Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Wednesday proposed a gradual and performance-based roadmap for implementing zero liquid discharge (ZLD) in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector instead of the existing mandatory commitment.
ZLD is an advanced water treatment process designed to eliminate liquid waste from industrial operations.
The BGMEA made the proposal when a delegation led by its President Mahmud Hasan Khan met Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo at the latter's secretariat office in the capital.
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) former president A Matin Chowdhury, BGMEA Director Nafis-ud-Doula, and Kingsley Group Chief Executive Officer Md Ashiqur Rahman, among others, were present in the meeting.
The apex trade body of garment manufacturers also demanded the formulation of specific sustainability guidelines for water conservation and reuse, financial incentives like VAT/duty exemption on ZLD equipment, and the launch of a specialised ZLD window under the Green Transformation Fund of the Bangladesh Bank.
The meeting discussed the need to align environmental compliance with the realities of the RMG and sustainable textile sector.
Reiterating their commitment to ensuring a sustainable environment, the sector leaders highlighted several regulatory complexities and obstacles, including technical challenges of the Environmental Protection Rules 2023.
The delegation noted that the current ETP colour parameters were technically very difficult to achieve with the existing infrastructure and requested setting realistic and science-based standards.
To enhance administrative transparency, the delegation suggested introducing a mirror testing mechanism for environmental sampling and systematically adopting a risk-based and long-term environmental clearance renewal system for compliant factories.
The BGMEA urged the government to speed up the formulation of the Rules of the Forest Ordinance 2026 to remove uncertainty over land use in industrial areas.
The meeting highlighted the need for setting tolerance limits for fluctuations in environmental parameters due to extreme weather conditions and a balanced air quality assessment taking external sources of pollution into account.
Acknowledging the important contribution of the readymade garment sector to the national economy, the minister assured of addressing the issues by balancing the needs of the industry and the goal of environmental conservation.
Munni_fe@yahoo.com
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