Eco-Industrial Parks urged as key to sustainable growth in Bangladesh
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Ecological challenges of industrialisation, such as river pollution, air quality degradation and untreated industrial waste, are increasingly affecting productivity and investor confidence, speakers said at a consultation meeting.
They noted that Bangladesh’s industrialisation has so far relied heavily on cost competitiveness rather than environmental resilience, and without systemic reforms, industrial growth will reach ecological and economic limits.
The emergence of Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs) offers a vital opportunity to reshape this model as EIPs offer a structured framework to reverse these trends by embedding resource efficiency, circular economy practices, renewable energy and industrial symbiosis, where one firm’s waste becomes another’s input.
They stressed for formation of a coherent national EPI framework with a clear legal definition and minimum sustainability standards incorporating criteria on energy, water, waste, emissions and social safeguards into park licensing processes across industrial zones.
The observations and suggestions came at a high-level stakeholder consultation held on Tuesday in a city hotel, organised to explore policy pathways for advancing EIPs in Bangladesh.
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), together with Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID), organised the event under the pilot initiative of Eco-Industrial Parks Light Touch Activities in Bangladesh under UNIDO’s Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme (GEIPP II).
The consultation brought together policymakers, industry representatives, and development partners to discuss policy gaps, practical tools, and pilot opportunities to promote resource-efficient and sustainable industrial growth in the country.
Speaking there, UNIDO Bangladesh country representative Zaki Uz Zaman said, “Bangladesh must prioritise eco-industrial parks with a strong focus on resource optimisation and industrial symbiosis.”
This will require an integrated policy framework and enhanced capacities across government and the private sector, he said, adding that with support from partners such as the World Bank, IFC, ADB, and greater involvement of international financial institutions, Bangladesh can replicate successful models such as Vietnam and move towards a more sustainable industrial future.
Bangladesh Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTCCI) president Shams Mahmud said, “Eco-Industrial Parks provide a way forward by embedding resource efficiency, renewable energy use, and industrial symbiosis, where one company’s waste becomes another’s input.”
This approach can help Bangladesh attract ESG-driven investment and meet emerging global sustainability standards, he said, adding “With Bangladesh’s upcoming LDC graduation, the need for comprehensive energy audits and accurate quantification—particularly for industries catering to the EU—has become a critical priority.”
Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) deputy general manager GM Rabbani Talukder opined that incentives for businesses must be highlighted in all the policies.
“We need a comprehensive guideline and policy framework for EIPs and issues surrounding compliance with environmental standards.”
Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) director Md Tareq Hossain said there is a huge policy gap regarding these issues, and policies favouring eco-industrial parks are necessary to keep the businesses and economy protected.