PR Report:
Bangladesh Innovation Conclave initiated the first ever “Akij Bashir Group Presents Sustainability Summit” in Association with Intellier held at Le Méridien Dhaka on September 10, 2024. The day long event was organized by Bangladesh Brand Forum and Sustainable Brand Initiative, the summit aimed to bring together brands, industry leaders, and experts to discuss and exchange ideas on how to align brands; business practices with sustainability and inspire them to contribute to achieving SDG Goals for Bangladesh.
By the way, at the last part of thorough event, 2nd SDG Brand Champion Award took place with flying colors. Top brands & organizations of the country were awarded through a sparkling gala night session for contributing deeply towards achieving SDG goals of Bangladesh. Environmental affairs adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan handed over the awards to respected champions. She emphasized on the vital role of industrial owners & businesspersons for conservation of environment & sustainable developments.
The summit featured an engaging agenda comprising 01 Keynote Session, 02 Panel Discussions, 03 Insight Sessions and 01 Case Study. The event was graced by renowned industry leaders, experts, and panelists, who shared their thoughts and experiences on aligning brands with sustainable development goals. Opening the summit, Shariful Islam, Founder and Managing Director, Bangladesh Innovation Conclave, said, “The future of Bangladesh lies in the hands of those who dare to be pioneers of positive change. Today, we are not just discussing sustainability as a concept, but as a practice that must be embedded into the DNA of every brand and organization. We stand at the cusp of transformation, and the decisions we make today will define the legacy we leave for future generations.”
The event began with a keynote session by Zaved Akhtar, Chairman & Managing Director, Unilever Bangladesh Limited; President, Foreign Investors; Chamber of Commerce & Industry, who shared insights on why sustainability is critical for Bangladeshi businesses and how they should pursue it. A case study on the Sustainable Practices of Akij Bashir Group was then conducted by Bashiruddin Ahmed, Chairman Akij Bashir Group. The first panel discussion, titled, “Why Bangladeshi Businesses Should Embrace Sustainability for Future World,” was moderated by Dr. Syed Ferhat Anwar, Vice-Chancellor, BRAC University; President, Asia Marketing Federation (AMF), Chairman, BBF Academy; and featured panellists including Dr. A. K. Enamul Haque, Professor, Department of Economics & Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics, East West University; President, Marketing Society of Bangladesh (MSB); Selim R. F. Hussain, CEO & Managing Director, Brac Bank PLC.; Dr. Melita Mehjabeen, Professor, Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka; Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman, Daffodil International University (DIU); Sayef Nasir, Managing Director, Social Marketing Enterprise Ltd. (SMC). The event was followed by an insight session titled “IFC Perspective: Setting ESG Standards to Advance Sustainable Finance,” orchestrated by Lopa Rahman, ESG officer, International Finance Corporation (IFC). Shehzad Munim, Advisor & Former President, Foreign Investors & Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Mentor, Leadership Academy conducted the second insight session ‘Bridging the Renewable Energy Gap.’
Image: Panel Discussion
Lastly, the final insight session was conducted by Saif Islam, Senior Programme Officer, International Labour Organization (ILO); regarding the policies and practices of accelerating climate action. The event provided hands-on experience with implementing SDG and addressed common challenges and questions related to SDG. Collaboration opportunities and their potential impact on brands were explored, and emerging SDG trends and innovations were discussed. The discussion received overwhelming participation and positive feedback from the attendees, who appreciated the opportunity to discuss the importance of sustainability in brand strategy and explore ways to integrate SDGs into their business practices.
“Akij Bashir Group Presents Sustainability Summit 2024” was held in Association with Intellier and The Daily Star; in Collaboration with International Advertising Association Bangladesh, Asia Marketing Federation (AMF), Marketing Society of Bangladesh (MSB); Supported by- Creative IT Institute; Technology Partner- aamra Technologies Limited; Hospitality Partner- Le Méridien Dhaka; PR Partner- Backpage PR. Bangladesh Brand Forum and Sustainable Brand Initiative organized the summit. Sustainability Summit 2024 is an initiative of Bangladesh Innovation Conclave.
