Ha-meem Group
Corporate brand
UnclaimedHa-meem Group is a Bangladeshi conglomerate centered on garment and textile manufacturing, with additional interests in media, jute, chemicals, tea, packaging, and transport.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Ha-meem Group is a Bangladeshi diversified business group whose principal activity is the manufacture and export of garments and textiles. The group was established in 1984 by A. K. Azad and Md. Delwar Hossain, initially with a single garment factory. It subsequently expanded into a vertically and horizontally integrated apparel platform, adding garment factories, sweater production, denim manufacturing, washing and finishing facilities, embroidery, printing, cartons, labels, poly bags, and other production-support operations. The group’s manufacturing portfolio includes numerous apparel companies and factories, among them Artistic Design Limited, 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, That’s It Knit Limited, and That’s It Sweater Limited. Its related industrial businesses include Ha-Meem Denim Mills, several washing plants, a design studio, embroidery and printing factories, packaging and labeling operations, M. H. Jute Mills, and a chemical formulation plant. This structure allows the group to control multiple stages of product development and apparel production rather than relying exclusively on outside suppliers. Ha-meem has been associated particularly with denim and other export-oriented clothing. Reference material identifies the United States as a major destination and states that approximately 80 percent of the group’s exports went to the US during the 2013 labor unrest. The group also sells garments in Bangladesh. Refat Garments Limited was identified as one of its largest exporting units, with reported exports of $172 million in the 2017–2018 fiscal year; the group also reported a $60 million denim-expansion investment in 2017. These figures are historical and do not represent current financial performance. Beyond textiles, Ha-meem Group has interests in tea plantations, transport, jute, chemicals, and mass media. Its media interests operate through Times Media Limited and include Channel 24 and the national newspaper Samakal. The group therefore combines industrial production with consumer-facing media assets, although apparel remains its defining business. A. K. Azad is identified as the group’s chairman, chief executive officer, and managing director. Colonel (retired) Md. Delwar Hossain is identified as deputy managing director. The business has also had a significant public profile because of labor disputes, factory-safety concerns, regulatory proceedings, and the political and business activities associated with its chairman. A fatal fire at the group’s That’s It Sportswear factory in Ashulia in December 2010 killed 26 workers and injured approximately 100; reported concerns included locked exits and gates. Subsequent labor unrest occurred at several group operations, including Artistic Design Limited and factories in Ashulia, with disputes involving wages, dismissals, and working conditions. The available reference material describes Ha-meem Group as employing about 50,000 people, but this is a historical figure whose current status is not established here. The group remains an important Bangladeshi apparel and textile enterprise, but a complete current picture of its ownership, financial condition, website, workforce, and operating structure requires updated corporate or regulatory sources.
History
Ha-meem Group began in Bangladesh in 1984, founded by A. K. Azad and Md. Delwar Hossain with one garment factory. Its subsequent development followed the pattern of large export-oriented Bangladeshi apparel groups: expansion of production capacity was combined with investment in upstream and downstream services needed to design, manufacture, finish, package, and ship clothing. The group built a broad manufacturing network covering woven garments, knitwear, sweaters, sportswear, denim, washing, embroidery, printing, packaging, labels, and poly bags. Its named subsidiaries and facilities include Artistic Design Limited, 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, That’s It Knit Limited, That’s It Sweater Limited, Ha-Meem Denim Mills Limited, multiple washing plants, an embroidery factory, a printing factory, a carton factory, a poly-bag operation, and a label factory. This integrated structure supported the group’s role as an international apparel supplier and reduced dependence on external production contractors. Ha-meem also diversified beyond apparel. Its wider interests include M. H. Jute Mills, a chemical formulation plant, tea plantations, transport, and media. Through Times Media Limited, the group is associated with Channel 24 and Samakal. These investments made Ha-meem a conglomerate rather than a single-category clothing manufacturer, though garments and textiles continued to account for its core industrial identity. The group’s labor and safety record has been a recurring subject of public reporting. In 2009, unrest in Ashulia led to vandalism at a Ha-meem factory and a case against unidentified individuals. The group said the affected workers were not its own employees and linked the wider protests to dismissals at another factory. In June 2012, labor unrest was reported at Artistic Design Limited. In May 2013, strikes at Ha-meem facilities in Ashulia over wage increases halted production. In December 2016, the group terminated 368 workers after labor unrest. The most serious incident was the December 14, 2010 fire at the group’s That’s It Sportswear factory in Ashulia. Twenty-six workers died and approximately 100 were injured. Reports said the factory’s fire exit and gate were locked, circumstances that increased the death toll and made the disaster a major safety controversy associated with the group. Further labor-related incidents were reported in April 2020 and May 2021. In 2021, police firing during a protest involving workers from That’s It Garments and Creative Collections seriously injured one worker. The group pursued further industrial expansion in the late 2010s. In 2017 it reportedly invested $60 million in denim production. A proposal to invest $10 million in Haiti for exports to the United States was rejected by Bangladesh Bank. That same period included reported plans by That’s It Fashions Limited to acquire shares in Pubali Bank and continued investment in tea plantations. These activities illustrate the group’s broader diversification, although the available material does not establish whether every proposal was completed. Ha-meem’s public profile has also been shaped by matters involving its chairman. In March 2018, the Gulshan residence of A. K. Azad was demolished by the capital-development authority over an alleged absence of an approved design. Ha-meem disputed the action, stating that legal documents had been shown, while the Anti-Corruption Commission summoned Azad on the same day. The available reference does not provide the final outcome of those proceedings. The group has been described as employing approximately 50,000 people. It has also been reported to have sold $200 million worth of garments in the Bangladeshi market and to have generated $172 million in exports through Refat Garments Limited during the 2017–2018 fiscal year. These are historical figures and should not be treated as current financial disclosures. Current ownership, management changes, workforce levels, revenue, and corporate website information require verification from up-to-date primary sources.
- 2021
Worker injured during police firing
[1]A worker was seriously injured during police firing at a protest involving two Ha-meem subsidiaries.
- 2020
Labor protests during the pandemic period
[1]Ha-meem workers participated in violent labor protests in April.
- 2018
Gulshan residence demolition and commission summons
[1]The residence of chairman A. K. Azad was demolished by a development authority, and the Anti-Corruption Commission summoned him.
- 2017
Denim expansion
[1]Ha-meem reportedly invested $60 million in expanding denim production.
- 2016
Worker terminations after unrest
[1]The group terminated 368 workers following labor unrest.
- 2013
Wage-related production stoppages
[1]Workers at Ashulia facilities struck over demands for higher wages.
- 2012
Unrest at Artistic Design
[1]Labor unrest was reported at Artistic Design Limited.
- 2010
That’s It Sportswear factory fire
[1]A fire in Ashulia killed 26 workers and injured approximately 100.
- 2009
Ashulia factory unrest
[1]A factory was vandalized during labor unrest, prompting the group to file a case against unidentified individuals.
- 1984
Group founded
[1]A. K. Azad and Md. Delwar Hossain established Ha-meem Group with a single garment factory.
Products and positioning
A large, vertically integrated Bangladeshi apparel and textile group with diversified industrial and media interests.
Textiles and apparel
Denim apparel
Denim is one of Ha-meem Group’s principal manufacturing areas. The group operates Ha-Meem Denim Mills and has invested in expanding denim production, supporting the manufacture and finishing of jeans and other denim garments for export and domestic sale.
Apparel
Woven garments
The group’s garment subsidiaries produce export-oriented woven clothing. Its factory network includes several apparel companies and design, printing, washing, embroidery, and packaging operations that support finished garment production.
Apparel
Knitwear and sweaters
Ha-meem’s portfolio includes knit and sweater production through That’s It Knit Limited and That’s It Sweater Limited, alongside other apparel manufacturing operations.
Apparel
Sportswear
That’s It Sports Wear Limited is among the group’s named apparel businesses. The company’s factory in Ashulia was the site of the fatal 2010 fire.
Industrial supplies
Garment packaging and accessories
The group manufactures or supplies production inputs including cartons, poly bags, labels, printed materials, and embroidery. These operations help integrate packaging and finishing requirements into its apparel supply chain.
Diversified industrial products
Jute and chemical products
Outside clothing, Ha-meem Group has identified businesses in jute through M. H. Jute Mills and in chemical formulation. The available reference does not specify individual product names or current production volumes.
Media
Media properties
Through Times Media Limited, the group is associated with Channel 24 and Samakal, a Bangladeshi national daily newspaper. These assets represent the group’s media diversification beyond industrial manufacturing.
Controversies
2021
Worker injured during police firing
A worker was seriously injured when police fired during a protest involving employees of That’s It Garments Limited and Creative Collections Limited.
2018
Demolition of chairman’s residence and Anti-Corruption Commission summons
Authorities demolished A. K. Azad’s Gulshan residence over an alleged absence of an approved design, while the Anti-Corruption Commission summoned him. Ha-meem disputed the demolition and said it had presented legal documents.
2010
That’s It Sportswear factory fire
A factory fire in Ashulia killed 26 workers and injured about 100. Reports stated that a fire exit and gate were locked, intensifying criticism of factory safety conditions.
Brand decisions
2017
Investment in denim-production expansionStrategyBackground
Ha-meem sought to expand its position in denim manufacturing within its vertically integrated apparel business.
Action taken
The group reportedly invested $60 million in denim production.
Aftermath
The available reference confirms the investment but does not provide subsequent capacity, revenue, or return data.
Reported investment. $60 million (2017)
2017
Proposed Haiti investmentStrategyBackground
The group proposed establishing an investment in Haiti to support exports to the United States.
Action taken
Ha-meem proposed investing $10 million in Haiti, but Bangladesh Bank rejected the proposal.
Aftermath
The available material does not establish that the Haiti project proceeded.
Proposed investment. $10 million proposed (2017)
2017
Proposed Pubali Bank share purchaseM&ABackground
That’s It Fashions Limited, a Ha-meem Group company, announced plans involving Pubali Bank shares.
Action taken
The company announced plans to purchase 11 million shares of Pubali Bank.
Aftermath
The available material does not confirm whether the purchase was completed.
Sources1 sources
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