My father is my role model!

My father, Anwar Hossain, was a renowned businessman in Bangladesh. To many, he was a bright source of inspiration. To me, he was not just a successful person, but the role model of my life. His disciplined lifestyle, hard work and unwavering faith in principles continue to influence me. I did not merely witness his life. I felt it deeply, and I still try to follow the path he showed me.

When I was still in my mother’s womb, my father would often tell my mother, “I do not know whether a son or daughter is coming, but whoever it is will bring good fortune for me.” Surprisingly, his business began achieving one success after another around that time. My father firmly believed that I was lucky for him. Because of that belief, he began taking me with him to various business locations, offices and stores when I was just four or five months old. It seemed as though his belief was coming true.

My father loved me immensely. Whenever the business was doing well, he would proudly tell everyone, “Mala is my lucky daughter.” He personally took care of me. He believed that keeping me with him would bring good fortune.

In 1968, there was no separate tradition of wearing a special sari for weddings in the country. With his forward thinking, he decided to produce a wedding sari. This initiative became the “Mala Sari.” It became popular within a short time and established itself as an essential part of weddings. At that time, in a country of 65 million people, there was no homegrown brand of its kind. To popularize the “Mala Sari,” he produced television advertisements. Those black and white advertisements, the variety of sari colors, captivating designs and quality together created a new trend. My father also designed saris himself. Although he did not have extensive academic education, he was exceptionally creative.

He would often say, “Academic certificates are not always the most important thing; to achieve something in life, what you need most is courage and real-life experience.” He had a deep interest in higher education, but did not get the opportunity, and this was a source of regret for him. However, he never considered it a weakness. Rather, he faced every challenge in life with courage and intelligence.

My father is no longer with us, but I do not want to hold on to that emptiness. Instead, I want to move forward with his ideals and teachings. From childhood, I used to go to the office with my father and learned various aspects of the business. He would say, “Have courage, do not be afraid. Work hard. Never back down when facing a problem. Even if no one stands beside you, never hesitate to tell the truth.”

He had a special “business theory” called “accounting.” He would say that the core strength of a business is knowing the accounts correctly. In short, he was extremely disciplined in every area, including accounting and marketing. He gave the highest importance to time, rules and discipline, from his personal life to every aspect of his business.

When my father was alive, every weekly holiday at our home turned into a festive occasion. The seven siblings and our children would gather in response to our father’s call, no matter where we lived. Friday was our weekly family gathering. From morning until night, there would be food, conversations, fun and laughter. He was a lively and cheerful person who celebrated life in a simple and natural way.

He always encouraged me and would say, “You have to build your own business.” His inspiration taught me to move forward and become confident and creative.

After my father passed away, I established my own interior business, “Mala Design and Architecture,” on my own initiative. I work on construction, design and interior projects for businesses and homes.

There is one thing my father said that I can never forget. He would say, “I want to work for people.” The depth of these words is immeasurable. I want to do something through my work as well that benefits people and has meaning.

I proudly say, I am Anwar Hossain’s daughter. He was an unforgettable person. He was the ‘best father’ I have ever known.

Writer: Daughter of Anwar Hossain