WaterAid Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote efficient and sustainable water use in Bangladeshβs knitwear sector and improve access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for factory workers and surrounding communities.
The MoU was signed at the BKMEA office in Dhaka on Monday, 7 September 2026, by Azman Ahmed Chowdhury, Country Director of WaterAid Bangladesh, and Mohammad Rashed, Vice President of BKMEA, on behalf of their respective organisations.
Mostafizur Rahman, Senior Programme Officer at the Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh, attended the ceremony. BKMEA was represented by Engr. Md. Belayet Hossain Ripon, Director, and Farzana Sharmin, Joint Secretary of the Compliance Cell.
Representatives from WaterAid Bangladesh included Partha Hefaz Sek, Director of Programmes and Policy Advocacy; Md. Mamun Chowdhury, Programme Coordinator; Plabon Gangopadhyay, Communications Coordinator; A.K.M. Masum Ul Alam, Water Governance and System Stewardship Specialist; Farah Naznin, Project Engineer; and Sing Mong Pru Marma, Communications Officer.
Under the MoU, the two organisations will explore the development of a sustainable water-management plan for the knitwear sector. Priority areas include reducing unnecessary water consumption, minimising dependence on groundwater through alternative sources, adopting water-efficient technologies, recycling and reusing wastewater, harvesting and conserving rainwater, and identifying financing opportunities for sustainable water solutions. The collaboration will also explore ways to improve WASH services for workers and surrounding communities and strengthen the use of water-related data within BKMEAβs environmental, social and governance systems.
BKMEA Vice President Mohammad Rashed emphasised that water must be treated as a valuable resource and that its responsible management should be incorporated into decisions at ownership and senior-management levels. He also stressed the importance of making suitable financing mechanisms accessible so that small and medium-sized factories are not left behind in adopting water-efficient technologies. He proposed establishing a dedicated water cell, appointing a focal person and forming a dedicated team within BKMEA to monitor progress.
WaterAid Bangladesh Country Director Azman Ahmed Chowdhury said that water is essential not only for life but also for the long-term sustainability of businesses and industries. Through this partnership, the organisations will work to optimise water use, reduce wastage and expand opportunities for water recycling and reuse. He also highlighted the need to explore how factories could access the Bangladesh Bankβs green financing facilities for investments in water-efficient technologies and sustainable production.
Welcoming the initiative, Mostafizur Rahman, Senior Programme Officer at the Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh, noted that international buyers are placing increasing importance on how products are manufactured, how natural resources are used and how environmental impacts are managed. He underscored the need for practical water-management solutions that protect the environment without undermining the industryβs competitiveness.
The initial phase of the collaboration will continue until 15 December 2026. Planned activities include technical training, practical seminars for factory owners and senior officials, preliminary assessments at selected member factories, and engagement with government agencies, international buyers, brands and financial institutions.
The partnership is expected to help knitwear factories manage water more efficiently and responsibly, improve the quality of life of workers and surrounding communities, and strengthen the competitiveness of Bangladeshβs knitwear sector in an increasingly sustainability-conscious global market.
