Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has urged the business community and international partners to collaborate with local stakeholders in transitioning Bangladesh’s ready-made garments (RMG) sector from fossil fuel-based energy production to renewable and sustainable sources. Her call to action came during the inaugural ceremony of the Sustainable Apparel Forum (SAF) 2025, hosted by the Netherlands Embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Rizwana emphasised that sustainability in the garment industry transcends merely having green or environmentally certified factories. She pointed out that the sector is energy-intensive and heavily reliant on water and chemical management, necessitating a more responsible approach to operations.
Despite Bangladesh’s overall abundance of water, she raised concerns about declining groundwater levels in industrial zones, which are adversely affecting local communities. To combat this issue, the Government is considering the implementation of charges on industrial water usage and is exploring the categorisation of industries based on their consumption levels, alongside offering incentives for recycling initiatives.
On the topic of chemical waste management, Rizwana announced that the Government, in partnership with German entities, is finalising a Chemical Waste Management Rule aimed at establishing national regulations for chemical handling and management. This initiative seeks to ensure both environmental protection and workplace safety.
Rizwana also called for a paradigm shift regarding labour practices in the RMG sector, urging stakeholders to move away from the term “cheap labour” in discussions about sustainability. She stressed that ethical sourcing and fair business practices should be a collective responsibility shared by both producers and consumers.
Highlighting the importance of innovation, she encouraged deeper collaboration with technology providers and organizations dedicated to sustainable practices. Rizwana underscored the pivotal role of the apparel sector as Bangladesh’s economic backbone and advocated for stronger partnerships to establish new sustainability standards.
The event was also attended by notable figures, including European Union (EU) Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller, Netherlands Ambassador Andre Carstens, and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud bin Harun.
