of how a Bangladeshi brand can merge sustainability, technology, and human care into a single vision.

Infograph: TBS

A smarter, cleaner factory floor

HATIL calls it their "smart production process," though it is much more than technology. It's a philosophy of efficiency, safety, and sustainability woven into every layer of work. At the core of this process are roller conveyors — systems that carry heavy furniture pieces smoothly across the factory. This reduces the need for manual lifting, lowers the risk of injuries, and increases productivity.

The air inside the factory is remarkably clean, zero to very low wood dust, carefully managed by an advanced waste filtration system. This isn't just good for the environment; it's healthier for the workers. HATIL's commitment to worker well-being goes beyond wages or working hours — it's built into the design of its operations.

Solar panels on the factory roofs have already generated electricity worth Tk6.7 crore, power that might otherwise have strained the national grid. Every watt of clean energy and every cubic foot of filtered air tells a story of foresight. 

"Sustainability can't just be a slogan," says a HATIL's director, Shafiqur Rahman. "It has to make life better for both people and the country."

Crafting sustainability

Inside HATIL's multiple processing units — wood, metal, and upholstery, the same care is evident. The company invests heavily in waste management and recycling. Foam cuttings from upholstery are repurposed into rebonding foam, ensuring minimal waste. Sawdust and wood scraps are treated and reused rather than dumped, sometimes for heating purposes. In fact, HATIL has spent crores to ensure no untreated waste leaves its factory premises.

Even the finishing process has become eco-friendly. HATIL now uses a water-based coating system instead of traditional solvent-based ones, ensuring a safer and healthier option for both users and the environment.

Recycling, however, is expensive — and HATIL doesn't shy away from that. "We know sustainable production costs more," says Shafiqur. "But in the long run, it pays back — for the company, for the workers, and for the country."

People at the heart

HATIL's workforce largely learns on the job, supported by rigorous training programs lasting three to six months. The company ensures continuous development without halting production — a delicate balance between learning and earning.

Workers are also trained in fire safety and medical response. Every six months, new "fire captains" are selected from among the staff, they lead drills once a month and receive additional recognition for this responsibility. "A fire captain must be the last one out," said Tareq, who once served in that role himself. "It gives you a sense of pride and duty."

Infograph: TBS

Design meets culture

All of HATIL's designs are done in-house under the direct supervision of its chairman. The team constantly conducts market surveys, tests feedback, and refines designs to align with customer expectations across different regions. Each year, HATIL unveils new collections at international trade fairs — blending modern functionality with Bangladeshi cultural sensibilities.

For overseas markets, HATIL provides OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) facilities, tailoring designs to specific markets while maintaining its brand integrity. The goal is clear: to match global standards, not just in product design but in process and ethics.

Infograph: TBS

Setting a benchmark for the industry

Bangladesh's furniture industry has grown rapidly, yet it still struggles to meet the consistent global standards required by large-scale importers. Without collective improvement across the sector, economies of concentration — where multiple suppliers attract buyers to one region — will remain out of reach. HATIL wants to change that.

By setting an example in clean manufacturing, resource efficiency, and worker welfare, HATIL aims to inspire others. "If we all maintain the same high standards, global buyers will see Bangladesh as a serious furniture destination," says a senior company official.

A model for progress

Back on the production floor, Razia finishes her rounds and pauses by a conveyor line carrying newly polished furniture. The hum of the machines feels almost like music now — steady, rhythmic, purposeful. For her, HATIL isn't just a workplace. It's a platform for growth, for pride, for dignity.

And for Bangladesh, it's proof that progress doesn't have to come at the cost of the planet or people. It can be built sustainably, one smart process, one empowered worker, and one piece of furniture at a time.