ESG Bootcamp drives Bangladesh’s sustainability ambitions

A two-day ESG Bootcamp was recently held in Dhaka, aiming to accelerate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) transformation in Bangladesh amid increasing global demand for sustainable corporate practices.
Organised by the ESG Institute Bangladesh, in collaboration with Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), UN Global Compact Network Bangladesh (UN GCNB), Swisscontact Bangladesh, and supported by PRAN-RFL Group, ACI Logistics, and Grameen Danone, the event brought together over 100 high-level professionals, including C-suite executives and senior directors from leading organisations advancing the country’s sustainability agenda, according to a press release.
The event was inaugurated on Friday by Shadman Sakib Anik, executive director of ESG Institute Bangladesh, who opened with an ambitious, forward-looking message. Kamran Bakr, founder of Pro4Pro and former chairman and managing director of Unilever Bangladesh Ltd, urged participants to reimagine the country’s ESG goals in his keynote on “Bangladesh’s Potential in Global ESG Leadership.”
Chowdhury Liakat Ali, director of the Sustainable Finance Department at Bangladesh Bank, attended as chief guest and highlighted the crucial role of regulators and financial institutions in promoting ESG integration.
Joanne Flinn, chairperson of ESG Institute Singapore, delivered a keynote titled “How Bangladesh Can Be the Next ESG Destination,” citing the country’s demographic dividend, dynamic private sector, and policy momentum as key strengths.
Interactive, sector-specific breakout sessions were held, covering FMCG, manufacturing, RMG, banking and financial institutions, energy, infrastructure, and pharmaceuticals. These sessions, led by local and international experts, offered practical strategies for embedding ESG principles within organisational frameworks.
The bootcamp concluded on Saturday with a gala evening celebrating collective commitment to sustainability. Sadia Samira, chairperson of ESG Institute Bangladesh, delivered the closing note, thanking participants and facilitators.