DHAKA, Oct 8, 2019 (BSS) – Bangladesh plans to invite the global rights body, Leather Working Group (LWG) in early of the next year to examine the Savar Tannery Industrial Estate (STIE) to attain the standard certificate, as the remaining development works are expected to be finished by the end of this year.
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 today at the conference room at STIE, said a ministry release.
At the meeting, the officials concerned have also been directed to adopt and implement time-based working plan in line with the result of mock audit so the required development work could be done before the LWG audit.
With Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, MP in the chair, Private Industry and Investment Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Salman Fazlur Rahman, MP, 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, were present at the meeting.
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 100 points, 85 bring gold certification, 75 silver and 65 bronze.
The review meeting also decided to allocate space at the STIE to the byproduct producers for managing the solid wastages. For this case, the plots allocated to the tannery but failed to set up industry yet would be revoked and awarded to the byproduct producers.
The meeting was apprised 98 percent works of the CETP has been completed and currently four modules of the CETP are working to treat wastages. Besides, installation works of the three units of the nine dewatering units have been completed while the remaining is expected to be finished within October 25.
The industries minister directed the officials concerned to complete the development works of STIE within stipulated time to tap the potentiality of the leather industry.
He also asked the officials to cancel the allocation of the plots where any industry is yet to set up.
Expressing his satisfaction over the ongoing pace of installing CETP at the STIE, Salman Fazlur Rahman said the whole leather industry would be brought under the LWG certification.