Science secretary calls for joint research to make textile industry greener
The proposed research explores rice husk-based alternatives to costly decolouring agents to reduce textile wastewater treatment costs and pollution.
Science and Technology Secretary Md Anwar Hossain has called for joint research involving the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) and textile industry bodies to develop effective and environmentally friendly methods for treating wastewater from the textile and garment sector.
According to a press release today (19 October), he made the remarks during a discussion at the Ministry of Science and Technology in Dhaka on research titled "Process development for the treatment of wastewater from textile industries in Bangladesh".
The research was presented by Sabrina Mostofa, a senior scientific officer at BCSIR's IGCRT.
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Anwar said BCSIR should work with the sustainability departments of organisations such as the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) on research and process development.
He also called for a strong research and development team to develop treatment methods that can address wastewater before it is discharged from industrial plants.
The secretary stressed reducing the use of chemical dyes and increasing the use of locally available natural materials, saying this could lower production costs and reduce dependence on expensive imported dyes.
He also called for greater collaboration with local chemical manufacturers that have research and development capacity.
Anwar further urged researchers and industry stakeholders to develop technologies that reduce the use of groundwater and potable water in textile dyeing and enable treated wastewater to be reused or recycled.
BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem described the research initiative as timely and said the association was ready to support its piloting and implementation.
In her presentation, Sabrina Mostofa said locally available materials such as rice husk and rice husk powder were being studied as alternatives to conventional, expensive decolouring agents for removing toxic dyes from textile wastewater.
She said the method could lower treatment costs while helping industries comply with the government's 2024 environmental guideline on colour levels.
The press release said discussions were also held on field piloting and initial implementation of the technology through the Australia-Bangladesh Innovation Centre with technical and research support.
A scientific officer who joined the discussion virtually from Australia said the low-cost treatment method could help improve the environmental sustainability and global competitiveness of Bangladesh's textile sector.
