In what is seen as an effort to give a boost to the country’s leather sector, Bangladesh is reportedly planning to invite the global rights body, Leather Working Group (LWG), early next year to examine the Savar Tannery Industrial Estate (STIE) to attain the standard certificate.
It may be mentioned here that as per reports, Bangladeshi tanners are forced to sell tanned leather at 40 per cent below the international rates due to poor compliance and working conditions in the leather sector as well as lack of the LWG certification.
LWG is made up of member brands, retailers, product manufacturers, leather manufacturers, chemical suppliers and technical experts that have worked together to develop an environmental stewardship protocol specifically for the leather manufacturing industry.
The LWG certification is awarded to the companies based on the points presented on factors such as solid waste management, treatment and less usage of water, chemical use and labour welfare, etc.
Out of the 100 points those scoring 85 get gold certification, 75 silver and 65 bronze.
To attain the LWG certificate, decision of conducting ‘mock audit’ at the STIE was taken at the review meeting of the implementation of the central effluent treatment plants (CETP) and overall works of STIE held recently that included Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun in the chair, Private Industry and Investment Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Salman Fazlur Rahman, Industries Secretary Md. Abdul Halim, BSCIC Chairman Md. Mostak Hasan, BUET Team Leader Professor Dr. Md. Delwar Hossain, Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers’ and Exporters’ Association of Bangladesh President Saiful Islam, Bangladesh Tanners’ Association President Shaheen Ahmed, Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters Association Chairman Mohiuddin Ahmed Mahin, STIE Project Director Engineer Jitendranath Paul and Apex Group Representatives Major (Retd.) Mirza Anwarul Kabir, among others.
