The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) convened a meeting to discuss enhancing their partnership aimed at promoting ethical and sustainable practices within Bangladesh’s thriving readymade garment (RMG) sector.
The courtesy call was led by Kamrun Nahar, WRAP’s Head of Operations for Bangladesh and Pakistan, who visited the BGMEA office in Uttara. Attending the meeting were BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, BGMEA Director Nafis-ud-Daula, and WRAP’s Manager of Administrative Operations Tanzina Afrin.
During the discussions, President Khan emphasised the need for a unified approach to uphold ethical standards in the industry. He proposed developing a common code of conduct in consultation with global apparel brands to ensure consistent compliance and bolster Bangladesh’s reputation as a leader in responsible garment manufacturing.
Kamrun Nahar highlighted WRAP’s ongoing efforts to improve auditing and training programs in Bangladesh and called for greater participation from BGMEA members to reinforce responsible practices across the sector.
The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between WRAP and BGMEA in 2022, focusing on the timely adoption of WRAP’s audit criteria and addressing operational challenges faced by factories. These included restrictions on installing solar panels due to roof openness requirements and exemptions for factories operating within shared buildings.
Additionally, BGMEA requested WRAP to share audit data and insights from Bangladeshi factories to aid in policy formulation and enhance the country’s global standing for responsible manufacturing.
Both organisations reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring compliance, worker welfare, and environmental sustainability in Bangladesh’s garment industry, underscoring their shared goal of advancing ethical and sustainable growth in the sector.
