A delegation from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Wednesday held a meeting with Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo to advocate for pragmatic, science-based environmental compliance in the ready-made garment (RMG) and textile sectors.
Led by BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, the delegation met the Minister at the Bangladesh Secretariat to discuss mitigating technical and regulatory bottlenecks to ensure the industry's sustainable growth and global competitiveness.
The BGMEA team included former BTMEA President A. Matin Chowdhury, BGMEA Director Nafis-Ud-Doula, and Kingsley CEO Md. Ashikur Rahman.
During the discussion, the apparel leaders reaffirmed their commitment to ecological sustainability but drew attention to serious technical hurdles arising from the "Environment Conservation Rules, 2023."
The delegation pointed out that the current effluent treatment plant (ETP) color parameters are technically difficult to achieve with the country's existing industrial infrastructure. They urged the ministry to revise and establish a more realistic, science-based benchmark.
Regarding Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) implementation, the BGMEA proposed replacing the current mandatory commitment required for Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) renewals with a phased, performance-based roadmap.
To support factories transitioning to ZLD, the business leaders demanded specific sustainable water-saving guidelines, fiscal incentives such as VAT and duty exemptions on ZLD machinery, and the creation of a specialized "ZLD Window" under Bangladesh Bank’s Green Transformation Fund.
To enhance administrative transparency, the delegation suggested introducing a mirror testing mechanism for environmental sampling.
They also proposed a risk-based, long-term ECC renewal framework for factories with a consistent history of regulatory compliance.
Furthermore, the BGMEA urged the government to swiftly formulate necessary rules under the "Forest Ordinance (2026)" to eliminate ongoing uncertainties surrounding industrial land-use permissions.
They also emphasized the need for a balanced air quality assessment framework that factors in external pollution sources and accounts for environmental parameter fluctuations caused by extreme weather conditions.
Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo acknowledged the RMG sector's critical contribution to the national economy and received the proposals positively.
He assured the leaders that the ministry would address these concerns through a rational and pragmatic framework that balances industrial viability with environmental conservation goals.