Bangladesh must strengthen its commitment to sustainable production if it is to protect its global export reputation, Environment, Forests and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said.
Speaking virtually from the Bangladesh Secretariat at an event organised by the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Rizwana stressed that export-oriented industries play a central role in shaping the country’s international image and brand. To safeguard this standing, she said the garment sector must take a more proactive stance on environmentally responsible production, labour-rights protection and sustainable management practices.
The event, titled The Potentiality of Bangladesh RMG Sector: The Way Forward, was held at the Bangladesh–China Friendship Exhibition Centre in Purbachal as part of the Global Sourcing Expo 2025.
As Chief Guest, Rizwana said that maintaining global competitiveness now requires strict adherence to labour laws, safe factory conditions, efficient water usage and stronger governance in waste management. She warned that unchecked industrial waste, which continues to pollute rivers and canals, poses a severe threat to ecosystems and the long-term viability of the textile sector. The government, she noted, would be compelled to take action in cases of non-compliance.
Highlighting the country’s global standing in sustainability, she pointed out that Bangladesh is home to one of the world’s highest concentrations of green-certified garment factories—an achievement that has strengthened its international credibility in sustainable development.
Rizwana also urged manufacturers to prepare for tightening environmental rules in Europe and the United Kingdom, particularly those concerning plastic packaging and supply-chain standards. She said the industrial sector could play a major role in supporting government efforts to convert public buildings into eco-friendly structures.
She cautioned that global markets are shifting rapidly and that failure to adopt sustainable production and environmentally friendly packaging could make future competition far more difficult.
