The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has sought a performance-based, phased roadmap for Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) implementation. During a high-level consultation with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on June 24, 2026, industry leaders argued, the existing mandatory commitment to ZLD is technically and financially prohibitive under current operational constraints. The apex body emphasized, achieving stringent color and effluent parameters requires a more science-based approach that accounts for existing infrastructure limitations. By advocating for a risk-based environmental clearance system, the industry aims to replace rigid mandates with a systematic compliance strategy that rewards factories for proven environmental stewardship.
Financial incentives and technical viability
To support this transition, the BGMEA has requested robust fiscal support, including the removal of import duties on ZLD-related machinery and the creation of a specialized financing window under the Bangladesh Bank's Green Transformation Fund. Industry stakeholders noted that while partial water recycling is already technically proven and economically feasible - with some modular pilots achieving 70 per cent–80 per cent recovery- full-scale thermal ZLD remains costly. Md Ashiqur Rahman, CEO, Kingsley Group highlighted the need for realistic tolerance limits that account for external environmental variables, such as seasonal weather impacts on effluent sampling. As the sector targets enhanced global competitiveness, this performance-driven roadmap intends to align national conservation goals with the pragmatic realities of global apparel supply chains.
A crucial advocate for industrial growth and trade policy
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is the primary trade organization representing the country’s readymade garment (RMG) sector. It serves as a crucial advocate for industrial growth, compliance, and trade policy, facilitating the transition toward sustainable, high-value manufacturing for global markets while supporting millions of livelihoods.
