Ha-meem Group
{{Short description|Bangladeshi textile and garments company}}
{{Infobox company
| key_people = Abdul Kader Azad (Chairman, CEO & Managing Director)
| industry = Composite textile, tea, leather, transport, media
| products =
| revenue = {{increase }}US$550 million
| operating_income =
| assets =
| num_employees = 75,000
| image = Ha-meem Group factory, Ashulia, Dhaka.jpg
| type = Private
| company_slogan =
| foundation =
| location = Dhaka, Bangladesh
| market_capitalization =
| homepage = {{URL|www.hameemgroup.net}}
}}
Ha-Meem Group is a Bangladeshi conglomerate in textile and garments sector.{{Cite news |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/news/world/2014/09/01/Long-days-a-staple-of-Bangladesh-garment-industry/stories/201409010142 |title=Long days a staple of garment industry in Bangladesh |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=2016-10-29}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/business/top-exporters-awarded-1277086 |title=Top exporters awarded |date=2016-08-29 |newspaper=The Daily Star |access-date=2016-10-29}} It owns 26 garments factories,{{Cite news |url=http://sandiegofreepress.org/2013/10/gap-old-navy-and-the-living-hell-of-a-bangladeshi-sweatshop/ |title=Gap, Old Navy, and the Living Hell of a Bangladeshi Sweatshop - San Diego Free Press |date=2013-10-05 |newspaper=San Diego Free Press |language=en-US |access-date=2016-10-29}} sweater factory, poly bag industry, label factory, jute mill, chemical formulation plant, tea estates, transport company, Channel 24 and Samakal, a widely circulated national daily newspaper.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hameemgroup.net/portfolio |title=About Us | Ha-Meem Group |access-date=2013-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104092938/http://www.hameemgroup.net/portfolio |archive-date=2013-01-04 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite news |date=2021-10-09 |title=Diversification makes them stronger |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/rmg/diversification-makes-them-stronger-313672 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Business Standard |language=en}} The newspaper are under Times Media Limited of Ha-Meem Group.{{Cite news |title=AK Azad says he has recovered from COVID-19 |url=https://bdnews24.com/business/ak-azad-undergoes-plasma-therapy-for-covid-19 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=bdnews24.com |language=en}} It employs 50,000 people.{{Cite news |date=2016-12-26 |title=Ha-Meem Group fires 91 workers |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/ha-Meem-group-fires-91-workers-1335559 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}
A. K. Azad is the chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and managing director of the group.{{Cite news |date=2022-05-29 |title=Policy support, reforms can ward off macroeconomic challenges |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/policy-support-reforms-can-ward-macroeconomic-challenges-3034036 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2022-10-15 |title=UIU Debate Club wins BUTEXDC National Debate Festival |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2022/10/15/uiu-debate-club-wins-butexdc-national-debate-festival |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=Dhaka Tribune |language=en}} Colonel (retired) Md. Delwar Hossain is the deputy managing director of the group.{{Cite magazine |last=Karim |first=Elita |author-link=Elita Karim |date=10 July 2009 |title=An Unsolved Mystery |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2009/07/02/current_affaires.htm |access-date=5 November 2022 |magazine=Star Weekend Magazine}}
History
Ha-Meem Group was established in 1984 by A. K. Azad and Md. Delwar Hossain with a single garment factory.{{Cite web |title=About Us {{!}} Leading wholesale clothing manufacturer in Bangladesh |url=https://www.hameemgroup.net/about-us.aspx |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=www.hameemgroup.net}}
Garment workers vandalized their factory in Ashulia after which the group filed a case against 1600 unidentified people in 2009. The group denied the workers were from their own factory.{{Cite news |last=Mirdha |first=Refayet Ullah |date=2009-06-30 |title=Spillover effects |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-94944 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} The protests started after 1000 garment workers in an unrelated factory were fired.{{Cite news |last=Mridha |first=Refayet Ullah |date=2009-06-29 |title=It all started with the sacking in a sick unit |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-94829 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} The group chairman, A. K. Azad, filed police case requesting security from Bashundhara Group after Samakal wrote news articles against the Bashundhara Group.{{Cite news |date=2009-10-20 |title=Samakal publisher files GD |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-110717 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}
On 14 December 2010, 26 workers died in a fire at Thats it Sportswear, a Ha-Meem Group factory, in Ashulia and 100 were injured.{{Cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-166145 |title=26 killed in factory fire |date=2010-12-15 |newspaper=The Daily Star |access-date=2016-10-29}}{{Cite magazine |last=Ariquzzaman |first=Shudeepto |title=Locked Doors and Lost Lives |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2010/12/04/special.htm |access-date=2022-11-05 |magazine=Star Weekend Magazine}} The fire exit and gate of the factory were locked which increased the death toll.
In June 2012, labour unrest broke out at the subsidiary of the group, Artistic Design Limited, in Ashulia.{{Cite news |date=2012-06-12 |title=100 RMG factories suspend production |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-237993 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Sarkar |first=Kailash |date=2012-06-14 |title=Ashulia industrial zone now battlefield |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-238219 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}
Labour unrests in the group's factories in Ashulia stopped production as workers went on strike demanding increase in salary in May 2013.{{Cite news |date=2013-05-21 |title=Labour unrest halts Ha-Meem |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/labour-unrest-halts-ha-meem |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2013-05-20 |title=30 hurt in RMG worker-cop clash |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/30-hurt-as-rmg-workers-clash-with-cops-in-ashulia |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} About 80 per cent of the group's export went to the United States.{{Cite news |date=2013-04-01 |title=Mozena fears flight of foreign investment out of Bangladesh |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/mozena-fears-flight-of-foreign-investment-out-of-bangladesh |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}
In December 2016, the group terminated 368 workers over labour unrest.
Ha-Meem Group invested 60 million USD to expand Denim production in 2017.{{Cite news |last=Mirdha |first=Refayet Ullah |date=2017-03-13 |title=Ha-Meem Group bets big on denim |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/ha-meem-group-bets-big-denim-1374976 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} Bangladesh Bank rejected a proposal by Ha-meem group to invest 10 million USD in Haiti to export to the United States.{{Cite news |last=Alo |first=Jebun Nesa |date=2017-03-21 |title=3 firms barred from investing abroad |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/3-firms-barred-investing-abroad-1378924 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Rahman |first=Sajjadur |date=2017-09-19 |title=Akij may get nod to buy Malaysian firms |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/akij-may-get-nod-buy-malaysian-firms-1464358 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} That's It Fashions Limited announced plans to buy 11 million shares of Pubali Bank.{{Cite news |date=2017-09-12 |title=That's It Fashions to buy 1.1cr shares of Pubali Bank |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/thats-it-fashions-buy-11cr-shares-pubali-bank-1460971 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} Ha-Meem Group invested in tea plantations.{{Cite news |last=Rahman |first=Sajjadur |date=2017-02-22 |title=Large firms investing in tea plantation |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/large-firms-investing-tea-plantation-1365013 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}
On 21 March 2018, the house of the group's chairman, A. K. Azad, was demolished in Gulshan by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, led by director Aliur Rahman, for not having an approved design.{{Cite news |date=2018-03-21 |title=Rajuk demolishes parts of AK Azad's house |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/rajuk-tears-down-parts-ak-azads-house-1551265 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=RAJUK demolishes Azad’s house at Gulshan |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/37200/rajuk-demolishes-azads-house-at-gulshan |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=New Age |language=en}} Ha-Meem group claimed the demolition took place despite them showing legal documents and stopped after it was shown to the chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha.{{Cite news |title=RAJUK demolishes parts of Ha-Meem Group owner’s house in Gulshan |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/rajuk-demolishes-parts-of-ha-meem-group-owners-house-in-gulshan |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=bdnews24.com |language=en}} Anti Corruption Commission summoned Azad on the same day as the demolition.{{Cite news |title=Bangladesh graft watchdog summons Ha-Meem Group owner AK Azad |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/bangladesh-graft-watchdog-summons-ha-meem-group-owner-ak-azad |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=bdnews24.com |language=en}} Azad is the senior Vice-President of Faridpur District unit of Awami League and director of Shahjalal Islami Bank.
In April 2020, workers of Sharmin Group and Ha-meem Group participated in violent labour protests.{{Cite news |date=2020-04-27 |title=RMG workers' protests turn violent in Gazipur, 8 injured |url=https://archive.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2020/04/27/rmg-workers-protests-turn-violent-in-gazipur-8-injured |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=Dhaka Tribune}}
A worker of the group was seriously injured in police firing at a workers protest.{{Cite news |date=2021-10-09 |title=Shot by police, incapacitated for life |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/shot-police-incapacitated-life-2194011 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}} The workers of That's It Garments Limited and Creative Collections Limited were protesting when the police shot them on 10 May 2021.{{Cite news |date=2021-05-11 |title=10 RMG workers hurt as police fire on their demo |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/news/10-rmg-workers-hurt-police-fire-their-demo-2091601 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Mirdha |first=Refayet Ullah |date=2022-04-26 |title=Ha-Meem Group eyes $1b exports by 2024 |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/ha-meem-group-eyes-1b-exports-2024-3012581 |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}
It sold $200 million worth of garment products in the Bangladeshi market. Refat Garments Limited is the biggest exporting unit of the group with exports worth 172 million USD in 2017-2018 fiscal year.
Subsidiaries
- Artistic Design Limited{{Cite web |title=Woven {{!}} Ha-Meem Group |url=https://www.hameemgroup.net/woven.aspx |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=www.hameemgroup.net}}
- Ha-Meem Apparels Limited
- That’s It Garments Limited
- That’s It Sports Wear Limited
- Apparels Gallery Limited
- Refat Garments Limited
- Creative Collections Limited
- Next Collections Limited
- Ha-Meem Design Limited
- Refat Packaging & Printing Industries Limited
- That’s It Knit Limited{{Cite web |title=Sweater {{!}} High quality sweater manufacturing factory in Bangladesh |url=https://www.hameemgroup.net/sweater.aspx |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=www.hameemgroup.net}}
- That's It Sweater Limited
- Modern Washing Plant{{Cite web |title=Laundry {{!}} One of the biggest washing facilities in Bangladesh |url=https://www.hameemgroup.net/laundry.aspx |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=www.hameemgroup.net}}
- Sajid Washing Plant
- Creative Washing Plant
- Express Washing Plant
- Ha-Meem Denim Mills Limited{{Cite web |title=Ha-Meem Denim Mill {{!}} State of the art denim jeans company in Bangladesh |url=https://www.hameemgroup.net/denim-mill.aspx |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=www.hameemgroup.net}}
- Ha-Meem label{{Cite web |title=Embroidery, Printing and Accessories {{!}} Ha-Meem Group |url=https://www.hameemgroup.net/embroidery-accessories.aspx |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=www.hameemgroup.net}}
- Ha-Meem Design Studio{{Cite web |title=Ha-Meem Design Studio - Keeping pace with the modern trend {{!}} Sample Section |url=https://www.hameemgroup.net/design.aspx |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=www.hameemgroup.net}}
- Embroidery Factory{{Cite web |title=Ancillary {{!}} Ha-Meem Group |url=https://www.hameemgroup.net/ancillary.aspx |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=www.hameemgroup.net}}
- Printing Factory
- Carton Factory
- Poly Bag Industry
- Label Factory
- M. H. Jute Mills Limited{{Cite web |title=Ha-Meem Group {{!}} Top Ranking Bangladeshi Clothing Manufacturer |url=https://www.hameemgroup.net/home.aspx |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=www.hameemgroup.net}}
- Chemical Formulation Plant
Times Media Limited
See also
References
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130104092938/http://www.hameemgroup.net/portfolio Ha-meem Group corporate information]
{{Ha-meem Group Media}}
Category:Companies based in Dhaka
Category:Conglomerate companies of Bangladesh