Business Leaders Back Sustainable Growth

Akij Bashir Group presents Sustainability Summit 2026, powered by SMC Enterprise Limited & American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), in association with PRAN-RFL Group and BGMEA, returned for its fourth edition on 18 July 2026, at the Grand Ballroom of the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, Dhaka, bringing together prominent voices and changemakers from across sectors. Organised by Bangladesh Brand Forum and Sustainable Brand Initiative and initiated by Bangladesh Innovation Conclave, the day-long summit gathered industry experts, business leaders, policymakers, academics, and social entrepreneurs to engage in forward-looking discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions on sustainable and responsible business practices. The summit featured a dynamic agenda comprising three keynote sessions, two panel discussions, three insight sessions, two case study presentations, an expert deep dive, and a policy dialogue. Together, these sessions traced a clear arc — from responsibility to measurable impact, and from compliance to conduct — exploring how sustainability and responsible business are reshaping business models, influencing competitiveness, and shaping the strategic vision of forward-thinking organisations in Bangladesh.Opening the summit, Shariful Islam, Founder & Managing Director, Bangladesh Brand Forum, remarked, “Sustainability is no longer a concept to be discussed once a year and then set aside — it is a practice that must be embedded into the DNA of every brand and organisation. As Bangladesh moves toward its 2030 commitments and prepares for LDC graduation, responsible business is no longer a choice; it is the foundation of our competitiveness. This is our moment to move from responsibility to impact, and from compliance to conduct.” The summit’s keynote sessions brought global and national perspectives to the stage. As Chief Guest, Masud Khan, Chairman, Bangladesh Securities & Exchange Commission (BSEC), delivered a keynote on “Sustainable Finance: Mobilising Capital for Bangladesh’s Green Transition,” addressing how capital markets and green financing instruments can channel investment into the country’s low-carbon transition. In a virtual keynote titled “The Next Evolution of Capitalism: Business, Brands and Sustainable Value Creation,” Professor Philip Kotler — the renowned marketing author, consultant, and Professor Emeritus at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University — was joined by Dr. Khalid Hasan, President, ResInt Sustainability Institute, Canada, to explore how brands can create long-term, shared value in a purpose-driven economy. Dr. Shraman Jha, Chief Executive Officer, Hindustan Unilever Foundation, closed the keynote line-up with “Why Sustainability is the New Growth Imperative,” making the case that sustainability now sits at the core of competitiveness and growth rather than at its periphery.The summit also brought together a distinguished group of speakers and panellists, including M Mashrur Reaz, Chairman & Founder, Policy Exchange Bangladesh; Dr. Melita Mehjabeen, Professor, Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka; Mohammad Iqbal Chowdhury, Chief Executive Officer, LafargeHolcim Bangladesh PLC; Yasir Azman, Chief Executive Officer, Grameenphone Ltd.; Sabbir Hasan Nasir, Managing Director, ACI Logistics Limited (Shwapno); Vidiya Amrit Khan, Vice President, BGMEA;  Mohammed Zahidullah, Chief Sustainability Officer, DBL Group; Nuzhat Anwar, Managing Director, Dhaka Stock Exchange PLC; K A M Morshed, Senior Director, BRAC; and Professor Dr. Mohammad Nurunnabi, UNESCO Chair, along with other leading voices from the private, public, and development sectors. Across the day’s panels and sessions, the conversation moved from principle to practice. Insight sessions examined how businesses are turning responsibility into measurable shared value, why data, disclosure, and ESG reporting have become the new language of business trust, and how robust ESG frameworks can unlock foreign direct investment. Two panel discussions carried the discussion from the boardroom to the bottom line — embedding sustainability into core business strategy — and onto the factory floor, spotlighting how Bangladesh’s ready-made garment sector is redefining responsible business for global markets. Case study presentations illustrated the real-world potential of carbon markets for green growth and the discipline of authentic sustainability storytelling, while an expert deep dive interrogated what responsible business truly means across Bangladesh’s supply chains. The programme culminated in a policy dialogue on responsible business conduct — framing it not as a choice but as a necessity shaping the future of business — convening regulators, industry, and development leaders around a shared agenda for accountability. With a core objective of driving greater private-sector participation — particularly among local businesses — Sustainability Summit 2026 spotlighted the link between responsible business and future growth, its relevance in the Gen Z era, and its alignment with national SDG targets. The summit sought to drive collective action, inspire ambitious commitments, and foster meaningful partnerships toward a more inclusive and sustainable future. The day concluded with the SDG Brand Champion Awards Gala, celebrating organisations creating measurable environmental, social, and economic impact across Bangladesh. AkijBashir Group presents Sustainability Summit 2026, powered by SMC Enterprise Limited and American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), in association with PRAN-RFL Group and BGMEA. Strategic Partners — International Advertising Association (IAA) Bangladesh, Asia Marketing Federation (AMF), and Marketing Society of Bangladesh (MSB); PR Partner — Backpage PR; Official Carrier Partner — Turkish Airlines; Hospitality Partner — Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, Dhaka. The summit was organised by Bangladesh Brand Forum and Sustainable Brand Initiative and is an initiative of Bangladesh Innovation Conclave.