The BGMEA ESG Dashboard is intended to collect and assess information on factories’ ESG performance, with mandatory participation planned for its members.
The association said the system is designed to help manufacturers respond to changing requirements in international markets.
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A total of 326 factories have submitted reports through the ESG Dashboard so far; however, BGMEA president Mahmud Hasan Khan said this level of participation was “insufficient” and that reporting would soon become compulsory for members.
The association may work with the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) to implement the requirement, he added.
The dashboard was developed using data from the 326 participating factories. Sheikh Hossain Muhammad Mustafiz, a BGMEA director who led the initiative, said the industry needed to treat compliance as part of its competitive position rather than solely as an obligation.
The launch event was held at BGMEA’s complex in Uttara, Dhaka. It was attended by Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, adviser to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Planning, and Christian Brix Møller, Denmark’s ambassador to Bangladesh, among other industry, government and academic representatives.
Titumir said the government was seeking to expand manufacturing investment, domestic revenue and spending on education and healthcare while addressing economic pressures and employment needs. He also referred to Bangladesh’s expected graduation from the Least Developed Country category in 2029.
Brix Møller affirmed his country’s backing for the ongoing economic reforms. He noted that achieving national unity, rebuilding key sectors, and executing the July Charter are essential steps for establishing a stable parliamentary democracy, which will support Bangladesh’s long-term goal of developing a trillion-dollar economy.
Dr M. Masrur Reaz, chairman and CEO of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, urged the need to move beyond conventional compliance towards sustainability in the apparel sector. He stressed that a robust export sector was central to Bangladesh’s development objectives and said turning ESG data into practical measures would support the industry’s long-term progress.
Professor Munshi Sulaiman, research director at the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development, called for all BGMEA member factories to be included on the ESG Dashboard to produce broader sector data.
The initiative received financial support from the Embassy of Denmark in Bangladesh. Technical assistance was provided by the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development and Mapped in Bangladesh.
