Bangladesh’s sustainability efforts in manufacturing were showcased at the UN Global Compact’s Forward Faster Now, APAC 2026 forum in Colombo, where Urmi Group Director Shamarukh Fakhruddin represented the country’s apparel sector.
The two-day regional forum, held on 11–12 August, brought together business leaders, sustainability practitioners, policymakers and UN representatives to discuss how companies can accelerate sustainable and inclusive growth amid global economic and environmental challenges, according to a press release.
Fakhruddin took part in two leadership discussions, including the CEO Leadership Panel, “Business Unusual: CEO Leadership in a Changing World Order”, which examined how businesses must adapt to economic, environmental and geopolitical shifts.
She also joined the session “Empowering SMEs & Supply Chains: From Engagement to Transformation”, sharing Urmi Group’s experience from its Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-validated decarbonisation journey and efforts to engage small and medium enterprise suppliers in sustainability practices.
The discussions highlighted that sustainability cannot be achieved only within factory boundaries. Companies need to work with suppliers, SMEs and other value-chain partners to build capabilities and embed responsible practices across operations.
“The sustainability journey is not something any one organisation can undertake alone. It requires collaboration across businesses, supply chains and communities. Our responsibility is to keep learning, sharing and moving forward together,” Fakhruddin said.
For Bangladesh’s manufacturing sector, sustainability has become increasingly linked with supply-chain resilience and competitiveness as global buyers place greater emphasis on responsible production and climate action.
Urmi Group said Fakhruddin’s participation reflected the collective efforts of its sustainability, supply chain, human resources, compliance and production teams under the strategic guidance of Managing Director Asif Ashraf.
The company said the forum provided an opportunity to share Bangladesh’s sustainability experience while learning from regional peers on responsible business and sustainable growth.
