The fourth edition of the Sustainability Summit 2026 convened today at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka. The day-long event brought together policymakers, corporate leaders, academics and development experts to discuss sustainable business practices, responsible conduct and accelerating Bangladesh's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets ahead of its Least Developed Country (LDC) graduation.
Organized by the Bangladesh Brand Forum and Sustainable Brand Initiative, the summit featured three keynote sessions, two panel discussions and a high-level policy dialogue. Speakers addressed how environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks are reshaping corporate competitiveness and long-term value creation.
Shariful Islam, Founder and Managing Director of Bangladesh Brand Forum opened the event by emphasizing that sustainability must be embedded into the core operations of every organization to maintain global competitiveness.
Keynotes Focus on Capital and Value Creation
The summit’s keynotes offered both local and international insights on green growth:
Sustainable Finance: Chief Guest Masud Khan, Chairman of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), discussed how capital markets can mobilize investments to fund Bangladesh's low-carbon transition.
Evolution of Capitalism: Renowned marketing expert Professor Philip Kotler, alongside Dr. Khalid Hasan, delivered a virtual keynote on how modern brands can create long-term shared value in a purpose-driven global economy.
Growth Imperative: Dr. Shraman Jha, CEO of the Hindustan Unilever Foundation, explained why sustainability has evolved into a primary driver for corporate growth rather than a peripheral compliance requirement.
From Boardroom to Supply Chain
Industry leaders from sectors such as telecommunications, apparel, and retail participated in panel discussions. The sessions highlighted real-world solutions including carbon markets for green growth, ESG data disclosures to gain investor trust, and the ready-made garment (RMG) sector's role in pioneering responsible supply chains for international markets.
The event concluded with a policy dialogue calling for coordinated regulatory action and the SDG Brand Champion Awards Gala, which recognized local organizations making significant environmental, social and economic impacts across Bangladesh.
