Sustainability Summit 2026 stresses responsible business for sustainable growth

The call came at the fourth edition of the Sustainability Summit 2026, held at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka on Friday.

Organised by Bangladesh Brand Forum and Sustainable Brand Initiative under the Bangladesh Innovation Conclave, the day-long summit brought together leading corporate executives, policymakers, academics and development professionals to discuss sustainable and responsible business practices.

The summit featured three keynote sessions, two panel discussions, three insight sessions, two case studies, an expert deep dive and a policy dialogue, focusing on the transition from compliance to responsible business conduct and from accountability to measurable impact.

In his opening remarks, Bangladesh Brand Forum Founder and Managing Director Shariful Islam said sustainability should become an integral part of every organisation's business strategy rather than remain a periodic discussion. He said responsible business practices would be critical as Bangladesh moves towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and prepares for graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category.

Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Chairman Masud Khan delivered a keynote on sustainable finance, highlighting the role of capital markets and green financing in supporting the country's low-carbon transition.

Other keynote speakers included Professor Emeritus Philip Kotler of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, Dr Khalid Hasan, President of Canada's ResEINT Sustainability Institute, and Dr Shraman Jha, Chief Executive Officer of the Hindustan Unilever Foundation.

Discussions throughout the summit focused on ESG reporting, sustainable finance, carbon markets, responsible supply chains and integrating sustainability into corporate strategy. Speakers also highlighted the growing importance of responsible business practices in attracting investment and strengthening Bangladesh's global competitiveness.

The event concluded with the SDG Brand Champion Awards Gala, recognising organisations for their measurable contributions to environmental, social and economic sustainability.

Akij Bashir Group was the title partner of the summit, while SMC Enterprise Ltd and American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) served as co-hosts. PRAN-RFL Group and BGMEA were associate partners.