Bangladesh unveils platform for sustainable supply chains

Bangladesh has taken a strategic step toward greener, fairer and more investment-friendly growth with the launch of the Resilient Supply Chains for Sustainable Trade and Investments Platform. Unveiled at the BIDA auditorium by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the platform is framed as a practical response to the country’s impending graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026.

The platform is designed as a multi-stakeholder hub: it will pool government bodies, private sector companies, development partners and civil society to coordinate policy dialogue, capacity building and knowledge sharing. Rather than a single-policy fix, it aims to align regulatory reforms with international best practice, strengthen labour standards and steer investment toward sustainable production and trade.

At the virtual launch, Lutfey Siddiqi, special envoy for international affairs, highlighted graduation as an opportunity to reshape Bangladesh’s competitiveness. “This is a chance to build a new kind of competitiveness — one based on value, skills, quality, and fairness,” he said, urging stakeholders to focus on durable advantages that go beyond low-cost production.

BIDA’s executive chairman, Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud, called the platform an accountability mechanism for concrete progress: “Let’s set a clear roadmap and hold ourselves accountable, so by the end of 2026, we know exactly where we stand. This platform is about real progress, not just conversation.” That call for measurable outcomes is central: the platform will track policy alignment, investment flows and social-environmental safeguards to ensure measurable improvements.

Representatives from the Ministry of Commerce signalled that regulatory and trade policy reforms are already in motion to support a smoother transition from LDC status. Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said the aim is to create a more competitive environment for domestic and international investors while keeping decent work and inclusive growth front and center.

The ILO and UNDP emphasised the human core of supply chains. Max Tunon of the ILO stressed that supply chains are ultimately about workers and entrepreneurs: “This platform is our opportunity to build joint solutions that put dignity and opportunity at the centre.” Stefan Liller of UNDP described the platform as a hub for aligning investments, production and trade with environmental sustainability and social safeguards.

Why this matters: Bangladesh’s export-oriented sectors — especially textiles and apparel — face rising global expectations on environmental performance, traceability, and labour practices. As tariff preferences and development support tied to LDC status change after graduation, Bangladesh will need to compete on quality, compliance and value added. A coordinated platform that brings investors, regulators and UN agencies together can reduce fragmentation, signal policy stability to investors, and accelerate adoption of greener, worker-friendly practices.

To maximise impact, the platform should prioritise measurable pilots — for example, green manufacturing corridors, uptake of low-carbon technologies in key factories, and verified supply chain traceability projects. It should also expand participation: both UN agencies urged other partners to join the network, and the platform’s success will hinge on broad buy-in from exporters, financiers and civil society.

Conclusion

The Resilient Supply Chains for Sustainable Trade and Investments Platform represents a pragmatic, timely step as Bangladesh prepares for its 2026 LDC graduation. By connecting policy reform, private investment and international technical support, it can help shift the country’s competitiveness toward value, sustainability and decent work. The real test will be whether the platform turns promises into measurable pilots and scalable investments that benefit workers, businesses and the environment alike.