Challenging traditional norms and innovating to push boundaries have been the guiding principles that have propelled Ananta Group into becoming one of Bangladesh’s most prominent garment manufactures. The organisation was established in 1991 by Humayun Zahir. The initial years of Ananta Group saw it venture into manufacturing industries such as garments, paper mills and toys. The sons, Sharif Zahir and Asif Zahir, had to take over Ananta Group after their father’s demise. After taking over, the brothers revamped the organisation and went on to make a mark in the highly competitive garments industry in Bangladesh.
‘I believe in stability; we were young at the time and wanted to change everything, so I took time to adjust,’ said Sharif. Having been driven by the values set by their father, as well as learning from big industry players, Sharif and Asif Zahir set out to differentiate themselves in an already established industry. They led the group in a new direction, focusing on specialising in the garments industry and initiating an industry-wise transformation.
When they started, Ananta Group consisted of a single factory with 1,500 employees, but through their efforts at expansion, the organisation, as of 2018, consists of eight factories with 26,000 employees. A defining characteristic of Ananta Group has been its tendency to break out of the mould for Bangladesh’s garments industry. As Bangladesh is well known for denim bottoms, Ananta Group initially focused on the value-added aspect of the product, developing expertise in the finishing process. Additionally, the organisation has not been afraid to venture into a diversified range of products within the apparels industry that are not common in Bangladesh, such as suits, sweaters and lingerie, thus making it both unique and a pioneer. Ananta grew at rates of 25–30% per year in the last decade, while the industry grew at 15–20%, thereby staying well ahead of the curve.
The driving force behind Ananta Group’s growth has been the shared passion of the brothers to make a difference. ‘We were quite obsessed…I was quite obsessed with what I was doing. Our discussion from morning till evening at home, all our private discussions, were about the company. Even now it’s like that,’ said Sharif. Asif, after his stint with Google, joined his elder brother Sharif at the FB and complemented him in terms of strategic thinking. They focused heavily on bringing in the best talent to help create a proper management structure. They recruited talent not only from the local market but also from oversees. ‘We want to bring global best practices to Bangladesh. We bring in talent and international exposure to help develop and innovate each sector we are in,’ said Asif. The recruitment of highly skilled employees and trusted delegation of operations have allowed Ananta Group to create an atmosphere of shared passion, loyalty and excitement amongst everyone in the organisation. This atmosphere is credited for the group’s rapid growth.
The group’s values also prioritise environmental and social impacts in what it does. The organisation has focused on ensuring that its factories received international certifications, and that energy-conserving technologies have been installed within its operations. In addition to that, Ananta Group has reached out to communities that its employees belong to by working with one of the largest NGOs in the world on initiatives such as improving hygiene within communities, supporting hospitals, and improving worker training and education.
‘We never want to be a small player in any industry we enter. There will always be opportunities elsewhere, but we have to be careful with how we diversify. We have specific competencies that will allow us to be successful,’ said Asif. The brothers are already causing disruption in the real estate and e-commerce industries. They believe their values, ability to attract talent and strategic approach will lead them to become leaders in any new industries they may enter.