The quiet workhorse no more: Bangladesh’s ESG potential

Imagine sitting across from your biggest international buyer. You’ve perfected quality. You’ve offered competitive pricing. But now, instead of asking for a product sample, buyers want your emissions data, your labor policy, your water use, your gender pay gap. Would you be ready to answer?

This is no longer hypothetical. In 2025, this is the new reality of doing business. The world is changing, and so is the definition of what makes a company competitive. For Bangladesh, a country that has historically flourished as a manufacturing hub, this transformation represents both our biggest challenge and opportunity.

For decades, Bangladesh has been the quiet workhorse of the global economy. We stitched clothes, assembled goods, packed boxes, and kept supply chains moving often invisibly. Our value was measured in low margins and high volumes, not in visibility. While others shaped global business, we quietly delivered.

But now, the rules are changing. Bangladesh is no longer judged only by speed and efficiency alone but also by how responsibly, transparently, and sustainably it operates. ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is at the center of this transformation.

Many still confuse ESG with CSR, but the difference is critical. CSR is about donations; ESG is core strategy focused on governance, equity, climate, and accountability. ESG is not charity. It is how business is now done.

And increasingly, it’s not optional.

In the European Union, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is now in effect, requiring over 50,000 companies including their suppliers to report on emissions, human rights, biodiversity, and governance. This places Bangladesh’s export sectors, especially RMG, pharma, and food under direct scrutiny.

Globally, standards like ISSB and IFRS are being adopted by regulators and investors. In Asia, Singapore and India have already mandated ESG-aligned disclosures. These developments are immediate not distant and they directly impact Bangladeshi company involved in trade, manufacturing, or finance.

Yet confusion persists. Some businesses still treat ESG as CSR under a new name. But where CSR asks, “What can we give back?”, ESG demands, “How are we managing risk and value?” It calls for measurable accountability traceable supply chains, emission metrics, and ethical governance.

Bangladesh has a unique chance to lead. With younger supply chains and early-stage systems, we can build ESG from the ground up.

We already have some strong starting points. Bangladesh’s RMG sector has the highest number of LEED-certified green factories in the world. Our central bank was among the first in South Asia to introduce green banking guidelines. Our microfinance and social enterprise models are globally recognized. These are not simply feel-good facts, they are proof that Bangladesh can lead, not follow, in the ESG space.

But leadership doesn’t happen by default. It requires intentional capacity building, strategic vision, and platforms for collective learning.

This is why ESG Bootcamp 2025, scheduled for July 25 to 27 at BRAC CDM in Rajendrapur, is more than just a gathering, it is a national milestone. As ESG rapidly shifts from a voluntary initiative to a strategic and regulatory necessity, the Bootcamp aims to bridge the knowledge and preparation gap that many businesses are struggling with.

Over 200 corporate decision-makers from six of Bangladesh’s most critical industries RMG, FMCG, Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Maritime, and Banking will come together for two days of immersive working sessions. They will not only explore global frameworks, best practices and case studies, but will also engage in practice-based workshops to co-develop roadmaps specific to their sector and business maturity.

Among the featured facilitators is Joanne Flinn, an international expert on ESG and sustainability strategy, advisor to Fortune 500 companies, and bestselling author. Her insights can offer a rare chance for Bangladeshi companies to learn firsthand from one of the world’s most respected ESG voices. Over 20 other leading experts from Singapore and Bangladesh will also contribute, sharing cross-sectoral perspectives and practical tools for implementation.

This platform is not only about branding or compliance checklists. It is about preparing Bangladesh’s corporate sector to not just survive the ESG transition but lead it.

If you are a business leader who understands that sustainability is now a necessity, this is your moment to act. Seats are limited, and several leading companies have already confirmed their participation.

Industry leaders are also invited to sponsor and co-create this milestone initiative, with tailored packages that offers more than just visibility but also a meaningful presence in a national dialogue shaping our economic future. It’s time we step into the spotlight not just as a supplier, but as a leader in responsible, future-ready business.

- Shadman Sakib Anik, a Certified Sustainability Reporting Manager (CSRM™), is the Executive Director at ESG Institute Bangladesh. He can be reached by email: shadman.anik@esginstitutebd.com