Rainwater will be a new and sustainable source of business opportunities

The country's ready-made garment factories and the textile industry have been leading the implementation of the green policy by introducing rainwater harvesting and conservation management in recent times. Speakers at a roundtable meeting in the capital today noted that their sustainable approach to water management in business is having a positive impact on the environment. The speakers said that due to the dependence on groundwater, the use of large quantities of water in the industry is a matter of great concern for the environment and necessary steps need to be taken now to ensure sustainable water supply in the long run. WaterAid Bangladesh and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) jointly organized a roundtable discussion titled 'Rainwater Collection and Conservation in Industry - Sustainable Steps in Water Management'. The round table meeting was held at Westin Dhaka in the capital. The Round Table Meeting was organized to initiate business discussions on sustainable water management in the industry by focusing on water collection and conservation systems. The speakers discussed the potential opportunities and challenges of sustainable supply chain and environmental impact. In addition, the best practices for collecting rainwater in garment factories are cited as examples. BGMEA President Faruk Hasan was present as the Chief Guest and WaterAid Country Director Hasin Jahan was present as the Guest of Honor. Pertha Hefaz Sheikh, Director, Policy and Advocacy, WaterAid, presided over the function and delivered the welcome address. President of Bangladesh Apparel Youth Leaders Association (BAILA) Abrar Hossain Sayem was present among other guests on the occasion. BGMEA President Farooq Hasan said, “As a progressive organization, BGMEA is actively encouraging factories to collect and conserve rainwater for sustainable water management. Commercially, the industrial sector needs to focus on rainwater and provide the necessary assistance to reduce groundwater drainage and dependence on it.” Hasin Jahan, Country Director of WaterAid, said, “Everyone should work on collecting and conserving rainwater to solve the impending water crisis. In the industrial sector, there is ample space on the roofs of factories, which can be easily used for rainwater harvesting and storage. And through this, the sector can come up with sustainable solutions to meet the growing problem of water needs for business. Thanks to BGMEA for setting a unique example in helping to protect our water resources by encouraging factory owners to take rainwater harvesting and conservation measures. WaterAid is committed to working with businesses and the private sector to strengthen efforts to protect water and the environment.” Abrar Hossain Sayem, President of Bangladesh Apparel Youth Leaders Association (BAILA), said, “Many smart industries have started working on sustainable management and water conservation process. To reduce the dependence on groundwater for future disasters, industries are adopting rainwater harvesting and conservation management methods. The young generation is the potential driving force for the economic and social progress of the country. Therefore, it is important for young people to campaign for rainwater harvesting and conservation so that they can advocate for it and have a positive impact on reducing the water crisis in the future.” Apart from guests, development partners, national level business organizations and supply chain stakeholders, media and education representatives also attended the event. The roundtable discussion concluded with the handing over of BGMEA's Sustainability Report to Hasin Jahan and the distribution of certificates among trained rainwater harvesting and conservation professionals as part of WaterAid and ITN-BUET's partnership.