Dhaka, 3 October 2026: The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA) inaugurated its Water Cell on 3 October 2026 in Dhaka, marking an important step towards strengthening responsible and sustainable water management across Bangladesh’s knitwear sector.

The inauguration took place alongside an awareness and consultation session on Water Stewardship in Bangladesh’s Knitwear Sector, jointly organised by WaterAid and BKMEA with the support of the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka. The programme brought together representatives from knitwear factories, BKMEA, international brands and development organisations to discuss practical approaches to responsible water management and long-term water security.

BKMEA Director Engr. Md. Belayet Hossain represented BKMEA at the inaugural session. The Water Cell is expected to contribute to strengthening awareness, knowledge sharing, technical capacity and collaborative initiatives on water management within the sector.

The day-long programme focused on the importance of Water Stewardship and practical measures for improving water-use efficiency in knitwear manufacturing. Around 40 representatives from knitwear factories and BKMEA participated in technical discussions, training sessions and group activities covering water-use measurement, consumption reduction, water reuse and pollution prevention.

Participants also explored how water-efficiency opportunities at factory level can be transformed into practical, viable and investment-ready projects, creating opportunities for both environmental improvement and greater resource efficiency.

In his closing remarks, BKMEA Executive President Fazlee Shamim Ehsan emphasised that responsible water management should not be considered solely from a business perspective. He highlighted the broader ethical responsibility of the industry towards protecting the country’s water resources.

“Water management should not be viewed only from a business perspective; it is also our ethical responsibility. The impacts of water misuse and pollution ultimately affect our country, our communities and our people. Therefore, we must be responsible in how we use and manage water.”

He further called for greater collaboration and collective action to ensure that the sustainable growth of the knitwear industry goes hand in hand with the protection of water resources.

The programme was attended by Hanna Norell, Head of Development Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka; Azman Ahmed Chowdhury, Country Director, WaterAid Bangladesh; Rami Nerthe, Global Sustainability Lead, WaterAid Sweden; Kazi Mohammad Iqbal Hossain, South Asia Regional Sustainability Manager, Lindex; and representatives from BKMEA, WaterAid and other relevant organisations.

The opening session also featured remarks from Engr. Md. Belayet Hossain, Director, BKMEA, and Parvez Sazzad, Director – Finance & Administration, WaterAid Bangladesh. Partha Hefaz Sheikh, Director – Programme and Policy Advocacy, WaterAid Bangladesh, shared WaterAid’s experience and ongoing work in the ready-made garment and knitwear sectors.

The programme was coordinated by A.K.M. Masum Ul Alam, Water Governance and System Stewardship Specialist, WaterAid Bangladesh, and moderated by Plabon Gangopadhyay, Communications Coordinator, WaterAid Bangladesh. Also present were Rebecca Schulz, Head of Corporate Partnerships, WaterAid Sweden; Md. Mamun Chowdhury, Universal Access Coordinator; and Farzana Sharmin, Joint Secretary (Compliance), BKMEA.

The inauguration of the BKMEA Water Cell reflects the Association’s continued commitment to promoting responsible resource management and supporting the knitwear sector in its transition towards a more sustainable, resilient and future-ready industry.

Together, let us value every drop and build a water-secure future for Bangladesh.