At the BGMEA Complex in Uttara, a high-level consultation with the title Towards Alignment: Consultation for a Single Monitoring and Compliance System was successfully held.
Organised collaboratively by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), the meeting brought together a diverse group of stakeholders. Alongside local business executives, representatives from the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and well-known international brands including M&S, GAP, Inditex, and Li & Fung took part.
The discussion’s main goal was to solve the persistent problem of conflicting audits and compliance requirements in the textile and ready-made garment (RMG) industries. Participants highlighted that such duplication leads to audit fatigue, inefficient resource utilization, and increased operational burdens for manufacturers.
The meeting aimed to explore the development of a common platform that would streamline monitoring and compliance practices across the sector, thereby promoting greater efficiency and accountability. The session was moderated by ANM Saifuddin, a member of the BGMEA Supporting Committee, and headed by Md. Anwar Hossain, Administrator of BGMEA. Additionally, BKMEA Executive President Fazlee Ehsan Shamim made a statement.
ILO Bangladesh’s Country Director, Tuomo Poutiainen, stressed the significance of establishing a legitimate, inclusive national system. He stressed that trust-building and institutional collaboration are vital to ensuring the system’s success and long-term sustainability.
In order to lessen fatigue, Md. Anwar Hossain emphasised the necessity of addressing audit fragmentation. In order to benefit all parties involved—buyers, producers, and employees—he emphasised the significance of creating a single compliance framework with a reliable, globally recognised code of conduct for social and technical audits.
Hossain called on the ILO to take a leading role in facilitating the development of this integrated system. Strong support for the program was shown by all guests, including industry stakeholders and brand representatives.
As a key outcome, BGMEA and BKMEA announced they will jointly develop a concept paper that will outline the scope, rationale, and framework of the proposed unified monitoring and compliance system.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
