The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and ActionAid Bangladesh have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday to work as strategic partners in advancing the sustainable transformation of Bangladesh’s readymade garment sector.
According to a press release, the partnership aimed to ensure human rights and environmental due diligence, strengthen compliance capacity, and improve the overall quality of life of garment workers.
Under the MoU, ActionAid Bangladesh would support the implementation of BGMEA’s Sustainable Strategic Vision 2030 as a strategic partner.
Inamul Haq Khan, senior vice president of the BGMEA, and Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, signed the MoU on behalf of their organization at the BGMEA Complex in the capital’s Uttara.
According to the MoU, the key areas of collaboration would include promoting women’s leadership in factories, ensuring a decent work environment, creating a harassment- and discrimination-free workplace, and raising workers’ awareness of their rights.
They would also work to reduce carbon emissions through energy-efficient technologies, encourage green industrialisation, and ensure occupational health, mental well-being, and access to social protection schemes for workers.
The both signatories would focus on enhancing workforce skills, and introducing specialised monitoring tools and training aligned with international standards like the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the press release added.
The MoU would also work to strengthen coordination among factory owners, workers, and buyers through regular reviews to maintain transparency.
Speaking at the ceremony, Inamul Haq Khan said that Bangladesh’s garment industry is no longer merely a production hub but has emerged as a trusted global partner in sustainable and ethical business practices.
He expressed hope that the partnership with ActionAid Bangladesh would further strengthen human rights and environmental standards in garment factories and elevate Bangladesh’s reputation and competitiveness in international markets.
Farah Kabir said that sustainable growth of the garment industry is only possible by ensuring workers’ rights and environmental sustainability.
She noted that the organisation aims to build an inclusive ecosystem with all stakeholders where transparency and human rights remain top priorities.
The MoU would remain effective for five years, from January 2026 to December 2030.
Under the agreement, ActionAid Bangladesh would provide financial support for the implementation of the initiatives, while BGMEA would ensure infrastructure and logistical support across its member factories.
BGMEA vice president Md Rezwan Selim, directors Nafis-Ud Doula, Sheikh Hossain Muhammad Mustafiz and Rumana Rashid, along with senior officials of ActionAid Bangladesh, were also present at the signing ceremony.
Source: The New Age
