Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Monday officially launched an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Platform, also known as the ESG Dashboard, for the ready-made garment sector to support compliance with global ESG requirements and meet emerging international demands.
The industry association launched the platform at the Nurul Kader Auditorium of the BGMEA Complex.
The inaugural ceremony was chaired by BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, with Dr. Rasheed Al Mahmud Titumir, adviser to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning of the Government of Bangladesh, attending as chief guest.
Special guests included Christian Brix Møller, ambassador of Denmark to Bangladesh; Dr. M. Masrur Reaz, chairman and chief executive officer of Policy Exchange Bangladesh; Professor Munshi Sulaiman, research director of the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) at BRAC University; and Professor Matin Abdullah, technical lead of Mapped in Bangladesh (MIB).
BGMEA Director Sheikh Hossain Mohammad Mustafiz delivered the welcome address. The ceremony was also attended by BGMEA Senior Vice-President Enamul Haque Khan, Vice-President (Finance) Mizanur Rahman, Director Nafis Ud Doula and other BGMEA leaders and general members.
Speaking as the chief guest, Finance and Planning Adviser Dr. Rasheed Al Mahmud Titumir said the government had provided $4.12 billion in subsidies to the energy sector over the past eight months.
He said nearly 8 million people had fallen below the poverty line due to the previous government’s lack of effective measures. The government was working to address three major challenges inherited from the previous administration: a fragile economy, inflationary pressures and a lack of employment opportunities for educated young people.
He said the government was working to build a capable and healthy Bangladesh by creating jobs through increased investment in manufacturing, increasing domestic revenue without raising taxes, and expanding public expenditure on education and healthcare.
The adviser also noted that Bangladesh had a strong possibility of graduating from the least developed country (LDC) category to a developing country in 2029. He said effective implementation of social protection measures, such as the Family Card, would significantly reduce poverty.
Bangladesh was moving forward with its own vision and reforms, which development partners were also observing, he said. Praising BGMEA’s leadership, he added that BGMEA, the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) were playing an outstanding role in implementing the current government’s vision.
In his presidential address, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said factories needed to become more compliant and data-driven to address changing global market demands and the future challenges of a sustainable garment industry.
The ESG Platform launched by BGMEA would play an important role in assessing and improving the environmental, social and governance performance of its member factories, he said.
A total of 326 factories had so far reported through the platform, but the number remained insufficient, Khan said. He added that the platform would soon become mandatory for members to ensure the overall protection of the industry, with BGMEA and BKMEA potentially working jointly on the matter.
In his welcome address, Sheikh Hossain Mohammad Mustafiz, the key initiator of the BGMEA ESG Platform and a director of the association, traced the initiative’s journey back to 2019.
He said the garment industry needed to move beyond limiting itself to compliance and transform sustainability into a source of competitiveness. The platform, built on data from 326 factories, represented a landmark in promoting transparency and sustainability across the industry, he added.
Special guest Christian Brix Møller, Denmark’s ambassador to Bangladesh, expressed full support for the government’s economic reform agenda. He particularly emphasised implementing the July Charter to establish an effective parliamentary democracy through national unity, reconstruction and the transition process, with the aim of achieving a trillion-dollar economy.
Dr. M. Masrur Reaz, chairman and chief executive officer of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, said the garment industry was at the centre of Bangladesh’s economy.
Moving beyond conventional compliance towards sustainability had become a necessity, he said, adding that a strong export base was essential for achieving Bangladesh’s development targets. The initiative, titled “ESG Data to Action,” would support long-term success, he added.
Professor Munshi Sulaiman, research director of BIGD at BRAC University, stressed the importance of bringing all BGMEA member factories under the ESG Platform.
The programme was moderated by Sheikh Suchita Jahan Sneha, chief coordinator of the Responsible Business Hub and BGMEA Centre of Excellence.
The Embassy of Denmark in Bangladesh provided financial support for the initiative, while the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) and Mapped in Bangladesh (MIB) provided technical assistance.
The ceremony concluded with a networking session attended by invited guests.