Bangladesh’s textile and apparel industry is facing mounting pressure to transform its production model, as industry leaders warn that excessive water consumption, rising global costs and tightening sustainability requirements could erode the country’s competitive edge if urgent action is not taken.
At the Textile Innovation Forum 2026, held on April 30 at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Dhaka, stakeholders from across the textile value chain called for immediate adoption of process innovation, water-efficient manufacturing and stronger operational discipline. The forum, organized by Textile Today Innovation Hub (TTIH), Inforchain Digital Technology Co. Ltd., and BKMEA alongside the BTKG Expo 2026, focused on building innovation competitiveness to reduce costs and increase value.
A key highlight of the forum was the alarming level of water usage in textile wet processing, particularly dyeing operations. Industry leaders revealed that producing just one kilogram of fabric can require nearly 100 liters of groundwater, raising serious concerns over long-term sustainability.
Engr. Md. Shamsuzzaman CIP, Vice President of BKMEA and Managing Director of Micro Fibre Group, highlighted that such consumption levels are no longer viable. He noted that while manufacturers are using large volumes of water, the financial returns from buyers remain relatively low, creating an unsustainable imbalance between resource use and value generation.
He also highlighted the rapid depletion of groundwater levels in Bangladesh’s industrial zones, explaining that factories now have to drill significantly deeper than in previous decades to access water. According to him, the industry has become overly dependent on underground water extraction without adequate accountability mechanisms.
Speakers stressed that many competing countries are already shifting toward surface water use, rainwater harvesting and recycling systems, while Bangladesh continues to rely heavily on groundwater. Conventional wet processing methods, which consume high volumes of water, chemicals and energy, were identified as a major barrier to sustainability.
Delivering the keynote, Enamul Hafiz Latifee, Chief Research Officer at Textile Today Innovation Hub, said the global textile industry is entering a new phase shaped by geopolitical instability, energy price volatility and stricter compliance requirements. He warned that Bangladesh could face rising production costs by 2030 if productivity and operational efficiency are not improved.
Despite these challenges, he highlighted strong growth potential, projecting the global textile and apparel market could reach nearly $2.6 trillion by 2035, offering opportunities for manufacturers that can improve efficiency and value addition.
Engr. Ehsanul Karim Kaiser, Chairman of Textile Today and Executive Chairman of Textile Today Innovation Hub, emphasized that innovation should not be limited to expensive automation. He noted that many impactful innovations in Bangladesh have historically emerged from necessity and practical problem-solving inside factories.
However, he pointed out that innovation often fails due to weak engagement at the mid-management level. To address this, he introduced the Textile Innovation Exchange platform, aimed at building innovation capacity among mid-level professionals and sustaining progress through continuous follow-up.
Workforce capability and operational discipline were also highlighted as critical factors for improving performance.
Also Read: Textile Innovation Exchange Leading Bangladesh’s Shift to Innovation
Speaking during the panel discussion, Gulshun Ara Munni, Head of Quality at Bangladesh Otto International Ltd., said that most production inefficiencies stem from people and process-related issues rather than machinery.
“In most root cause analyses, the problem comes from people, not machines,” she said, emphasizing the need to improve process control, reduce waste and strengthen quality systems. She described these improvements as “low-hanging fruit” that can deliver immediate cost savings.
She also highlighted the growing importance of low-water and waterless dyeing technologies, noting that global buyers are increasingly prioritizing environmentally responsible production methods.
Participants agreed that Bangladesh’s future competitiveness will depend less on low-cost labour and more on efficiency, sustainability and continuous innovation at the factory level.
The session, chaired by Engr. Ehsanul Karim Kaiser and moderated by Dr. Mohammad Hasan, Managing Director of Cotton Group and Executive Editor of Textile Today, concluded with a strong consensus that the industry must transition from cost-based competition toward innovation-driven, resource-efficient manufacturing.
As sustainability becomes a defining factor in global trade, industry leaders warned that without urgent transformation in water use, process efficiency and workforce development, Bangladesh’s textile sector risks losing ground in the global market.
