BGMEA launches ESG dashboard for garment sector, 326 factories already on board
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has launched an 'ESG Dashboard' to establish environmental safety, social responsibility and institutional good governance in the ready-made garment sector in line with global demand. The reality behind the move is that factories must become data-rich and reliable to survive in export trade amid international competition.
The environmental, social and governance (ESG) platform for the garment sector was formally inaugurated last Monday. Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, the prime minister's finance and planning adviser, was chief guest at the ceremony held at the BGMEA building in Uttara in the capital.
The dashboard will provide, analyse and show trends in data on environmental standards for green factories, renewable energy and carbon reduction in line with destination-country policies, on fair wages and safe workplaces, and on social and institutional transparency.
BGMEA president Mahmud Hasan Khan chaired the event. Special guests included Denmark's ambassador to Dhaka Christian Brix Moller, Policy Exchange Bangladesh chairman Dr M Masrur Reaz, BRAC University BIGD research director Professor Munshi Sulaiman and Mapped in Bangladesh (MiB) technical lead Professor Matin Abdullah. BGMEA director Sheikh Hossain Mohammad Mostafiz delivered the welcome address.
Chief guest Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said a huge number of people had fallen below the poverty line because of the previous government's weak policies. The present government, he said, is emphasising reform of the fragile economy, controlling inflation and increasing employment, and he hoped the garment industry's dynamic leadership would play a big role in realising the country's future vision.
BGMEA president Mahmud Hasan Khan said factories must become data-rich and reliable to survive in the changed global competition. Already 326 establishments have joined the system, but it will soon be made mandatory for BGMEA and BKMEA members for the joint protection of the garment sector, he said.
BGMEA director Sheikh Hossain Mohammad Mostafiz said the aim of the platform is to turn compliance from mere rule-keeping into business capability.
Danish ambassador Christian Brix Moller expressed full support for the government's reform agenda and stressed building an effective democratic system.
Policy Exchange Bangladesh chief executive Dr M Masrur Reaz said sustainable industrial management, not just routine rule compliance, is the main condition for long-term success.
BIGD research director Professor Munshi Sulaiman called for bringing all garment factories in the country under the system. MiB technical chief Professor Matin Abdullah also highlighted the platform's technical aspects.
BGMEA is implementing the project with financial support from the Danish embassy and technical cooperation from BIGD and MiB.
Overall, the dashboard now makes it possible to verify and analyse garment factories' environment, labour standards and governance data from one place. Once it becomes mandatory, almost all member factories will have to come under this data framework — a step those involved see as important for Bangladesh's main export sector in the face of buyer countries' growing compliance demands.
