Md. Shahidul Haque

Urmi Group Director Shamarukh Fakhruddin represents Bangladesh at the UN Global Compact’s regional leadership forum in Colombo

Bangladesh’s growing sustainability journey was represented on a major regional platform as Ms. Shamarukh Fakhruddin, Director of Urmi Group, participated in the UN Global Compact’s Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026, held on 11–12 August in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The flagship Asia-Pacific forum brought together business leaders, sustainability practitioners, policymakers and UN representatives from across the region to explore how businesses can accelerate sustainable and inclusive growth amid a rapidly changing global landscape.

For Bangladesh, the significance extended beyond representation. As one of the world’s major manufacturing and apparel sourcing destinations, the country’s sustainability progress is increasingly linked to the resilience, responsibility and transformation of its wider supply chain.

Against this backdrop, Ms. Fakhruddin participated in two key leadership discussions. She joined the CEO Leadership Panel, “Business Unusual: CEO Leadership in a Changing World Order,” which explored how business leadership must evolve in response to economic, environmental and geopolitical shifts. Representative from Sri Lanka, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia attended the panel     

She also took part in “Empowering SMEs & Supply Chains: From Engagement to Transformation,” where she shared perspectives from Urmi Group’s SBTi-validated decarbonization journey and the company’s efforts to engage SME suppliers in that transition.

The discussion underscored a growing reality for businesses: sustainability cannot stop at the factory gate. Meaningful transformation requires companies to work closely with suppliers, SMEs and other value-chain partners to build the capabilities needed to embed responsible practices into everyday operations.

Representing Bangladesh at a global stage she said “The sustainability journey is not something any one organization can undertake alone. It requires collaboration across businesses, supply chains and communities. Our responsibility is to keep learning, sharing and moving forward together.”

For Urmi Group, the Colombo forum was not only an opportunity to share its experience, but also to learn from regional peers and contribute to a broader conversation on responsible business and sustainable growth.

While Ms. Fakhruddin represented the Group on the international stage, the participation reflects the collective efforts of Urmi Group’s Sustainability, Supply Chain, HR, Compliance and Production Teams, under the strategic guidance of Managing Director Mr. Asif Ashraf.

Participation in Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026 further reinforces Urmi Group’s commitment to responsible manufacturing, climate action and resilient supply chains, while bringing Bangladesh’s experience into a regional dialogue that is becoming increasingly important for businesses across Asia and beyond.