BUFT secures major grant for cotton waste research
A research team from BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT), led by Professor Dr Abdul Jalil, has secured a competitive grant of Tk1.5 crore under the Bangladesh Innovation and Research for Development Initiative (BIRDI), part of the Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (SICIP).
The programme is being implemented by the Ministry of Finance with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The BUFT team submitted an expression of interest following a BIRDI circular issued in August 2025. A total of 132 proposals were submitted from across the country, of which only 12 were selected after technical and scientific evaluation. BUFT has said the selection reflects the university's growing research and innovation capacity.
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The selected project, titled 'Sustainable Valorisation of Cotton Waste into High-Value Cellulose-Based Products for Green Industrial Applications', aims to convert cotton waste generated by Bangladesh's ready-made garment and textile sector into eco-friendly, high-value materials.
Cotton waste, such as fabric cutting scraps, spinning waste, and cotton cones, which are rich in cellulose but often remain underutilised, will be processed into industrial materials through scientific methods.
The 12-month project will be carried out at BUFT's research facilities, with Shasha Denim PLC as the industry partner. The company will supply cotton waste from its production processes and support industrial-level testing of the research outcomes.
The research will focus on extracting and refining cellulose from cotton waste to develop materials with potential uses in biodegradable packaging, industrial coatings, composite materials, functional films, and advanced textile finishing technologies.
Project activities will include waste collection and characterisation, cellulose extraction and purification, synthesis of cellulose derivatives, prototype development, industrial testing, and environmental and economic feasibility assessment.
At the end of the project, the team will prepare a technology transfer package to support industry adoption of the innovation.
Professor Dr Abdul Jalil said that transforming textile waste into valuable materials through scientific innovation could make an important contribution to environmental protection and industrial advancement.
University officials said that the internationally competitive grant reflects BUFT's strong research capacity and could open up new opportunities for textile research and international collaboration.
