Sustainability Summit 2025, presented by AkijBashir Group and powered by SMC Enterprise Limited, returned for its second edition at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, Dhaka on Saturday.
Organised by Bangladesh Brand Forum and Sustainable Brand Initiative and initiated by Bangladesh Innovation Conclave, the summit brought together industry experts, business leaders, policymakers, academics and social entrepreneurs to engage in forward-looking discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions around sustainable business practices, said a press release.
Themed under 鈥榩urpose-led progress: embedding sustainability in the DNA of Bangladeshi business鈥�, the initiative featured a dynamic agenda consisting of three keynote sessions, three panel discussions, two insight sessions, and one case study presentation.
These sessions have explored how sustainability is transforming business models, influencing consumer behaviour and shaping the strategic vision of forward-thinking organisations.
Sajid Mahbub, group CEO and executive editor, Bangladesh Brand Forum, remarked, 鈥楽ustainability is no longer a choice鈥攊t is the foundation of future-ready businesses. Through the second edition of the summit, we aim to create a powerful dialogue that brings together leaders, changemakers and visionaries to drive action, inspire innovation and accelerate our collective journey toward achieving the SDGs by 2030.鈥�
The keynote speakers included Shehzad Munim, independent director, Linde Bangladesh Limited; Professor Mohammad Nurunnabi, UNESCO chair, education for sustainable development, green skills and climate actions; founding president and CEO Global, Oxford Impact Group; and Roger Levermore, senior strategy adviser, president and school of management, Asian Institute of Technology.
Joining them was a distinguished group of speakers and panellists, including Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman and CEO, PRAN-RFL Group; Sabbir Hasan Nasir, managing director, ACI Logistics Limited (Shwapno); Syed Mahbubur Rahman, managing director and CEO, Mutual Trust Bank PLC; Sayef Nasir, managing director, Social Marketing Enterprise Ltd.; Debashis Roy, director, advisory and partnerships, Bangladesh Impact Investment Exchange; Tasneem Tayeb, head of environmental compliance and sustainability, South Asia, Coats; Dipesh Nag, managing director, Grameen Danone Foods Limited; Sunil Issac, country managing director, EDOTCO Bangladesh Co. Ltd; AK Enamul Haque, director general, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies along with other leading voices from the private and development sectors.
Shehzad Munim stated, 鈥楾he SDGs demand long-term reforms鈥攖his is not charity, it is survival. ESG must be core to business and governance if we are serious about 2030 targets.鈥�
Bangladesh has progressed economically, but our environmental health is in crisis. Water conservation alone can lower methane and unlock carbon trading potential. Cities like Rajshahi prove that local action and citizen engagement work. Embedding SDGs into political manifestos is now essential for real accountability, he added.
The summit explored how sustainability is emerging as a key competitive advantage, driving long-term growth and resilience.
Discussions highlighted the role of data in ESG for manufacturing, public-private partnerships for sustainable nation building, examination of Bangladesh鈥檚 green transition and inclusive growth potential.
The last panel discussion featured a group of students from different top universities of Bangladesh who alongside the moderation of Jannatul Ferdousy, project lead, Sustainable Brand Initiatives, convene to discuss perspectives on the role of next gen changemakers in constructing sustainability narratives.
With a core objective of engaging greater participation from the private sector鈥攑articularly local businesses鈥攖he initiative spotlighted the link between sustainability and future growth, relevance in the Gen Z era, and alignment with national SDG targets.
Sustainability Summit 2025 aims to drive collective action, inspire ambitious commitments, and foster meaningful partnerships toward a more inclusive and sustainable future.
The strategic partners of the summit were International Advertising Association Bangladesh, Asia Marketing Federation, Marketing Society of Bangladesh; hospitality partner was Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, Dhaka; PR partner was Backpage PR; official carrier partner was Turkish Airlines.
The Sustainability Summit 2025 is an initiative of Bangladesh Innovation Conclave.