FAMILY PHOTO GALLERY

Moazzem Hussain Chowdhury
Nilufer Hussain Chowdhury
Nehreen Rahman Tootli
Iftikhar Hussain Chowdhury
Dr. Imtiaz Hussain Chowdhury
Manowar Hussain Chowdhury
Dr. Imran Hussain Chowdhury
Iftikhar Hussain Chowdhury’s Family Picture
Dr. Imtiaz Hussain Chowdhury’s Family Picture
Manowar Hussain Chowdhury’s Family Picture
Dr. Imran Hussain Chowdhury’s Family Picture
Riazur Rahman
Samir Asran Rahman

BIOGRAPHY OF TOOTLI RAHMAN

Tootli Rahman — is a renowned entrepreneur, fashion designer, and event planner in Bangladesh, a visionary who started many lifestyle trends in the country.

EXPERIENCES:

EVENT PLANNING – PIONEER 

  • Spearheaded the International Weaver’s Fest (2016 &  2017)
  • Organized the first ever International Folk Festival (2015)
  • Was the first to organise Fashion Shows at Lalbagh Kella and Ahsan Manzil

TELEVISION SHOW HOST

  • Tea with Tootli (Maasranga TV)
  • Tootli’r TaazaChaer Adda (NTV)

WEDDING planner – PIONEER

  • Introduced theme weddings in Dhaka
  • Designed Shamianas
  • Introduced fairy lights with torch bulbs

FASHION Fusion – PIONEER

  • Founder of design label By Deshi
  • Was the first to experiment with fusion wear, particularly fusion weave saris

INTERIORS – PIONEER

  • Opened country’s first wrought-iron furniture store Xpressions in early 80’s
  • Pioneered colour-washed pottery in Dhaka

GARDEN LANDSCAPES – PIONEER

  • Introduced the concept of plant rental services in Dhaka in the early 1980’s
  • Was the consultant for Hotel Sonargaon for their garden landscaping and in-built nursery

SOCIAL SERVICES

  • Founder of Zonta Greater Dhaka
  • Founder of Alo (A drug awareness programme)
  • Founder of WINGS a support group for women

JTM Consultant – Interior Designer

I was very friendly with Joanne Bruggeman’s who was The wife of the GM of Sonargaon Hotel, and Maureen Berlin who was a friend of Joannes .We three formed JTM consultants with all our initials but Maureen later got a grant from the Canadian govt and went ahead to help Suraiya the famous artist to do her exquisite tapestries . Joanne and I, started an interior decoration and House Rental services. This was about 32 years ago. We did great business till Joanne left after nearly six years and I did not want to continue with it on my own. Joanne was extremely professional and I learnt all about business from her—she was like my mentor. We are still great friends and she resides in the US at present.

Teacher at Montessori School

My first job in Bangladesh was in a Montessori school about 35 years ago run by Miss D Suzas. I was a teacher for the 3 to 4 years’preschool children who were all expats. Loved teaching the little ones. I had ten students under me and later I had an assistant when I had more than ten students. I was to give one to one attention which I liked most about this system of teaching. I taught for a few years till I was expecting Shahan my second son and left my job.

Event Organizer

My mega events were 100 years’ evolution of sarees in Ahshan Manzil—a super hit event which people cannot forget . My last big event was The International Folk festival held last November 2015. I organized the whole event, including getting artists like Abida Parveen and Sain Zahoor from Pakistan, From India, Papon, Pabon das baul, Parvati baul and many others.It was a super success and this is going to become an annual event.
Dell organized “Dell She Power” a magazines mainly for women. I organized quite a few fashion shows for Dell , the important ones being Jewellery down the ages in Rose garden and The winter Carnival at The American club attended amongst others by the American Ambassador .

Pottery Hut

Potters Hut I loved pottery and I would visit the potters in Rayer bazaar, I would sit with them and learn the process of making pottery items. I would every now and then give them different items to make for me. Eventually “Moron chand” a reputed potter in Bangladesh told me to start my own. After that I had a kiln made, he helped me with a potter who was also an artist, worked full time with me for a long time till I left maghbazar . I had to discontinue as I do not have my personal kiln anymore. My passion for pottery still exists but I no longer have a kiln, maybe someday I will start it again —as my passion still exists.

Wrought Iron Furniture Xpressions

Xpressions the first wrought iron shop in Bangladesh with a difference. We displayed furniture with full interior decoration, with all accessories necessary for different rooms, living, dining, bedroom etc. We introduced color washed pottery in xpressions. They were mostly made in my residence in Moghbazar as I had a large kiln with a full time potter—who worked under my guidance. It was doing very well till my super-efficient sales manageress left for abroad. I gradually gave it up as I was only good at designing and was not great at management — I tried with other managers who learnt from me and started their own business, so subsequently I closed it down.

Wedding Decoration

Wedding planner a pioneer in designed shamianas, fairy lights, theme weddings. My first wedding was for Transcoms owner Mr Latifur Rahman s daughter 30 years ago.For the first time in Dhaka I showed to everyone what a designed shamiana was , with floral stage, floating candles etc . It became the talk of the town, I am still enjoying doing weddings décor —and coming up with new themes all the time.

Launch By Deshi

By Deshi- Ever since I remember from my school days, I designed my own clothes and made lovely dresses for my dolls with embroidery on it. Than after I came back from London in 1979, I started designing embroidered shalwar kamizs not only for me but also for my friends . Gradually I moved towards having shows annually. But in 2005, I launched my label Bydeshi —my first show in Sonargaon hotel where I showcased for the first time — fusion sarees. Mixing jamdani with muslin, silks with muslins etc. The Show was a super success and ever since I have been designing sarees and showcasing in different parts of the world such as in London, Washington DC, Dubai, Karachi and other places ,apart from Bangladesh .I never believed I having a showroom as it is truly my passion and I never wanted to turn it into a commercial venture.

TV Moderator

TV Moderator ,Tea with tootli—A TV reality show in Maashranga Tv. I was requested by the CEO of Maashranga to do a show with celebrities and women entrepreneurs. I did 65 episodes which are on Youtube and fortunately for me it became a very popular show . They have given it a break and now I am talking to another channel to start a different reality show soon.

Social Services

Zonta International — Twice president of Zonta club of Dhaka 1 — only club who won two awards in my term at the district conference in Chittagong . In Sri Lanka Zonta Club 1 s write up was one of the best, I am still an active member of Zonta club of Greater Dhaka which I take pride in forming four years ago.

Alo – an organization for Drug awareness formed by me . I was a president for five years and did a lot of awareness work. I went abroad for a few years and the members decided to join hands with Brother Ronald who we used to help in sponsoring who has a rehab center in Mirpur.

I Recently formed WINGS a support group for women founded by me with a group of friends who felt a need for a platform for women. Wings is like pillars of strength to all women.

I am Now the president of wings with a membership of more than 90 women. We have lawyers, Counselors, Architects, Doctors, entrepreneurs etc. Its aim and main objective are

Consultant Joyeeta

I was approached by the then Minister of women and children affairs Sharmeen Shireen presently speaker of the National assembly to be a consultant of Joyeeta a Govt based project to help under privileged women
With the view to market products and services produced by small women entrepreneurs scattered in almost all parts of the country, attempts have been taken by Joyeeta to build women entrepreneur-friendly institutions. This will propagate pace of the development of women entrepreneurs; more employment opportunities for women will be created; discrimination between men and women will reduce. Above all women empowerment and poverty alleviation in the country will gradually take place. I feel proud to to be a consultant of Joyeeta.

Plant Rental Service

Plant Rental services—-a pioneer in plant rental services in Bangladesh. I was given 150 potted plants by my sister in law when her husband got transferred to Hongkong . I had a huge garden area so it was easy for me to keep the plants. Eventually they started to multiply and in a couple of years I had more than double. My brother from BCCI was the first to buy plants for his head office . Than Sonargaon hotel offered me a consultancy to build up their nursery and to do their garden landscaping. In a few years I was doing plant rental for almost all Banks and other multi national companies . I am still into the business of Renting out plants.

Amar Desh Amar Gram

Amar Desh Amar Gram – an initiative. whereby establishing an ICT based network connecting rural life with city life and vice versa. Amar Desh Amar Gram platforms nine pillars which not only covers ecommerce through e-shop but also covers aspects such as culture, tourism, press, government services, education, entertainment hubs, etc bringing aspects of city lifestyles to the rural people which they never dreamt of.
I am one of the advisors of Amar Desh Amar Gram mostly in dealing with empowerment of women.

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