The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has presented university students and industry professionals with the Sustainable Design and Innovation Award.

For the first time in Bangladesh, the Sustainable Design and Innovation Award has been launched by BGMEA to promote sustainable design and innovation in the country's apparel industry.

A jury board comprising experts selected the best sustainable and innovative submissions by evaluating the submissions based on innovative aspects of the design, functionality, aesthetics, consideration of environmental standards and social footprint of the product, and process innovation.

The awards were handed over to the winners and runners-up at a ceremony organised by BGMEA as a part of the Made in Bangladesh Week at International Convention City Bashundhara in Dhaka Wednesday.

Salman Fazlur Rahman, private industry and investment adviser to the prime minister, was the chief guest at the event.

Nasrul Hamid, state minister for power, energy and mineral resources, attended the ceremony as a special guest. BGMEA President Faruque Hassan chaired the award ceremony.

Read more: BGMEA seeks uninterrupted energy supply by special arrangements

Champions of the student group are Bishwajit Mazumder of Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology (SMUCT), Mahmuda Monsur Mira of BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT); Md Rokebul Islam of SMUCT, Saima Binta Hoque of BUFT, and Shariat Sultana Simi of SMUCT.

Md Mohiminul Islam of SMUCT, Md Rayhan Sharkar of BUFT, Md Roman Khan of BUFT, Nishita Rani Sarker Nipa of BUFT, and Nurunnaher Alam Bristy of BUFT became runners-up.

Champions of the professional group are Ajoy Day of Urmi Group, Md Azmir Hasan Bitlu of Bitopi; Mohammad Imran Hyder of Ananta Denim Technology; Sabina Akter of MM Knitwear Ltd; Sarawat Jahan Eva, Ananta Companies; Md. Golam Rabby of Square, and Ahsan Erfan of Grameen Uniqlo.

Read more: Bangladesh's RMG bracing for next phase of growth: BGMEA

Faruque Hassan said: "Bangladesh's RMG industry has been making continuous efforts to promote sustainability. The Sustainable Design and Innovation Award is such an effort to empower and reward young and talented people who will play an active role in building a more sustainable future."